A WEST Suffolk craft brewery is to celebrate St Patrick’s Day on March 17 with the launch of a new stout.

The Old Cannon pub and brewery in Bury St Edmunds will also be offering traditional Irish Tayto crisps and a special Irish Stew on the day, alongside its new Gunport Stout.

Gunport is described as “soft, mellow and mild with hints of chocolate on the nose, and oatmeal on the palate” and contains 4.4% alcohol by volume.

It has been developed by Old Cannon brewer Chris Waters, with assistance from Tim McGinnis, a member of the bar staff who is a keen amateur brewer.

Garry Clark, owner of The Old Cannon Brewery, said: “Gunport stout is nice and smooth. It received a good response from customers who tried it during its development, telling us that it’s easy to drink, and not too heavy for a stout.”

The Old Cannon, in Cannon Street, Bury, has been brewing beer in its bar since 1999 and is now operatated by The Anglia Pub Company, which is owned by Mr Clark.

The current brewery, pub and restaurant are on the site of the old St Edmund’s Head, a Victorian beer house which closed in 1994.

The business also now includes the Brewery Rooms, which provide bed & breakfast accommodation across the courtyard in the converted Old Cannon Brewery which was built to service the original beer house in 1847.