A FAMILY who run an independent Radcliffe brewery are hoping to taste success when they take their beers to the final of a national contest.

Brightside Brewing Company will be competing against brewers from across the country at the BeerX National Beer Competition, held by the Society of Independent Brewers, on March 11.

The brewery’s Amarillo single hopped US-style Indian Pale Ale (IPA) earned its place by winning the Strong Bitters category and scooping Overall Champion Beer of the Competition in its regional heat.

It is one of a handful of beers representing the North West at BeerX and will be vying for a gold, silver or bronze medal as well as one of three Supreme Champion awards.

After the judging by a panel of more than 100 judges, all the beers will be sold to drinkers at a beer festival which will run between March 12 and March 15 at iceSheffield.

Brightside Brewing Company was set up by Neil and Maxine Friedrich, of Greenbank Road, Radcliffe, in partnership with their children Lance and Carley.

The couple ran Charnwood Foods bakery in Walshaw for 28 years before turning their hands to developing cask-conditioned real ales in 2010 and moving to dedicated premises in July last year.

Carley said: “We are very proud of our beers and are very excited to have this opportunity to compete on a national stage, against some of the finest beers from all over the UK.

“Obviously, we’re hoping to come home from BeerX with a medal, but we’re happy just to be going to Sheffield and introducing our beer to hundreds of drinkers who haven’t tried it before.

“We are really grateful to all of our customers who have made it possible for us to expand from small beginnings in the back of the bakery, into a new unit with a 15 barrel plant which we hope to be running by the end of March.”

SIBA chief executive Julian Grocock said: “The number of smaller brewers has grown rapidly over recent years, so competition at our regional heats has become increasingly fierce.

“To win at this stage and go through to the BeerX National Beer Competition is a mark of a quality beer and Brightside should be proud of their achievement.”

For more information: search Brightside Brewing Company on Facebook, follow @BrightsideBrew on Twitter or go to brightsidebrewing.co.uk