A WORCESTERSHIRE man who started a micro-brewery with just £33 to his name is now looking to expand his ale across the region and beyond.

Rob Wintrip, who grew up in Castlemorton Common, near Malvern, has turned his dream into reality and established his first beer “Hafren” in a number of pubs and bars across the county after receiving his suppliers’ licence.

Head brewer Rob, who currently lives in Worcester, has rapidly expanded Three Shires Brewery, in Lower Wick, after helping a friend build his own brewery in Whitby, North Yorkshire.

Rob, who went to Hanley Castle High School in Upton-upon-Severn, started off brewing five times a week, producing about 100 litres of Hafren.

Such is the growing demand from local pubs, he has upgraded to a hand-built, 600-litre brewery supplying several pubs in the south of the county.

Thirty-year-old Rob, who still works full-time in social care specialising in young people with challenging behaviour, said: “The Story of Three Shires Brewery began as a pipe dream for me in the summer of 2013 while sipping fine ale by a log fire in the Lake District.

“Two long, hard years later, after working more than 100-hour weeks cleaning tables and pulling pints, my micro-brewery was built from scratch using all my wages to buy the equipment, bit by bit.”

Hafren, a roasted chestnut-coloured, traditional bitter, has gone down a treat in pubs including the Wheatsheaf Inn, Worcester; the Conservatory, Worcester; Red Lion, Cradley; Nelson Inn, Suckley; Three Horse Shoes, Malvern; Nags Head, Malvern; Wyche Inn, Malvern, and the Defford Arms, Pershore.

And Rob is hoping more outlets across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire come on board.

He said: “The success of Hafren has happened so quickly that the need to rapidly expand is essential.

“With no fancy equipment I’ve had to master an old and traditional standard of brewing that reflects many fine ales which are enjoyed today. Attention to detail is vital to creating the perfect pint.

“The response to Hafren from beer drinkers has been absolutely fantastic and I hope more pubs, bars and restaurants will try it as a guest ale soon.”

For more information, see www.threeshiresbrewery.co.uk or go to https://www.facebook.com/The-Three-Shires-Brewery-LTD-628778810476087/