A CHOCOLATE Stout from a North Yorkshire Brewery will make its UK debut this weekend.

Daleside Brewery introduced its unusual ale after a buyer in Finland approached them last year.

It was delivered in October for the Christmas trade but all 10,000 bottles flew off the shelves in just five weeks.

The dark stout, which includes Belgian Chocolate, has since also proved a hit in Denmark.

A shipment is currently on its way to New Zealand and another order has been received from Italy.

Now the Harrogate-based brewery will test the UK trade reaction at the Harrogate Speciality and Fine Food Fair.

The stout is described as having a distinct smell of hot chocolate, offering sweet and bitter tastes on the palate.

Eric Lucas, managing director, said: "It is a niche flavour and therefore we think the product here will appeal to the speciality market, the smaller specialist delis and retailers."

The brewery will also feature some of its other ales which include Daleside Bitter, Daleside Blonde, Monkey Wrench, Old Legover and Ripon Jewel.

Other local businesses attending the fair include It's Nuts Free which was founded by Angela Russell, from Harrogate, when she discovered her 18 month-old daughter was allergic to nuts.

She began making 10-20 nut free cakes a week but today employs nine, selling 10 to 20 pallets a week.

Her products are sold in local cafes, delis and restaurants as well as Asda, Morrison's, Sainsbury's and even the NHS.

Robert and Lea Darling of Burtree House Farm, Darlington, will showcase their award winning range of hand-made luxury puddings which have been praised by celebrity chefs Jean Christopher Novelli and Rick Stein.