A HISTORIC Keighley brewery is launching its first-ever beer collaboration.

Timothy Taylor's has joined forces with Bakewell-based brewer Thornbridge to produce Artesian, an elderflower and gooseberry pale ale.

Family-run Taylor's, founded in 1858, said it was delighted to be involved in the landmark partnership.

Head brewer, Andy Leman, says: "The two breweries have long admired each other’s approach to cask and craft beer respectively, with Landlord and Jaipur both being widely regarded as pioneers within their respective categories and winning more awards than any other beers.

"Our mutual knowledge and passion has led us to brew a style of beer that can be showcased in the more traditional cask format for pubs, but also enjoyed in keg format in bars and restaurants and from cans at home.

"The Artesian collaboration with Thornbridge comes just five months after Hopical Storm became our first beer to be launched in a can.

"It has been a pleasure to work alongside the brewing team at Thornbridge, which has a great reputation for its partnerships and shares our uncompromising passion for quality and consistency, so was a natural choice for our first brewing collaboration.

"Artesian is a fresh pale ale that just screams summer and was brewed using crystal, Chinook and Amarillo hops, pale ale malt and wheat. It is packed with aroma and flavour from the addition of elderflowers and gooseberries, and we look forward to hearing how our customers are enjoying it over the next few weeks."

Rob Lovatt, head brewer at Thornbridge, said the brewery was "incredibly proud" to be the first to work alongside Timothy Taylor's on a beer collaboration.

He added: "Nearly everybody at Thornbridge regularly drinks Landlord, so to create a modern pale ale with Taylor's is really exciting for the whole team!"

Artesian's official launch takes place at the Thornbridge Peakender Festival, a beer, food and music event being held this coming weekend at the Bakewell showground.

And it will then be available to trade and consumers for a limited period.

Mr Leman adds: "At 4.2 per cent, Artesian is a light and quaffable pale ale, brewed for easy enjoyment with bountiful elderflowers and zingy gooseberries added to create a vibrant mix of summer flavours. For beer lovers who enjoy food pairing, it is a good match for goat cheese and fig crostini!"

Thornbridge brewery was founded by Jim Harrison and Simon Webster in 2005, in outbuildings at Thornbridge Hall.

In 2009 a new state-of-the-art brewery was built at Riverside, Bakewell, to meet demand and enable expansion of the beer range.