A farm-based micro-brewery pioneered its new ales among beer aficionados.

Cullingworth-based Old Spot Brewery had two brews to test the taste buds at last weekend's Keighley Beer Festival.

The brewery, which has operated for just a few weeks at Manor Farm, in Station Road, offered Lift-off and Dog's In't Barrell.

Julian Hargreaves, partner in the brewery, said: "We were keen for people to try it and to get some feedback.

"It has already been out to some local pubs and we are very happy with the results."

The brewery was named after an old sheep dog called Spot who had retired at Manor Farm, added Mr Hargreaves, who is in partnership with Chris Thompson and his parents, Anne and Robert, of Manor Farm.

The brewery logo shows Spot poking his head out of a beer barrel.

The two ales were among more beers than ever at the event, organised by Keighley and Craven Campaign for Real Ale.

Joining the newcomers was a beer especially brewed to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the town's market charter.

Charter Ale, brewed by Keighley-based micro brewery Goose Eye, was among six ales getting their first outing at the three-day festival.

Andy Moore, organiser of the Keighley and Craven Campaign for Real Ale Festival, said: "Our area is particularly well blessed with micro breweries.

"We have eight, which is a lot for a branch of our small size."

Festival goers had a choice of about 86 different brews, as well as ciders, perry, fruit wines and bottle beers from Germany the Czech Republic and the USA.

"It is unusual for us to have American beers, but we acquired them from the CMRA Great British Beer Festival in Olympia, London," said Mr Moore.

"There were a few left over and we decided to have them for the festival."

While the London festival attracted 47,000 people over five days, Keighley's "more intimate and friendly affair" attracted 1,441 people.

Visitors drank more than 6,000 pints of beer, cider and perry over the three days while listening to blues, brass and jazz music performers.

Visitors voted the best beer as Eastwood and Sanders 1872 Porter, made in Elland, while a tasting panel voted the 1872 joint best beer with Lancashire's Pictish Brewer's Gold.

Andy said the decision to add cider and perry to the long-running Keighley Beer Festival's title proved successful in attracting more cider fans.

He said: "We sold out of cider and perry for the first time. We had eight different ciders this year -- next year we'll order more and offer about a dozen types.

"There's been an upturn in the popularity of cider recently. We now have four pubs in the area selling traditional cider, including the Boltmakers and Brown Cow, in Keighley.

"It was a very successful festival -- up on last year in terms of people through the door and beer sold."

A free shuttle service took visitors to and from Keighley Railway Station, run by Keighley Community Transport and sponsored by Keighley Town Council.