THE ever-expanding York Brewery has taken another step on the ladder to full capacity. Opening two pubs has done the only brewery within the city walls no harm in its quest to produce (and sell) more than a million pints a week.

And a deal, sealed recently with pub group Enterprise Inns, is set to further boost sales of the flagship beer Terrier.

Breaking into the pub chain opens up another 41 pubs to the product, and an innovative competition is being run to capitalise on this.

"It is an exciting time for us," said brewery boss Tony Thomson.

"We are now able to offer our quality product to a large number of local beer drinkers who may not have had access to it before.

"Opening our two pubs is the single biggest move we have made to reach our dream of full capacity, but deals such as this one gives our product more exposure. Which can only be a good move for us."

To make the most of the new deal, Tony has come up with an enterprising idea.

A "drink the brewery dry" competition is being run at each of the newly Terriered-up pubs.

The pub which orders the most Terrier between Monday, December 17 and Thursday, January 31, will win a chance to drink the brewery dry.

Or at least invite 20 of its regulars down to York Brewery for an unfettered two hours of drinking York Brewery products.

Gallons (18 and nine for second and third respectively) of the stuff are also up for grabs for the runners-up.

Some of the pubs taking part in the competition, and therefore now selling Terrier, include, the Ship at Acaster Malbis, the Oddfellows Arms at Pocklington and the Minster Inn at York.

u THE White Bear in the wonderful brewery town of Masham has scooped the coveted CAMRA Pub of the Season award.

The Harrogate and Ripon branch of the real ale group picked the White Bear for the "excellent quality of its beer".

Manager Sue Thomas said the award came as a wonderful surprise, especially as the White Bear only re-opened just before Christmas last year following a 15-month closure.

u MORE than a dozen North Yorkshire pubs are in for a chance to prove their regulars are the best at traditional pub games.

Skill at darts, shoe ha'penny and dominoes will decide who wins the Pubmaster Pub Challenge.

Over the next nine months, nearly 5,000 customers will compete against each other in the hope of becoming the team in with a chance of a trip to America.

Trips to Barcelona, days at football matches and at the races are also at stake.

North Street's First Hussar is taking part as well as the Volunteer Arms, on Watson Street, the Horse Shoe in Easingwold and the Cross Keys at Malton.

The competition focuses on the ambience, community spirit and fun of local pubs, claims the competition organisers at Pubmaster.

Bartalk sees it as just another excuse to have a drink.