AN OSWESTRY brewery has been recognised as one of the best in the county in a celebration that also marked a milestone for the town.

On Saturday, November 20, members of Shrewsbury and West Shropshire Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) presented the Shropshire Brewers' Challenge Cup to Stonehouse Brewery.

Members were thrilled not only because of the quality of the beer, Stonehouse's Wrangler Session IPA, but because we were able to travel to the brewery on the first passenger service from Oswestry Station to Weston Wharf since January 19 1965.

The trip to the Brewery by train was arranged by Dave Roll of the Cambrian Heritage Railway (CHR) who is also a CAMRA member.

CHR volunteers have restored the line from Oswestry and turned the goods-only Weston Wharf halt into a passenger station which will be open to the public on running days from April 2022.

The trip was supported by many volunteers on the day who staffed the stations, the train and crossings in between.

Dave said: "Stonehouse Brewery have acknowledged their links to the railway from the outset, with their locomotive logos and railway-themed core beers Station Bitter, Cambrian Gold and Ballast Porter among others.

"They have been very supportive of Cambrian Heritage Railways and it will be great to have a link between the town centre and the brewery to the benefit of both and the town's tourist economy.

"I think it is wonderful that our first passenger service on that section of the line is to take a CAMRA group to the brewery to present a much-deserved award."

The Shropshire Brewers' Cup is a judged real ale competition in which beers from brewers around the county are tasted by CAMRA members, licensees and brewers from other areas.

In a close competition Wrangler came ahead of Salopian Brewery's First Time Caller and Three Tuns Breweries Cleric's Cure.

Wrangler brewer Shane Parr said: "We're thrilled to win another award from our friends in CAMRA, and for a beer which we really enjoy ourselves.

"Awards like this one opened doors for us in our early days, and continue to show us that we're doing something right."