REAL ale lovers have named five Worcestershire breweries as new entries in this year's Good Beer Guide.

The 2018 edition, published by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), included The Sociable Beer Company in Worcester and The Unity Brew House in Suckley, in its annual guide on where to find the best real ale in Britain.

The Boat Lane Brewery in Evesham, the Lakehouse Brewery in Malvern and Pershore Brewery also appear for the first time.

The Sociable Beer Company, based on Britannia Road, Worcester, was set up by Steve Tromans and Jason Clines and only started brewing properly in January.

Mr Tromans, aged 53, who has lived in Worcestershire for over 20 years, said: "It's wonderful to be included in the guide.

"Being included is only ever going to be a good thing."

The pair originally brewed out of a farmyard shed, sharing the fruits of their labour with friends and family.

Eighty recipes later, they moved into the new premises at the beginning of the year.

They currently brew three ales - Bash, WingDing and Shindig - all named after words for a party, which they sell from the premises every Friday night.

"It only really started out as a hobby but then our friends started saying we ought to do it more as a professional business," said Mr Tromans.

It is still early stages for the brewery having only finished its first brew in January

"It's been going steady. We still have people come and say that they didn't know we were here," said Mr Tromans.

"Distribution is very difficult and with both of us only doing this part-time it would be a struggle at the moment to sell to breweries.

"Hopefully we can start opening a few more days in the week and see where things go from there."

Also included in the guide is the Unity Brew House in Suckley, Worcestershire.

Sarah and Hani Saleh moved to the area in 2015 after deciding they wanted to start a brewery.

They chose to move to Worcestershire because it is one of the few counties that still grows hops and also because it has a large proportion of pubs.

The brewery, located on Stocks Farm, is the first to be located on a hop farm in the country.

Mrs Saleh said: "It is wonderful news because CAMRA is the main body that comments on real ale so to be recognised by them is great."

Since opening, the brewery and bar, which opens on a Friday night and Saturday afternoon, has become a big part of the community.

It regularly draws 50 locals to its bar and over 150 people to its special food events.

"If you want to settle in somewhere quickly, open a brewery," she added.

The Unity Brew House currently brew six ales, all named after breeds of chicken in recognition of the brewery building's former life, and distribute them to around 40 surrounding pubs.

Mrs Saleh brews once or twice a week, making around 3000 pints a time.

Its most popular bottled ale, Frizzle British IPA, recently won a Great Taste Award.