Cronx Brewery popular at the Palace (From Croydon Guardian)

Cronx ale proves to be a smash hit at Crystal Palace

9:10am Saturday 25th August 2012 in Local news By Andrew Bloss

A pair of Crystal Palace fans are living the dream after they launched a new ale at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Mark Russell, 29 and Simon Dale, 30, have only recently set up the Cronx Brewery in New Addington but already their beers are proving a big hit.

They successfully launched two of their ales a couple of weeks ago but last weekend their newest ale hit the bars at Crystal Palace FC, the first time it has ever been sold.

The Eagles’ fans set up The Cronx in the aftermath of the riots, with the Croydon Guardian exclusively interviewing them back in May.

Their new blonde ale proved to be a big hit with Palace fans, with the beer selling out in many parts of the ground.

The beer will be on sale again at the next home game on September 1 with the plan to sell it at all home games.

Stephen Browett, co-chairman and owner of wine merchants Farr Vintners, said: "We hope to have them here all season. It seemed to go down well.

"People support it as it is a Croydon beer and brewed by Palace fans. We are looking forward to having it the next game. It is something for Croydon to be proud of. "

Mark Russell, one of the brewers, said he was delighted at how the day went. He said: "It went really really well. We got great feedback and it was all very positive.

"It was an ideal day as a lot of people were coming in after being out in the sun and having a pint to quench their first.

"We have got the beer ready to go for the next game. There are tweaks we want to make as we have to do things a little differently because we are selling it at a football ground."

He said: "It was a massive day for us as Palace fans. We were really happy and there was a sense of pride serving the beer we had made at the football club we support. It would have made it even more perfect if we had won.

"Our beer probably did well on Saturday after the game as people could commiserate with a Cronx. Hopefully next time people will be celebrating with a Cronx."