Burnley-based Moorhouse's Brewery has tripled production of

Beer Seller has selected Moorhouse's as a Local Heroes supplier which means a higher profile for all its beers in the region and in Yorkshire, while also being available to pubs nationwide. The wholesaler's north west sales manager, Alan Wright, recently spent a day at the Lancashire brewery and brewed up a 20-barrel batch of Reinbeer working alongside head brewer Peter Goldsbrough. "Spending a day at Moorhouse's was beneficial to me and I want all the sales team to do the same to learn more about its range of beers," he said. * * * * * A beer first brewed 130 years ago is one of two festive ales avail-able this Christmas from West Yorkshire brewer Eastwood and Sanders (Fine Ales). Head brewer David Sanders was given the Victorian recipe for a traditional porter beer by a national beer researcher and the strong, dark brew has been named 1872. It has a 6.5% abv rating, which would have been typical of beers in the 19th century. Sanders has also brewed an amber-coloured Christmas bitter called Stocking Top (4.4% abv). * * * * * Camra is to hold the 2003 National Winter Ales Festival in the home of brewing ­ Burton-upon-Trent. The festival, which is scheduled to run from Thursday 23 to Saturday 25 January, will be held in Burton Town Hall and around 65 different beers are expected. There will also be sections devoted to ciders, country wines and bottled beers. In addition, evening entertainment will be provided. Opening hours will be 6pm to 11pm on the Thursday, 12noon to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm on the Friday, and 11:30am to 4pm and 6pm to 11pm on the Saturday. The National Winter Beer of Britain competition will be judged in closed session on the Thursday with the results announced later that day. Last year's champion was Wye Valley's Dorothy Goodbody's Wholesome Stout. * * * * * The Badger Brewery has developed a Badger Ale Trail to encourage consumers to experience different Hall & Woodhouse pubs. The Trail comprises eight mini trails illustrated in a booklet and participants who collect stamps from each pub included in a mini trail will receive a rugby or polo shirt with the names of all the pubs on the back. The marketing initiative is being promoted as the Land of Hops and Glory trail and covers much of the south from Exeter to London. Anyone who completes all eight mini trails will be invited to a special party at the brewery's new visitor centre. * * * * * With the launch of the pantomime season comes a Christmas ale called Ugly Sisters (4.7% abv) from Burton-upon-Trent's Marston's Brewery. Brewed with a blend of Golden Promise malt with Fuggles and Goldings hops, the fruity and spicy notes complement the nutty and malty character, said head brewer Steve Brooks, below, centre. "Even if you cannot get the girl of your dreams this Christmas you'll definitely be able to pull' an Ugly Sister," he said.