Real ale, cider and wine will be on tap at Mere Brow Farmers’ Market

Jul 12 2012 by Tom Duffy, Ormskirk Advertiser

A MICRO-BEER and wine festival will spice up Mere Brow's farmers' market on Saturday.

Customers will be able to cool down with pints of Dishy Debbie, Wild Oats Stout, Natterjack, Old Shrimper and Mug Billy.

Beers from Lancashire Heroes Off Licence, Southport Brewery, Liverpool Organic Brewery, the George Wright Brewery and the Burscough Brewing Company will be on show, while fruit wines, ciders, sloe gins and strawberry and elderflower vodkas will soothe the more sophisticated tastes.

The event will take place at Mere Brow Village Hall , where Wainwrights, 13 Guns (American-style IPA) and Thwaites will be on tap, along with non- alcoholic herbal punches from The Punch Brew Co.

Banks resident and business man John O'Hanlon will be giving home brew demonstrations and serving samples of three different brews.

Mr O’Hanlon said: “I like a pint of real ale more than any one, but with all the austerity measures coming in Home Brewing is exciting and you save some money.

“I am looking forward to showing people how easy it is to brew beers.”

Shirley's home made pies, world- famous Goosnargh duck and duck liver paté, award- winning Dalesbred finest meats, Lancashire cheese, olives, French bread, local cup-cakes, herbs and plants, chillies, tomatoes, Southport shrimps and fresh fish will be on sale throughout the day.

Grant Smith, who owns a 17- acre market garden in Mere Brow, will be supplying kale, basil, coriander, mint, parsley, and chives.

Mr Smith said to the Advertiser: “Mere Brow Farmers markets are an excellent way of selling local produce.

“The wet weather has made life a little more difficult recently, particularly with respect to spinach, which needs to be sowed weekly.

“I would recommend the mint at this time of year, which is perfect with roast lamb.”

Kelvin Pye, who organised the event, said: “We wanted to spice up the Farmers Market with themes and a Summer Beer Festival seemed a good idea.

Mr Pye is an experienced events organiser, and the man behind Southport Country Fair.

He added: “By inviting micro- breweries and small vineyards. we are ‘inn keeping’ with our small local food producers and if it goes down well we will repeat it in the autumn.”

The event has been backed by the Southport and West Lancashire branch of CAMRA.

The event is from 10am to 2.30pm, and is free. All enquiries to www.garden- festivals.com and 01704 212 734 (office hours only).