Shepton Mallet-based The Wild Beer Co wants to build a new facility on the Bath & West Showground, which will have the capacity to brew over 12 million litres a year.

The move will allow the team, founded by Andrew Cooper and Brett Ellis to develop the current brewery into a barrel ageing specialist site.

Its new brewery will include a taproom, restaurant, private dining and corporate hosting facilities with gardens growing fruit and veg for the beers and kitchen.

Brett Ellis, co-founder of The Wild Beer Co, said: “They have led the evolution of a wild beer market in the UK, these beers are fermented by wild yeasts, are often sour and/or funky, and will regularly be barrel-aged.

“They are slow beers, the flavours take longer to develop, but the results can be more complex, layered and refined. The brewery was started with a passion for the flavours of barrel-aged wild and sour beers.

“Our base in Somerset was the perfect backdrop that provided the inspiration and ingredients to begin that dream.”

 “The Society is looking forward to welcoming The Wild Beer Co to the Food Enterprise Zone of the Showground, added Rupert Cox, the company’s CEO.

He added: “To have such an ambitious and growing food & drink business here will help us add value to the offering for our on-site visitors, as well as demonstrate the Society’s commitment to support local companies in the sector.

“Ambitious and dedicated entrepreneurs producing top quality beer products in the heart of Somerset – what’s not to like?”