Last year this newspaper joined forces with Ilkley Brewery to give one local beer fan the chance to brew their own ale.

Ian Grant was selected as the winner earlier this month – and now his winning brew is just days from being served at Ilkley Beer Festival.

Mr Grant, a project manager from Addingham, has long been a real-ale devotee.

In his late teens he was a keen home brewer and even had the opportunity to join a brewery after he graduated in microbiology.

In the end a career in the NHS beckoned but ever since he has been keen to get back in the brewhouse.

Last weekend Ian joined Ilkley Brewery brewster Christa Sandquist to get his prize beer under way.

He has chosen to make a highly hopped 5.5 per cent pale ale, which uses three hop varieties: Galaxy from Australia, Citra from America and Nelson Sauvin from New Zealand.

Mr Grant said: “I’ve always gravitated towards pale ales so given the choice of what to brew I instinctively opted for this variety.

“Christa talked me through the range of hops we could use and their differing flavours and aroma.

“I opted for these three, which will create a hoppy, fragrant and, I hope, beautifully refreshing ale.”

He has made about 120 litres of the custom pale ale – roughly 215 pints.

The name of it will be revealed at Ilkley Beer Festival next Friday, February 7, where it will be served over the weekend from the Ilkley Brewery bar.