JOHN Lovett, right, owner of Oxfordshire Ales brewery, and his head brewer Steve Goryll toast success after signing a deal to export their beer to America.

Its Pride of Oxford brew won the Best Golden Ale category at the 2009 World Beer Awards earlier this year and could be among the ales crossing the Atlantic.

The American market is one of the largest in the world, but one of the most difficult for exporters to penetrate, according to UK Trade and Investment, which has been advising Mr Lovett.

However, the brewery, based on the outskirts of Marsh Gibbon, near Bicester, is optimistic that it is on the verge of cracking it.

Spokesman Lizzie Lewis said: “There have always been a few diehards in America who are interested in craft beer. Now, just like here, it is going through a resurgence.”

Picture: Ed Nix