THE fine, pure water of the Upper Wharfedale hills is being sourced to quench the thirsts of locals who appreciate a good brew or two.

A new brewery, the idea of which has been fermenting in the minds of two Craven men for more than three years, becomes reality this summer when three new beers will appear on the bars of local pubs.

Wharfedale Brewery is the brainchild of Steve Blizzard, of Hartlington Hall, Burnsall, who was responsible for the creation of Skipton Building Society's Homeloan Management business, and Broughton Hall estate manager David Aynesworth.

The co-owners of the new brewery have just begun producing their own brand of ales, brewed to secret recipes in time-honoured tradition.

Mr Aynesworth and Mr Blizzard have worked hard on their new venture, consuming many test brews before perfection was reached.

All this research has taken place in a tiny building at Hartlington Hall, known as the Folly, which has been transformed into a micro brewery.

It is from here that Folly Ale, Executioner and Van Der Plas were developed and finished and are now available for other Craven folk to savour.

"The idea of creating a brand new brewery in the Dales harks back to the time when there were numerous rural village breweries serving their own local community," explained Mr Aynesworth.

But many became extinct when the wheels of the industrial revolution began turning even faster, and country folk migrated in their masses to towns and cities. This encouraged the formation of large breweries in the heavier populated places.

"Now that the experimental stage of our brewery is over we aim to be in full commercial production by late summer," Mr Aynesworth added.

The brewing of the three beers is to be carried out in the traditional way. The business is planning to grow some of its own raw materials - wheat and barley - alongside the brewery. The brewery waste (mash) will then be fed to the brewery's own - yet to be purchased - Gloucester Old Spot pigs, for which there is said to be a proven local demand.

The beers will be produced in barrels as well as bottles and will be distributed to local pubs via a fully liveried 1926 Model T Ford brewery dray. A second vehicle will be purchased shortly.

Local people are to be employed in the business which both men insist is "going places".

They hope eventually to research the history of brewing in the Dales, both from the point of view of production methods and the whereabouts of breweries. They would be pleased to hear from anyone who can help with gathering this sort of information.

Coincidentally, another new brewery is due to open in Craven shortly. As reported in a previous edition of the Craven Herald, Steve Taylor and Ruth Bennett are planning to launch Skipton Brewery, with the trade name Copper Dragon, within the next few weeks.