Former Parliamentary Beer Group brewer of the year Stuart Howe has become head brewer at Harbour Brewing Company, near Bodmin.

Howe (above right) has held roles at Sharp’s Brewery, and as head of innovation and craft brewing at the brewery’s parent company, Molson Coors.

He has also been director of brewing at Butcombe Brewery and head brewer at Lost and Grounded Brewers, in Bristol.

Harbour Brewing founder, Eddie Lofthouse, explained that Howe stood out from other candidates owing to his breadth of “industry experience, technical ability and creativity”.

“Stuart is here to oversee the next stage of our growth,” he said.

Lofthouse added that the company has enjoyed a huge increase in sales in this year, while new fermenting vessels are due to be installed later in 2016 to cope with demand.

Howe will lead a team of three other brewers and has already turned his hand to creating a new coffee porter that used Nicaraguan beans supplied by Origin Coffee. The brewery is also planning to release a 3.5% raspberry vanilla Berliner weisse.

Howe said he had followed Harbour’s progress “keenly over the past five years” and was eager to take on the new challenge.

“I have a lot of experience of breweries and this place is run very well. The brewing team are good guys – the sexiest brewing team in Cornwall!” he added.