A growing thirst for real ale has led to a ‘step change’ expansion at Saltaire Brewery.

The company, on Dockfield Road, has invested £200,000 in extra brewing capacity and has also expanded into 4,000 sq ft premises next door to its brewhouse in a former Victorian electricity generating station.

The extra space will be used for offices and chilled storage.

Saltaire Brewery is now increasing beer production from 400 casks a week to 500, driven by rising demand for its best selling product, Saltaire Blonde.

The firm will lift production from five to seven brews a week of Blonde and a wider range of guest and seasonal ales.

The award-winning business, launched in 2005 and now nearing £1.5 million turnover, has also recruited three new staff and promoted Ewen Gordon, who joined as sales manager 18 months ago, to become its first sales director.

The appointments take the Saltaire Brewery workforce to 13.

Managing director Tony Gartland said: “This latest expansion marks a step change for the business.

“We’ve gone from two men and a shovel to a much more sophisticated operation and Saltaire Brewery must now be among the top ten micro breweries out of around 70 in West Yorkshire. Real ale is the only sector of the drinks business which is growing and we’re benefiting from that trend.” The company now makes beer for 100 regular pub outlets within 30 miles of the brewery and its bottled beers are stocked in the Yorkshire stores of all the major supermarkets, except Sainsbury’s. Mr Gartland is hoping to finalise a deal with that company soon.

Saltaire Brewery also exports its chocolate-flavoured stout to Mexico and also sends beer to Ireland and Northern Italy.

As well as Mr Gordon’s promotion Saltaire has recruited Wendy Carthew, as sales and marketing manager, and two trainee brewers, Elliott Collett and Chris Hall.

Mr Gartland said: “The enthusiasm of our customers and consumers for our beers means they’ve regularly drunk us dry this year. But with our strengthened team and bigger capacity to brew, we can meet rising demand and continue to grow our business.”