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Brewer bids to produce Guild ale
A beer maker who illegally sold home-brewed 'Guild' ale in 1992 hopes to reinvent his tipple in time for 2012 without falling foul of the law.
John Smith, 53, has gone on to win various accolades since being fined in 1993, now legally brewing under the Hart Brewery name at the back of the Cartford Inn in Little Eccleston, near Preston.
Mr Smith, of Assheton Place in Brookfield, Preston, was fined 3,500 after admitting the fraudulent evasion of duty on 350 gallons of beer, labelled Preston Guild and Old Ram, and 1,500 bottles of sparkling wine.
Now, the former British Nuclear Fuels worker wants to make a legal Guild ale after members of the council's Guild committee discussed having a new brew in time for the 2012 celebrations.
Mr Smith said: "I was making Guild ale as a home brew and it was selling all over.
"I would certainly be up for making a legal Guild ale if it's going to publicise Preston; I can do it and get it sold.
"I will try and get it back to its original flavour – a 5% full-flavoured bronze beer – but it would be good for it to be something special."
The brewer, who has beers selling across Lancashire, including at the Black Bull in Friargate, said trading conditions are currently difficult but feels confident of riding out the recession.
He said: "It's tough but the cream will come to the top. We only lose customers if people come in with cheap beer but they come back when quality comes through."
Paul Riley, Central Lancashire spokesman for the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), said: "We hope he does get to make the Guild ale as it would be good to have a Preston brewer brew the Guild beer."
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Weather for Preston
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: 2 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Cloudy
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