MICRO-breweries and national companies nestle side by side in west Wiltshire and take advantage of the local malts and hops available.

Here is our round-up of local brewers and their products.

Box Steam Brewery www.boxsteambrewery.com (01225) 858383

The Box Steam Brewery, which brews three different ales made with locally sourced barley and hops, also sells their ale in 10 and 20 litre boxes. "Beer in a Box" is the brainchild of Gordon King, who manages the brewery and prices start at £28.

Mr King said: "Unlike the barrels we deliver to pubs, we take the sediment out so it doesn't matter if it's moved about a bit, it will still be ok to drink straight away."

The boxes are similar to the ones used for wine with a polypin bag inside them, making it easier to pour the beer out from the small tap at the base of the box. Each one is filled to order from the site of the brewery, in between Box and Colerne, which guarantees the freshness of the beer. And if 10 or 20 litres prove too much to drink, they also produce four-and-a-half pint carrykeg's too.

The brewery has gone from strength to strength since it was taken over in 2006 by the managers of the Cross Guns pub in Avoncliff and The Inn at Freshford.

As well as the three original ales: Rev Awdry's Ale, Tunnel Vision and Blind House, the brewery has created a Christmas special, Figgy Pudding. This is stronger, darker and is made with chocolate malt barley from Warminster Maltings - Britain's oldest working floor maltings. The beer is produced in a Fulton steam boiler inherited from Bath Ales on tiny premises on Oaks Farm.

For Mr King, the opportunity to run the brewery came at just the right time: "I went into teaching after university but while I was in New Zealand on holiday I realised my heart wasn't really in it. I came back to England and went back to work behind the bar at The Cross Guns.

"When the landlord bought the brewery he asked me if I wanted to run it and the rest is history."

Box Steam Brewery is now selling bottled Tunnel Vision, named after Isambard Kingdom Brunel's famous tunnel in the village of Box, from the brewery and other shops.

The launch coincides with the local legend that the light of the rising sun can only be seen directly through the tunnel on April 9 - Brunel's birthday.

This is the first of the Box Steam Brewery beers to be bottled and is available from The Cross Guns at Avoncliff, The Inn at Freshford and selected independent retailers. It will soon be available from the brewery's website.

Wessex Brewery, Longbridge Devrill - 07931565001

Freelance brewer Chas Hoppen started his brewery in 2001 after collecting equipment from breweries that had gone bust and been unable to pay him. He uses a simple and traditional method to create real ales in cask and the British bitters range from 3.5 to nine per cent. Chas supplies his ale to local freehouses within a 10 mile radius of the brewery.

Moles Brewery, Melksham www.molesbrewery.com (01225) 704734

Cascade Drinks was established in Melksham in 1973 to manufacture and wholesale soft drinks. Nine years later Roger Catte set up a brewery on the site to brew cask conditioned beer using his nickname to name the brewery Moles. It produces a selection of beers, including four seasonal ales. Favourites include the top-selling session bitters Tap and Best, the stronger Molennium and the five per cent Mole Catcher. Brewing materials include locally malted Maris Otter ale malt with a small amount of Crystal Malt.

Wadworth & Co, Devizes www.wadworth.co.uk (01380) 723361

The historic Wadworth Brewery opened in 1837 and was acquired by Henry Wadworth in 1875. It's a traditional brewery and one of the few in the country to employ a cooper. The traditional shire horses can be seen and a £600,000 visitor centre opened this year.

Westbury Ales, Westbury www.westburyales.com 07771976865

Brewing since October 2004, the range of regular beers includes: Midnight Mash (five per cent), which was first brewed at midnight and is a premium ale full of fruit, with a hint of sweetness. Bitham Blonde (4.5 per cent) combines Maris Otter pale malt and Crystal malt, with a blend of three hops to give a refreshing pint. Pale Storm (4.3 per cent) is a pale tawny beer with malt, balanced fruit and a floral aroma from challenger hops. Early Daze (4.1 per cent) was the brewery's first beer and Cascade hops add a crisp, citrus flavour and bitterness. Amber Daze (4.1 per cent) is a classic ale brewed from classic varieties; Maris Otter & Crystal malts with Fuggles and Goldings hops.