TICKERS and scratchers hold the key for Blackburn brewer Robert Bell who runs one of Britain's smallest micro-breweries. They are the real ale enthusiasts from CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) who will go to any lengths to ensure they have sampled every one of Britain's traditional beers.

And now that Robert's Three Bs Brewery is listed in CAMRA'S Good Beer Guide 2002, his range of beers will be top of their tasting lists.

But with production currently limited to just eight barrels a week, finding a pint of his beers will not be easy for the "anoraks" of the ale world.

"The true hard core real ale enthusiasts are known as tickers and scratchers because they 'tick' or 'scratch' the names of all the beers they sample from the CAMRA guides," explained Robert.

"This helps to create an interest in small breweries like Three Bs which in turn helps me sell my beers to pubs that specialise in traditional ales."

Robert's beers - all named with references to Blackburn's once-proud textile industry - will soon be more widely available. He has just moved his brewery to bigger premises in Stockclough Lane at Feniscowles and is planning to up production to 20 barrels a week.

After three years of running Three Bs on a part-time basis, Robert has taken the big step of going full time. He took redundancy in September from steel giant Corus in Blackburn where he had worked as a project engineer for the past 10 years.

"It was very difficult juggling the two jobs at the same time," said Robert. "The nature of my job with Corus took me all over the country and there were times I had to drive back at night from places like Birmingham to put the beers through the next part of the brewing cycle."

With the help of a small grant and a £10,000 loan guarantee from Blackburn with Darwen Council, he has invested in new brewing equipment and premises.

And as part of his plans for growth, he will be reintroducing his brewery tours which had been a big hit with CAMRA members and other real ale fanatics. At £4 a head and all the beer you could drink, they were certainly good value.

"It was so cramped at the first brewery in Hamilton Street that we could only cram in 12 to 15 people at most," said Robert. "The new brewery is six times the size and there will be far more room for visitors."

Another new venture will be bottled beer later this year. "Most of the big supermarkets are selling bottled real ale these days and I am sure there will be a market for my beers," he added.

Robert runs the brewery with the part-time help of his wife Wendy, a school secretary. Being a one-man band means he has to turn his hand to all aspects of the brewing trade.

In addition to being head brewer, he has to cover sales and marketing, deliver supplies to pubs throughout the North West, collect empty barrels and keep Customs and Excise happy. He even designs and prints the signs that go on the beer pumps.

On the subject of tax, Robert is hoping the Chancellor will have some good news for him and his fellow micro-brewers in his budget. Around a third of the wholesale cost of his beer goes straight to the Exchequer and a campaign is under way to give the minnows of the brewery world a tax break.

"Elsewhere in Europe, there is a reduced tax rate for micro-brewers," explained Robert. "I have spoken to our MP Jack Straw and he has promised to raise the issue with Gordon Brown. Hopefully, they will abolish it altogether which will be a big help to small brewers like me."

Beers from the Three Bs Brewery can be found throughout the North West, generally as a guest ale. They are a regular feature at the Black Horse at Belthorn and are also a favourite of regulars at the Arden Inn at Accrington.

Robert also plans to widen their appeal with appearances at real ale festivals over the year. To all the Tickers and Scratchers out there - keep your pencils sharp!