Yorkshire's new breweries join the 'real ale revolution'

Camra's Good Beer Guide 2011, launched today, reports that 78 new breweries have opened in the past year and allowing for closures, that's a net increase of 56.

Seven of these new breweries are from Yorkshire: East Yorkshire – Bird Brain (Howden), North Yorkshire – Mithril (Aldburgh St John), Stokesley (Stokesley), South Yorkshire – Toad (Doncaster), West Yorkshire – Bridgehouse (Keighley), Ridgeside (Leeds), WharfeBank (Pool in Wharedale).

Good Beer Guide editor Roger Protz says: "The real ale revolution goes on in spite of all the problems facing the brewing industry. Yet, against all the odds, craft breweries continue to sprout like mushrooms at dawn.

"The main reason is a simple one – craft brewers are responding to genuine consumer demand. Beer in pubs may be expensive compared to cheap supermarkets but drinkers are prepared to pay a bit extra for beer with taste and quality.

"Real ale hits the spot in every way, it has flavour and is made from pure, natural ingredients that are grown mainly here in Britain. More and more people want to think local and drink local and real ale meets that demand."

The guide spotlights just a few of the breweries chalking up success. In Yorkshire, a piece of brewing history, in the shape of Barnsley Bitter, has been restored.

The original Barnsley Brewery in Oakwell was bought and closed by John Smith's in the 1970s. In 2003 Dave and Judi Hughes brought the much-loved beer back to life when they opened Acorn Brewery, using the original yeast culture.

Brewing started on a small plant bought from a home-brew pub but demand forced the couple to move to new premises with a 20-barrel plant.

They have now expanded to a 100-barrel plant and that figure will grow when new fermenting vessels are installed.

Mr Protz added: "These breweries are just the tip of the famous iceberg. The breweries section of the guide is full of similar success stories of small craft breweries that are booming and growing as a result of beer lovers' demand.

"The British are notoriously bad at celebrating the things we do well but let's raise a glass to the success of the good old British pint."

This year's guide, which features the best 4,500 real ale pubs in Britain, includes 79 new pub entries for Yorkshire.

And there was more good news for Yorkshire favourite, The Butchers Arms, which has been named Britain's top gastropub.

The pub, in Hepworth, near Huddersfield, was crowned Best Gastropub at the Great British Pub Awards.