DARWEN’S longest-running microbrewery, Hopstar, scooped a silver award at the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) North West awards.

Founder Barry Tyson was celebrating after the popular Smokey Joe’s Black Beer won the award in the ‘porters, stouts, old ales and strong milds’ category.

Mr Tyson said he was delighted to have won.

He said: “I was very pleased, although I am getting used to it now as Smokey Joe is always getting awards.

“It has probably won about 18 to 20 awards since we started about eight years ago.

“It is a great little beer and it does well wherever we take it.”

Hopstar launched in 2004 and is now based at Rinus Business Park in Grimshaw Street, with a brewery tap at Number 39 in Bridge Street.

Darwen MP Jake Berry also congratulated Mr Tyson on the firm’s success.

Using his account on social networking site Twitter, Mr Berry said: “Congratulations to Hopstar for their win at the SIBA North West Awards. Very well deserved.”