A BEER produced by a small independent brewery is one of nine through to a national final.

Nightmare Ale, created by Hambleton Ales, in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, recently won a gold medal in the Northern Beer competition, organised by the Society of Independent Brewers (Siba).

Now Nightmare is one of nine going through to the Siba National Beer contest.

It will compete against the winners from other regions in the porters, strong milds, old ales and stouts category, for a chance of the national title and a place on the Siba Champions Bar at the Great British Beer Festival, in London, this summer.

Hambleton Ales managing director Nick Stafford said, “We’re delighted that judges have voted for Nightmare and hope that it also scores highly at the national event.

“We’d love to see it win a national title, and a guaranteed presence at the festival – the country’s biggest.”

Since its foundation in 1991, the brewery has won a number of awards.