A LAKE District brewery has completed an expansion project to meet demand for its sought after beers.

The work at the Hawkshead Brewery at Staveley will allow for a 40 per cent increase in capacity under a two year plan.

It means that production will increase from 10,000 hectolitres (6,000 barrels) to 14,000 hectolitres (8,500 barrels) a year.

The brewery has been reorganised, at a cost of £175,000, to boost efficiency, quallity assurance and output. A new cold conditioning room has been built, the fermentation room extended, and new fermentation vessels purchased from Moeschle UK.

Hawkshead’s owner and founder, Alex Brodie said he was happy to put more investment into the brewery and it was a sensible business decision because “the demand from both the traditional and modern craft markets for Head Brewer Matt Clarke’s innovative and full-flavoured beers continues to outstrip our ability to supply.”

“This expansion is not just about brewing more beer,” said Mr Brodie. “It is about brewing more styles of beer, and giving us more flexibility to experiment and add to the already crazily wide range of beers we turn out.”

From its relatively remote base in Cumbria, Hawkshead sells by direct delivery throughout the north of England and selectively via specialist wholesalers elsewhere.

Its iconic summer beer festival has drawn beer lovers to the Lake District for the past ten years. This year’s 10th anniversary festival – Northern Craft - will take place over the weekend July 21 to 23 and will showcase the craft brewery scene in the north of Britain.

The brewery has been brewing at full capacity for the past year.