THE team from Hickory's Smokehouse have been busy brewing up a storm since their popular Wall Heath restaurant burnt down.

Members of staff from the American-style eaterie, which had only been open for nine months on the site of the old Kingfisher nightspot before it was gutted by fire, have created their own 'gypsy brewing' company called Charleston Brewing Co.

Tapping into their passion for authentic Southern-style beers, they've been playing with flavours and mixing malts to create a new brew ahead of their re-opening next year.

And their first offering, an American-style IPA Goose Creek, has been hitting the right notes with ale fans at Hickory's sites around the country.

Gypsy brewing is so named because the brewers travel to a functioning brewing facility to produce their own beer - and last week the team took their new brew on the road to Lye craft brewers Sadlers Ales where they spent the day refining the product with experts from the brewery based on the Conyers Trading Estate.

Ian King, sales director at Sadler’s, said: "I am delighted that we are working so closely with Hickory’s in assisting them with the development of their craft beer ranges. We are both really pleased with Goose Creek."

Sammy Sale, head of bar development at Hickory’s Smokehouse, said: "We had an amazing day with the team at Sadlers. It’s a real honour to be able to tap into their incredible knowledge and use their amazing facilities and we are hoping their input really shines through in our next batch of Goose Creek."

Featuring citrus notes from a variety of American hops and a warming amber colour from the malts, Goose Creek represents the team’s first foray into brewing and they've promised it won't be the last.

Sammy said: "We are working on a very special brew for the re-opening of our much-loved Wall Heath site next year.

"The new restaurant and bar is going to be bigger and better than ever and after all the amazing support we have had we think our guests deserve their very own beer to toast the launch of their new Smokehouse."