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Brewery boom in West Yorkshire

West Yorkshire has seen the sharpest rise in the number of new microbreweries in the last year, compared to any other region in the UK.

The above average growth has seen eight new breweries launch taking the total in the county to 57 – the highest of any region in the UK, according to the Good Beer Guide 2014, released this week by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

A total of 187 new breweries started up across the whole of the UK in the last 12 months, bringing with them new jobs and more choice for drinkers, with the number of regularly brewed British beers now over 5200.

West Yorkshire is home to a host of popular microbreweries including Saltaire in Shipley, Little Valley in Hebden Bridge and the Atlas Mill Brewery in Brighouse. In addition Ossett Brewery, based in Wakefield, is the current holder of the UK Micro-brewery of the Year.

The Good Beer Guide’s editor, Roger Protz, said: “West Yorkshire has always been a strong area for beer, with Leeds, Bradford, Castleford, Halifax and Huddersfield, as well as many more smaller towns, boasting hundreds of fantastic real ale pubs. In recent years numerous new breweries such as Collingham, Big River and Brass Castle have sprung up to supply the local demand.”

CAMRA has also announced the regional finalists for their annual Pub of the Year. The Old No.7 in Barnsley will fly the flag for Yorkshire, having been named the Local Pub of the Year in 2012 and 2013 and Yorkshire Regional Cider Pub of the Year 2013.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Addison .