Dave Hughes pictured with Acorn brews bound for the US

American cask beer fans are to sample award winning Yorkshire brews from Acorn Brewery later this month.

Two of the fast growing Barnsley brewers’ championship ales* – Conquest and Gorlovka Imperial Stout – will feature in the major US beer festival NERAX 2010 ** in Somerville, New England. The four day festival is dedicated to promoting the British style of beer to the growing number of cask ale enthusiasts in the States.

Both Acorn beers have recently been hailed as among the country’s champion brews. At the Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) National Winter Ales Festival – which judges stouts, porters, barley wines and old ales – Gorlovka first claimed a gold award in its class before winning the festival’s overall bronze accolade. A premium strength stout, it is named in honour of Barnsley’s Ukrainian twin town.

Conquest (5.7%), is a strong IPA (India Pale Ale) style ale first brewed last autumn. It was quickly hailed one of the North’s top beers from more than 100 brews at the SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) North Beer Competition. After first claiming gold in its class it was voted the contest’s bronze winner to qualify for the national final.

Altogether Acorn’s core cask-conditioned brews, which also include Barnsley Bitter, Barnsley Gold, Old Moor Porter and Sovereign, have won more than forty awards for the seven-year-old South Yorkshire brewer. Recently top UK beer writer Roger Protz – editor of the Good Beer Guide – praised Acorn as ‘a shining example for craft brewers’ on a visit learn more of the brewery’s success. All beers use the same yeast strain as the original Barnsley Brewery of the 1850′s, to provide their distinctive Yorkshire character.

Head brewer Dave Hughes said: “NERAX is a major event for cask beer lovers in the States. Being able to showcase two of our acclaimed ales to the Americans is a great opportunity to highlight the uncompromising quality of our beers.”