BREWING up a buoyant business is at the heart of two entries in our awards to honour enterprise excellence.

Andy Herrington, from Copmanthorpe, brought together a business and marketing qualification, local contacts and a love of home brewing to launch Ainsty Ales Brewery in 2014.

Now, as a home for the venture is being created in Acaster Malbis, it has been entered in the New and Small Business of the Year categories of The Press Business Awards 2016.

Ainsty Ales started brewing on the spare capacity at Brass Castle Brewery in Malton. Awareness grew and sales went well, but brew-days could not be guaranteed and early last year Mr Herrington moved production to a larger microbrewery, Hambleton Ales near Ripon.

Towards the end of 2015 a ‘direct to store’ scheme was agreed between Ainsty Ales and Costcutter. Talks have taken place to push Ainsty Ales bottles further afield when production starts in the new brewery, and the ales can be found regularly on the bar at a number of prominent locations.

It is estimated that the brewery will generate three full-time permanent jobs by spring 2018.