YOUNG brewers are celebrating after beating off stiff competition to win a top industry award.

Wensleydale Brewery at Bellerby, near Richmond, is run by school friends Carl Gehrman, 23, and Geoff Southgate, 24, and has been in business for 18 months.

The brewery’s Top Cog pale ale, specially developed to celebrate the Tour de France, won the North West Yorkshire Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) branch’s Tour de France Special Beer Award.

Several breweries in the region, including big players such as Black Sheep, brewed a special beer to commemorate the world’s biggest cycle race passing through the area over the Summer.

Members of CAMRA and drink lovers alike voted for their favourite special brew and Wensleydale Brewery’s Top Cog came first.

Wensleydale Brewery was established more than ten years ago, but Mr Southgate and Mr Gehrman have been running the business for the last 18 months.

The pair are no strangers to awards for their beers.

They have won a string of local and regional accolades, including the Flavours of Herriot Country Drinks Producer of the Year award.

Their beers, including Semer Water and Gamekeeper, are popular in bars, pubs and restaurants around the Dales and beyond.

Mr Southgate said: “We’re thrilled to have won this award.

“It seemed only right to create a bespoke ale to celebrate the Tour de France, and many breweries chose to do the same, identifying it as a fantastic business opportunity.”

Mr Gehrman added: “CAMRA announced the competition after we’d all produced the beers so of course we were hopeful that everyone would love our Top Cog.

“ It’s totally different to any of the ales we’ve made before and we’re chuffed that it stood out, especially amongst beers from some big names in the region.”