A BLACKHEATH micro brewery is toasting itself after picking up its third beer festival award - just a day before its first birthday.

Scott Povey and his partner Sharon Bryant, who live in Corngreaves Road, Cradley Heath, launched the Fixed Wheel Brewery in Long Lane a year ago.

Their "Chain Reaction" pale ale was voted by visitors to Kidderminster Beer Festival in May as their favourite pint of the event.

The couple collected the award from the Wyre Forest branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) at Weavers Real Ale House, Kidderminster, just the day before their first anniversary in business.

Mr Povey, aged 38, a former technical engineer in the motor industry, who is now also a brewer for the Green Duck brewery in Lye, is a record-holding time trial cyclist - which prompted the name of the micro brewery and its ales.

He said: "It's our third prize in our first year - another of our ales, Single Speed Citra, won at both Stourbridge and Bromsgrove beer festivals.

"People we know tell us our beer is nice - but to get direct feedback from festival goers proves we're doing things right."

He described "Chain Reaction" as having a "strong malty backbone, loaded with American hops to give a citrus aroma".

The micro brewery's products are now on wholesale around the country and are served in pubs in the Black Country and Birmingham.

Presenting the latest award, Nick Yarwood, chairman of the Wyre Forest Branch of CAMRA, said: “Fixed Wheel has made a very impressive entry into the brewing industry.

"This being the latest in a line of Beer of Festival awards in their first year proves just what fine beers are being achieved from this newcomer micro-brewery and what an impression they made in their first appearance at Kidderminster Beer Festival."