REAL ale lovers have given their seal of approval to Wyre Forest pubs and breweries following the publication of a latest beer bible.

Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) launched the 45th edition of the Good Beer Guide, which recommends the best pubs in Britain for real ale drinkers, at the newly crowned West Midlands Pub of the Year, Weavers Real Ale House in Kidderminster on Thursday (September 14).

A total of 16 pubs from Bewdley, Caunsall, Chaddesley Corbett, Harvington, Kidderminster, Shenstone and Stourport feature in the book.

Real Ale breweries Bewdley and Crafted in Bewdley and Worcestershire in Hartlebury also get the CAMRA seal of approval.

Weavers’ licensee Dean Cartwright said he was delighted the micro pub, which opened in 2013, had been named as one of the top 16 in the UK. It will now go on to compete for the national CAMRA Pub of the Year competition.

Mr Cartwright, who also runs Pig Iron Brewery in Brierley Hill and is set to open a new pub n Rowley Regis, said: “We’ve won a number of awards and I keep saying the same thing – we can’t do it without our staff.

“They work incredibly hard, are knowledgeable about the beer and ensure the pub is being run well. That’s the reason why we have been so successful.”

Beer consultant Brett Laniosh, who is also a former national director for CAMRA, said: “We are delighted to launch the 45th edition of the guide.

“The fact that we have around 1,700 breweries included shows how far we have come since the first edition which only had four.

“The guide is only possible thanks to CAMRA volunteers taking part in reviewing and assessing the quality of the pubs and the beer and huge thanks go to them.”

Dave Collins, from Wyre Forest CAMRA, said there was a strong appetite for real ale in the district.

He said: “We have seen the branch membership go from 75 around six or seven years ago to more than 500. This is thanks to the hard work of our chairman Nick Yarwood and other members.”

The Good Beer Guide 2018 is now on sale and available to purchase for £12.99 at https://shop.camra.org.uk/goodbeerguide2018.html

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Pubs:

Bewdley

Great Western in Kidderminster Road

Mug House in Severnside North

Old Waggon & Horses in Kidderminster North

Caunsall

Anchor Inn off A449 Kidderminster/Wolverhampton road

Chaddesley Corbett

Swan in High Street

Harvington

Coach & Horses in Station Road

Kidderminster

Beer Emporium & Cider House in Oxford Street

King & Castle in Comberton Hill

Olde Seven Stars in Coventry Street

Station Inn in Farfield

Swan in Vicar Street

Weavers at Park Lane in Park Lane

Weavers Real Ale House in Comberton Hill

Shenstone

Plough off the A450/A448

Stourport

Black Star in Mitton Street

Rock Tavern in Wilden Lane

Real Ale Breweries:

Bewdley in Bewdley

Crafted in Bewdley

Worcestershire in Hartlebury