CHEERS! Here's to a York man who's rolling out the barrels - all the way from beyond John O'Groats.

For 20 years Chris Caller worked at Rowntree's, finishing as the laundry co-ordinator looking after all the work clothes.

When he was made redundant he went on to work at the Fastpack hardware store in Lilac Avenue.

But Chris has always had another passion: real ale. A stalwart of the York branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) for many years, his favourite pub was the John Bull in Layerthorpe. Until they pulled it down.

Now he is a regular at such legendary haunts as the Maltings, the Golden Ball and the Ackhorne.

He is also an expert home brewer, although he has recently toned down his Napper Cracker Christmas Special to eight per cent ABV (when it hit 11 per cent he almost lost one Yuletide completely).

So when he spotted an job advert in What's Brewing, CAMRA's house organ, asking for a Yorkshire sales agent for Orkney Brewery, he jumped at the chance.

The award-winning Orkney Brewery, which has recently taken over Atlas Brewery, boasts a range of fine ales. Its most well-known beers include the session bitter, Raven Ale (3.8 per cent), the ruby Dark Island (4.6 per cent) and the aptly-named Skullsplitter (8.5 per cent).

These, and six others, are available through Chris's company Ryedale Ale.

Although the beer is quality stuff, it is an uphill battle getting it into pubs. So many are tied into deals with big distributors or breweries, limiting the choice of guest ales for customers.

But the Orkney ales have already gone down well at Bar Talk favourite the Jolly Farmers, Leavening, near Malton, Blind Jack's, Knaresborough, the School House, Low Marishes and the Cellars Bar, Scarborough.

With barrels of such delicious beers at his Tang Hall home awaiting delivery, doesn't Chris ever feel tempted to crack one open?

"I'm not sure I could get through 72 pints on my own," he says.

Ryedale Ale will also supply Orkney and Atlas beer for functions. For more details call Chris on 07834 618947.

BLACK Sheep brewery in Masham has announced it is to be the main sponsors of the Yorkshire Dales National Park's 50th anniversary celebrations this year.

The tie-up brings together the park and its many Black Sheep pubs. Both institutions have a sheep as a logo.

As a part of the deal, Black Sheep becomes the official beer of the National Park.

"We are very proud to be associated with the Yorkshire Dales National Park in this way as the dales form the heartland of Black Sheep Brewery," said brewery boss Paul Theakston.

"Becoming the official beer of the Yorkshire Dales National Park seems to be the perfect match of ales and dales."

IT'S St Patrick's Day on Wednesday. York has fewer diddly-dee Oirish bars than before, but O'Neill's in Low Ousegate is still going.

Seems like the folk in head office have had a few too many stouts already, however, because they sent us this press release: "O'Neill's is starting a search for its biggest fan this St Patrick's Day and wants to give drinkers in Worcester the chance to win their very own pub."

So they're sending information from their Birmingham PR company about a competition in Worcester to a York newspaper to celebrate Ireland's national day.

Small world.

Updated: 09:33 Saturday, March 13, 2004