A FORMER soldier has taken over a north Herefordshire brewery.

The Mayfields Brewery, originally based at Bishops Frome, is now brewing in Leominster after being taken over by Adam Smith.

Adam, whose previous experience was limited to homebrewing, made the move into commercial production after completing a course at Sunderland University’s Brewlab training centre.

The business is very much a family affair with Adam brewing and making deliveries and his wife Marianela in charge of sales and paperwork.

“We have sold our first couple of brews very quickly, with it appearing at various beer festivals,” said Adam.

“We are now working to increase local trade, working within a 50-mile radius of the brewery.”

The brewery’s current beers include Hop Pickers Gold, Pioneer, Naughty Nells and Auntie Myrtle’s, which won a Gold Award at last year’s Barrels Beer Festival in Hereford.