A CUMBRIAN brewery that claims to be the county's 'newest and smallest' has scooped an award for one of its tipples.

The 'tiny' Tarn Hows Brewery, in Outgate, received the prestigious Beer of the Festival Award from Liverpool CAMRA for one of its pale ales.

Puddled Duck at 5.2 per cent was selected from around 200 beers and ales at the festival earlier this year and brewers Alastair Kirk and Kelly Barbenson have just been presented with their award.

The pair were revealed as the overall winners at The Red Lion, Hawkshead, where their beers are sold.

"I was absolutely astonished as we were just hoping it would be clear enough to drink," said Alastair.

With vanilla tones and flavours from oak casks - made and bought from Wetherby, home the last master cooper in England - Puddled Duck is just one of three beers made at the couple's home.

The other two on offer from the 'nano' brewery is Beertrix Porter, a Guinness like bitter at 4 per cent and Grized Ale at 3.4 per cent, an old English style ale.

"We've been home brewing for some time and developed an interest in setting up as a project rather than a business," said Alastair, who works in civil engineering and surveying. "We brew as pure a beer as we can using old methods, using no chemicals.

"It makes it quite tricky and takes longer to clear but we don't add anything to it - a lot of breweries add additives but we just use local water and quality ingredients."

He added another plus with using the traditional process and no additives meant there was less chance of getting a hangover - or at least on that is not as bad.

Not yet a commercial venture, the business was set up in November last year and currently only produces beers in casks which are available from the Hawkshead pub.

"We're hoping to to get into other places in 12 months," said Alastair. "Everyone seems to say our beers are nice so we will just keep plodding away and trying to do our best."

Ale lovers can also expect some special summer beers in the upcoming months, but for the moment Alastair is remaining tight-lipped over what they will be.

For more information visit www.tarnhowsbrewery.com