IT is brewed in Yorkshire squares, it is drunk in Yorkshire pubs, it is produced in a Yorkshire village and now its ingredients a grown on its Yorkshire doorstep.

The barley for Black Sheep Ale is now being grown within a pint's throw of the Masham brewery in a new deal with a local farmer, David Webster, whose son, Sam, is good friends with Black Sheep's Managing Director Paul Theakston. David is growing Maris Otter pale ale malt for use in the popular brewery's beer.

David's fields are well within sight of the maltings at the brewery and now, as he says, "when you are on a brewery tour, you can see the main ingredient gently swaying in the breeze".

The first crop has now been harvested and will be taken form the small field in Masham to Fawcett's of Castleford to be malted before returning to the brewery for use in our beer.

"Premium quality malt is what I insist on for our beers, no cheaper alternatives as only the best will do," said head brewer Paul Ambler.

"In days gone by the local brewery would get their barley from the surrounding farms - we are turning back the clock slightly to produce the beer the way it used to be."