A BLACK Country brewery has honoured the Woodsetton man who was hailed as one of the fathers of the industrial revolution.

Holden's Brewery has launched a new beer to commemorate Abraham Darby, who is famed for finding a new and quicker way to produce iron.

There are around 2,000 bottles of Abraham Darby 1st Molton Glow Special up for grabs, which feature a label designed by Dudley artist Steve Field.

Halesowen News:

Ten per cent of the proceeds from the sales of the new beer will be used to help Upper Gornal and Woodsetton councillors Keiran Casey and Adam Aston and resident Mandy Caddick with their plans to create a permanent memorial to the Mr Darby, was born in Woodsetton in 1678.

It is hoped the monument will be situated on the entrance to Woodsetton at the junction of Sedgley Road and Birmingham New Road, acting as a gateway feature.

Cllr Casey said: "I am extremely grateful to Holden's for producing this beer for us, it is a fantastic thing to do and will massively help the project.

"We are extremely fortunate here in Woodsetton to have a great family run business such as Holden's, something that we can all be extremely proud of.

"I also want to say a big thank you to Mandy Caddick for her support in getting this project off the ground and also to Steve Field at Dudley Council who has done all the artwork for the label and put the plans together for the monument itself.

"It is a fitting tribute to Abraham Darby to produce this beer as it is known that Darby bought his workers a consignment of beer to celebrate after they successfully made pig iron with coke instead of charcoal at the furnace."

Abi Kemp, brewery manager, added: “We are both honoured and delighted to have been asked to produce this special commemorative beer for such an important historical figure.

"We know how much work Mandy and the two local councillors have put in to get this project under way and we can’t wait to see the new monument.

"We hope the beer will fly out and we keep on brewing it for many years to come."

The beer is available to buy from the brewery's shop in George Street.