An award-winning charity has joined forces with a craft brewery to help raise funds for people with learning disabilities and autism.

The Bren Project and Deva Craft Beer have created a brand new beer that will appeal to real-ale aficionados, as well as help those in need.

The beer is called Autumn Rye and is available in a number of bars and pubs in Chester, with Artichoke on the canal side, The Cellar on City Road and The Piper in Hoole being the first Chester pubs to offer it for sale.

Charity manager at The Bren Project Graham Weaver said: “The Bren Project has been working in Chester for a decade, organising supported work placements for adults with learning disabilities and autism.

“We’re always looking for new ways to raise money and let people know who we are and what we do, so when Nick at Deva Craft Beer agreed to work with us to create a fundraising beer, we were over the moon. We hope this is just the beginning of our partnership with them.

“The people of Chester have been so supportive of us, we hope they’ll enjoy our beer and we’d like to wish them all a very Merry Christmas.”

Bren Project Autumn Rye pumpclip

Deva Craft is a family run, independent microbrewery established in late 2014 and is based just outside of Chester. They brew progressive hoppy ales in cask, keg and bottles that are available to the public and trade.

Owner and director at Deva Craft Beer Nick Gilbody said: “We were very pleased and humbled to be asked to help The Bren Project raise funds and awareness regarding learning difficulties and autism in the Chester area. They do fantastic work that makes a massive difference to a wide spectrum of people and we were proud to brew alongside them. Hope everyone enjoys the beer!”

The Bren Project was established in 2005 and the charity’s mission is to develop the social, emotional and economic well-being of people with learning disabilities and autism through personalised supported workplace opportunities in partnership with the local community. These opportunities usually take the form of one-day- a-week placements in the vocational area of the beneficiaries’ choice, which last for eight weeks. All the beneficiaries are provided with one to one Job Coach support throughout the placement.

In 2015, the Bren Project launched Bren Bikes, a social enterprise refurbishing and recycling unwanted bicycles from their workshop in Newton, where they also offer sales and services at extremely accessible prices.