YORK Brewery is set to start exporting its award-winning beers this year after achieving sales across the UK.

The regional brewer, based at Toft Green, believes exports could account for almost a third of its sales by 2022.

The firm has appointed overseas trade specialist, Chamber International, to help launch its ales into overseas markets, where British independent beers are becoming increasingly popular.

Founded in 1996, the brewery has seen its beers, including Yorkshire Terrier, Centurion’s Ghost and Otherside IPA, gain UK wide recognition as regional guest ales through brewers and distributors such as Carlsberg, H.B Clark and Heineken alongside multiple national supermarket chains.

Sales and marketing director, Gary Conway, said its national sales had led to inquiries from overseas and it aimed to start exporting in 2017.

“We are still in the very early stages but are already looking at the US, Scandinavia, Belgium and other European countries and have started talks with some importers,” he said.

“There is a market out there and I’d like to think that in five years, exports will account for around 30 per cent of our sales.

“We view Chamber International as an important external department and plan to use its expertise and contacts to get us started and then open the door to wider support. We are very pleased to be working with them.”

York Brewery, which owns five pubs in York including The Last Drop Inn, The Yorkshire Terrier and The Three Legged Mare, has about 35 staff and a £3 million turnover.

Its most recent award was a SIBA North East Gold medal for York Brewery Blonde in 2016.

Chamber International senior export adviser, David Attia, who is advising York Brewery, said Yorkshire was making a name for itself as an exporter of regional high-quality craft food and drink products, including beers.

“York Brewery brews exceptionally high-quality beers and we look forward to supporting them as they generate overseas sales in beer-loving nations around the world,” he added.