A BREWERY that began as an idea at a 40th birthday party is toasting a Christmas success at the end of its first year.

Grindleton Brewery, based at Link 59 Business Park, Clitheroe, sells eight beers in 130 pubs across the north of England after launching in February.

The micro-brewery was founded by Grindleton residents Ian Lait, 40, and David Brown, 46, who both decided they needed to change the direction of their careers.

Ian, a former director in a Yorkshire dental company, said he and David, who worked as a security consultant, were meeting the new business challenge head on.

He said: "We met at a 40th birthday party in 2006 and realised we had a passion, as most men do, for beer.

"I had been a craft brewer at home and had a discussion with someone about it and said I wanted to open a micro-brewery and that's where the genesis of the idea came from.

"Me and David decided to go for it and both gave up our jobs in April."

With the help of money from Lancashire County Council's Rosebud funding stream, which helps local businesses, the company was able to start brewing at its current base in April and is now offering two Christmas ales.

Hairy Fairy (4 per cent abv) and Plum Duff (4.3 per cent abv) are the two festive offerings and Ian said they play an important role in the company's fortunes.

He said: "They are proving popular because obviously people like to stock them at this time of the year.

"It's very difficult to judge what impact Christmas sales have made because we are increasing week on week."

The company is run by the two men who employ an office worker, with Ian doing most of the brewing.

With real ales such as Gradely Bitter and Ribble Rouser, the company is shifting approximately 5,000 pints a week.

Burnley's Moorhouse's Brewery, which also has a festive ale Santa's Piste, said it will sell over 250,000 pints of its six beers throughout December.