Danczuk samples Gordon’s Brown Ale

Simon Danczuk enjoying a bottle of Gordon’s Brown Ale with MPs Janet Anderson and Jim Dobbin

Rochdale’s Labour Parliamentary Candidate Simon Danczuk has toasted the success of Britain’s thriving microbrewery industry, which he says is as a result of the Small Brewers’ Relief, introduced by Gordon Brown.

Mr Danczuk claims that Gordon Brown’s reduction in duty, when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer, has seen microbreweries save around £100,000 a year for a brewery producing 20,000 barrels. He believes more real ales are currently being brewed in Britain than at any time since 1971.

Mr Danczuk recently took time out, with Jim Dobbin MP for Heywood and Middleton and Janet Anderson MP for Whitworth, to sample one of the latest creations by the Oldham-based Owl Brewing Company. Gordon’s Brown Ale is described as “the natural successor to recent lightweights” with a taste that combines “traditional British values, strength of character and mellow integrity”.

He commented: “I was told that it was a beer not to be taken lightly and it certainly didn’t disappoint.  The growth of our microbreweries is a little known small business success story and it should be celebrated. The French and the Italians are the first to celebrate their fine wines as a source of great national pride. Why shouldn’t we celebrate our ales, which are among the best in the world?”

He added: “Here in Rochdale we have some very good microbreweries and I’m very pleased our Labour Government is supporting them, they are an important part of our local economy. They don’t have the hype and promotion of the national breweries but they have a strong and loyal customer base and are doing a great job.”