Sussex brewer Dark Star is to increase its brewing capacity by 300% after agreeing a move to a new site.
The new site is a 16,000 sq foot site in Partridge Green — 11 miles west of its current site near Haywards Heath. Dark Star started brewing beers such as Dark Star Original and American Pale Ale in the cellar of the Evening Star pub in Brighton in 1996.
"This is the biggest investment we've made to date and despite the current economic climate it reflects our confidence in the long term development of the real ale market," said director Paul Reed.
"Our confidence is also boosted by the broad spectrum of people that are discovering real ale from across age and social groups.
"Anyone who thinks they can caricature the cask ale drinker does not understand the market.
"We consider ourselves lucky to be located among some of the best pubs in the country and competing with other great brewers, and for that reason we've chosen to stay in the mid Sussex area, or as we prefer to call it, the Heart of Sussex."
The first brew from the new site is due to be released by the end of October 2009.
Dark Star's American Pale Ale won gold at the Great British Beer Festival in the Golden Beer category and their coffee beer, Espresso, was crowned the World's Best Speciality Beer.
