All hail the Oldham ale!

CHEERS... (from left) Brian Hurst (Dr Kershaw’s), Tony Harratt (Greenfield Brewery), hop grower Clive Taylor and Peter Percival (Greenfield Brewery)

MADE in Oldham with hops grown in Lees, a new beer from Greenfield Brewery has been tasted for the first time by local connoisseurs.

Gardener’s Hop has been made at the micro brewery with hops grown by Clive Taylor — a member of CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale).

Clive (47), a railway stores clerk, planted the Kent hops in his back garden and was surprised to get a bumper crop despite bad weather.

And the new beer, light, with a hint of fruit and 4.2 alcohol by volume, was launched this week at the Ashton Arms, Oldham’s town centre real ale pub, in Clegg Street.

It was the centrepiece of a special night in aid of Dr Kershaw’s Hospice which included a special raffle, and will also be entered for the Shovell’s Beer Festival in Blackpool.