JOHN Smith's cask beer is being brewed again in Tadcaster - for now.

The beer came under fire from drinkers and publicans in York after production was switched from Tadcaster to Warrington.

They claimed the beer was tangy and that it quickly lost its head.

But Scottish & Newcastle, which brews the beer, today confirmed it was again being produced in Tadcaster.

A spokesman for the company said: "In order to gain a better understanding of the recent product quality issues experienced by some stockists of cask John Smith's we have been producing supplementary brews at our Tadcaster brewery.

"We can confirm that this beer has been delivered to trade customers alongside the Burtonwood brewed product."

Although Scottish & Newcastle was unable to confirm for how long the beer would be brewed in Tadcaster, it said the move had no bearing on its decision to transfer production.

It said: "We are pleased to report that we have made significant progress in our work with Thomas Hardy Burtonwood to eradicate earlier product quality issues."

But Gary Penrose, owner of the Cue Ball Club snooker hall, off Lawrence Street, York, who believes the cask John Smith's he has been selling to customers was brewed in Tadcaster, described it as "brilliant."

"It had dipped off, we'd been having problems, but since we put this brew on just over a week ago, it's been brilliant," he said.

"Our customers are well pleased. I hope the brewing is brought back to Tadcaster - we've had umpteen problems, with customers walking out and refusing to drink it but it's been fantastic."

Steve Bradley, who tasted the John Smith's at the club, claimed it tasted different to the Warrington-brewed beer: "It was magnificent and so smooth on the palate that I was forced to test several further pints to check it was no fluke. I implore the brewery to bring production back to Tadcaster. If they don't I'll stick to my cider."

A spokesman for Scottish & Newcastle said that it was difficult to tell where a particular beer had been made.

But he said the company was aiming to make all John Smith's beer taste as good as its loyal drinkers remembered.