Cheers! Martin Strawbridge, head brewer at the new Downton Brewery Company. DA4635A NEW brewery is up and running in Downton, producing an organic best bitter in time for Christmas and the New Year.

The Downton Brewery Company is a purpose-built micro-brewery, located in Batten Road, on the Downton industrial estate.

Its first beer, which is now available at two outlets in Salisbury, is Chimera Gold, an amber gold best bitter-strength beer, brewed with organic hops from Kent and organic malt from Warminster.

Behind the venture are shareholders and directors Alison Freezer and Martin Howard and brewer Martin Strawbridge, a former chemist with Fuller's Brewery and a brewer with Downton's Hop-back Brewery.

Mr Howard told the Journal: "The objective of the new company is to brew beer that sells because of its quality and individuality, using organic ingredients whenever possible.

"We are leasing the premises from the Hop-back Brewery and hiring certain items and services from them, but we are a separate company - we enjoy a commercial relationship with them."

At the moment, the brewery is producing about 20 barrels a week but it has the room and capability to make more.

Chimera Gold is on sale at The Village public house, in Wilton Road, Salisbury, and at the Wyndham Arms, on the corner of College Street and Estcourt Road, Salisbury.