COLEFORD is to have its first brewery for many years when Don Burgess of Freeminer fame sets up on one of the town's industrial estates.
Approval has just been granted for Don's new brewery which will expand his production eight-fold and allow him to sell his beer across Britain.
"There has been so much interest in our beer. When I actually went out to sell the beer the reaction from wholesalers was not 'so what?' but 'about blooming time'," said Don.
"The extra production puts us in a completely different league."
Freeminer beer is already sold through top store Selfridges but until now production capacity has been the limiting factor for selling more.
Additionally Don has faced the problem of a lack of outlets in the Forest's tied houses which do not carry guest beers.
His application to move from the original brewery which he set up in a pub cellar in Sling to the new purpose-built premises was supported by Forest councillors.
Don said it had taken "a lot of hard work" to move things along but he was very pleased the go-ahead had been given.
He would be starting work as soon as they could get the JCBs in on the site and expected things to be up and running within a few months.
It is also expected that the new brewery will create much-needed jobs in the Coleford area.