Town's beer back after 20 years

Brewer Ian Dale and landlord Allan Hayes taste the Border Mild

A master brewer with a taste for tradition is behind the first mild beer made in Wrexham for more than 20 years.

Ian Dale, 57, is making Border Mild - last brewed in the town in 1984 - because of customer demand.

"It seemed to be a dying drink but people asked me for it, so I thought I'd give it a go," said Mr Dale, who owns the Plassey Brewery at Eyton.

Mr Dale said another of his ambitions is to see the defunct Wrexham Lager return as a regular brew in the area.

Mr Dale, who was a finalist six times in the UK Beer Championship in the 1990s, is preparing for his third brew of the 3.6% strength Border Mild.

It is currently being served at two pubs, one in Bangor-on-Dee and another in Llangollen.

Allan Hayes, chairman of Wrexham and North Wales Licensed Victuallers' Association, said: "It's been going down well."

Name in trust

Mr Dale also has ambitions to re-introduce the Wrexham Lager brand.

It closed down in 2000, after a 120-year tradition in the town, when it was bought out by Danish brewing giants Carlsberg-Tetley.

Mr Dale says Welsh water is crucial to the beer's taste

A local MP arranged to buy the title for £1 and to put it in trust until a new start-up option could be found.

Mr Dale, who once worked at the brewery, said he is determined to restore it to local pubs when the conditions are right.

He said: "We're only a small brewery but I want to resurrect the famous names of brewing.

"Historically, Wrexham Lager was the oldest lager brewery in the UK - its bottles were on the Titanic."