A brewer is taking on the giants after scoring a hit with real ale enthusiasts.

Michael Rodham, left, set up his own brewery 18 months ago after making his own ales for 25 years.

And now Michael, who uses a basic home brewing kit, divides his time between working as a countryside ranger at Temple Newsam and making ales from his home in Albion Street, Otley.

His four regular beers - ordinary bitter, wheat beer, rubicon bitter and Old Albion - now sell to pubs and clubs and stores like Cider House, Saltaire, the Junction Inn, Baildon, and newly-opened Wharfed Ales in Bondgate, Otley.

"More and more people seem to like my beers," he said. "The trouble is there are so many small breweries supplying pubs and there is a lot of competition."

Michael spends two days a week at Temple Newsam and the other days brewing, casking and delivering his ales.

"I think they're brilliant, but then I'm biased. It's all a matter of personal taste, but I do stick to the old malt recipes and I don't use strange fruits like some are doing."