A West Yorkshire brewery has picked up its first award after only six months in business.

The Ilkley Brewery Company achieved the prize at the Society of Independent Brewers Northern beer competition.

Its light session beer Mary Jane won the gold medal in the bitters and pale ales (under 4.0 per cent ABV) category, beating 56 other brews from across the north of England..

The business was launched by Ilkley men and real ale buffs Stewart Ross and Chris Ives, who had both worked in the property industry.

Mr Ross said: “ We were both members of the Campaign for Real Ale and decided to go into brewing over a pint after a CAMRA brewery visit. It’s like a dream come true for both of us.”

The pair invested £40,000 into buying brewing equipment and have rented a unit on East Parade, near the site of the Ilkley Brewing Company which closed in the 1920s.

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