The company behind the Growler Brewery at Pentlow, near Long Melford, has been put up for sale by its directors.

East Anglia-based business rescue specialist McTear Williams & Wood has been instructed to act for Clare Brewing Company Ltd, and says it expects the business to be sold as a going concern.

The Growler Brewery, previously known as Nethergate, was established in Clare in 1986 and relocated to its present site in 2005.

It was acquired by its current shareholders in 2010 ? since when it has undergone a major rebrand, with its new trading name being derived from its best-known beer, Old Growler ? and currently has an annual turnover approaching £2million.

In a statement today, McTear Williams & Wood said today: “In the past few years the business has struggled financially and whilst the shareholders have invested significantly, appointed a new managing director and undertaken cost saving measures, it was unable to recover.

“Clare Brewing Company sought advice from McTear Williams and Wood, whose specialists are optimistic about the possibility of an early sale of the business and its assets.”

Chris McKay, a partner at McTear Williams & Wood, added: “We expected this business to be intensely sought after and in fact we have already received expressions of interest from prospective purchasers. Any interested parties should make contact with me at the earliest opportunity. We are hopeful that a successful transition of ownership will safeguard jobs.”

Growler Brewery, which currently employs 12 people, has won a string of awards of the years, including the Campaign for Real Ale’s national Champion Winter Beer title on two occasions, the Good Pub Guide Brewery of the Year honour in 2011 and CAMRA’s Champion Speciality Beer award last year.

Besides Old Growlwer, its range of beers include Growler Bitter, Gladness (brewed in conjunction with members of the band Madness), Essex Border, Lemon Head, Umbel Ale and Umbel Magna.