Clive’s top of the hops

A Lees man who turned his love for hops into a sparkling success has produced a special beer to be sold for charity this week.

Clive Taylor, has grown a fresh crop of aromatic-flavoured hops which have been turned into foaming pints by an award-winning micro brewery.

And tomorrow, scores of discerning beer drinks will be able to roll out the barrel and sample the beer when it appears on draught at the Ashton Arms in Clegg Street, Oldham.

Clive (48) a railway stores clerk and member of the Campaign for Real Ale, began his passion for growing hops some years ago to use for his own home-made beer.

Last year, despite horrendous weather, he offered them to Greenfield Real Ale Brewery who used them to flavour one of their entries in a prestigious beer festival.

And the brewers were so impressed with his latest batch of hops they have produced a new ale, Gardener’s Gold, which is a robust 4.6 alcohol by volume.

Clive said: “Originally I bought some hops from Kent but never thought they would ever grow strong enough in Lees to be used in a proper brew. It’s very unusual for hops to grow in this part of the world.”

Greenfield Brewery’s owners, Peter Percival and Tony Harratt, decided to use Clive’s latest crop to boost a major-funding raising event for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

Pete, who is also head brewer, said: “We have never used fresh hops in our brews until last year but Clive’s certainly top of the hops with us,” Pete quipped.

Ashton Arms landlady Jo Potter said: “The beer is settling nicely in our cellar and our keen team of beer drinkers are looking forward to sampling it.

“Last year, it sold out in a few hours and I am sure the two barrels we have this year will go the same way.”

A 50p donation from every pint of Gardener’s Gold will go to the charity. The event begins at 8pm.