Real ale fans choose their perfect Yorkshire beer (From Craven Herald)

Real ale fans choose their perfect Yorkshire beer

4:40pm Saturday 15th November 2008 in Skipton & District

A pale ale brewed in Hetton has been crowned Yorkshire’s Perfect Pint.

David Aynesworth, a real ale enthusiast and owner of The Craven Arms in Appletreewick, has been on a mission to find the county’s premium pint and chose 22 of the best to feature at the Craven Beer Festival at his pub.

His pilgrimage was documented on an ITV Yorkshire series produced by Katy Metcalfe of Grassington-based Cheeky Monkey Films.

And so he could do his research thoroughly and safely, Mr Aynesworth enlisted the help of his son, Robert, to drive his 1930s Bentley so he could sample potential entries.

The mission wasn’t without danger. The Bentley, affectionately called The Brigadier, developed gear box problems towards the end of filming and, while Mr Aynesworth was trying to fit a new part, he broke his collar bone.

To cap it all, continuity was compromised when Robert’s sheepskin jacket was stolen before the last episode was filmed.

Mr Aynesworth’s research meant he met people with a shared passion for real ale and was able to select 22 beers for the festival. After much debate and sampling, festival-goers voted Hetton Pale Ale, brewed by Dark Horse Brewery, as their choice of Yorkshire’s Perfect Pint.

The brewery is run by Richard Eyton-Jones, who began honing his brewing skills at Goose Eye Brewery, near Keighley.

He said: “I am really pleased that my ale was picked as it is a new ale and was probably only the third batch I’ve made..”

Ironically Mr Eyton-Jones bought the micro-brewery, formerly known as Wharfedale Brewery, in January from Mr Aynesworth and Steve Blizzard, of Hartlington Hall, Burnsall. The pair had launched the original brewery in the spring of 2003.