AFTER brewing nearly one million pints of beer a micro-brewery in Oxford is changing hands.

Shotover Brewing Company has announced new ownership of The Shotover Brewery at Horspath,near Oxford.

Founded by Ed and Pip Murray in 2009, the brewery’s craft beers have become popular in pubs around the city including Prospect, Scholar, Trinity and Porter ales.

Brewing takes place in a 200-year-old stable at Manor Farm in Horspath, on the southern slope of Shotover Hill.

Founder Ed Murray said: "My wife Pip and I started the brewery in 2009 and it has grown into a thriving local craft business producing high quality, distinctive beers.

"We have had a lot of fun and made a lot of friends in the trade but we are not getting any younger and it’s time to hand over the reins to a younger, dynamic team who can carry the business forward.

"It is an exciting time for the brewery with the launch of our new beer Hoptric and with the approach of the production of our millionth pint, a real milestone will be reached.

"I’m proud that we leave behind a very strong team who will maintain the values of the business and that the brewery will continue to be a family run independent local concern.

"The new owners are the Ross family who are old friends of ours and whose daughter Caitlin has been working with us since early this year, learning the ropes and is now well placed to take over the reins."

Co-director at Shotover Caitlin Ross added: "We are delighted to be able to take ownership of The Shotover Brewery.

"Pip and Ed have created a brewery that has a great reputation for the quality of its beers and the service it provides to local customers and has a brilliant creative and technical team in head brewer Mattias Sjoberg and young brewer Jamie O’Sullivan.

Co-director Alastair Ross added: "This is such an exciting time for Shotover.

"We have a great respect for the Murrays' brewing philosophy and we have exciting plans and ambitions to take Shotover to the next stage in its development.

"The brewery, based in Horspath, will be undergoing major investment and changes from early 2017, with a new brewhouse, shop and other exciting developments to be announced."

For further information visit shotoverbrewing.com