A BEER-LOVING dad has 'realised his dream' after opening Hay-on-Wye's first brewery in almost a century.

Luke Manifold started home brewing in his kitchen six years ago and can now produce 1,800 pints a week.

His brewery named Lucky 7 Beer Co is now supplying businesses in Hay and pubs in the Welsh capital.

Luke’s beer quest began after tasting a friend’s home brew.

"He’d used some imported hops from New Zealand and I was just blown away by the flavours," said Luke.

"It opened my eyes to what was possible with beer - I was hooked on those taste experiences and the whole culture of brewing. From that moment, I had to try and make for myself what I was tasting."

Lucky 7 Beer Co makes modern, small-batch beers, capitalising on the current interest in microbreweries and inspired by bold-flavoured, American craft ales.

It is one of 20 new Welsh breweries to appear in the 2017 edition of Camra’s Good Beer Guide.

And this summer Lucky 7 represented Hay in Cardiff at the ‘Brewfest’ beer festival.

It is thought the last brewery in Hay - based at the Swan Hotel in Church Street - ceased production in the late 1930s. Brewing was also taking place at what is now the Red Indigo restaurant on Castle Street around the turn of the last century.

"The reception to our first beers has been fantastic," Luke added.

"We have loads of exciting ideas and we’re looking forward to the challenges ahead. Hopefully we can build on our promising start and put Hay back on the Welsh beer map."

Lucky 7 will be showcasing four new beers at a ‘Tap Take Over’ event at Beer Revolution, Market Street, Hay-on-Wye on Saturday from 3pm.