LIVERPOOL brewer Cains is in talks with several major US importers and hopes to clinch a US export deal early in the new year.

The Toxteth-based firm expects to reap the rewards of a trade mission it took part in this September, when joint managing director Sudarghara Dusanj attended a key Las Vegas brewing convention, supported by the government-backed export agency UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and regeneration agency Liverpool Vision.

His aim during the trade mission was to spread the word among American importers about Cains’ famous brewing heritage.

Since returning to the UK, Mr Dusanj revealed that Cains has been in negotiations with four prospective importers and he said he is confident a deal will be struck with at least one of their potential American partners within weeks.

Mr Dusanj said: “We are close to doing a deal with one of them in the New Year.

“They are all national importers and a couple represent groups of English-style pub chains who are interested in our Cains Export Lager and keg bitter.”

Last month, the Stanhope Street business revealed it had clinched its first export order in China, to Liverpool’s twin city of Shanghai, when it shipped a container of 12,000 bottles of its premium brew Export Lager.

And Mr Dusanj said the Chinese importer is already talking with Cains about the shipment of a second container. He added: “It (America) is going to take time, but if you take something like China, it is very exciting.” He said the brewery is performing well, just over a year since it was forced into administration, and was bought back from the administrators by he and brother Ajmail Dusanj.

“We are doing quite well. Our latest brew of our Christmas ale has already sold out.

“We only did one brewing run, but we didn’t anticipate it being as popular as it has been.”

The Chinese export deal was the first time Cains Lager has been exported, and Mr Dusanj revealed that the brewer was aiming for similar deals with distributors in Beijing.

He praised UKTI and Liverpool Vision for their assistance in targeting export markets: “As markets open up, there is a definite appetite for new products from the UK. But you have to go via the right routes and contacts, and Liverpool Vision and UKTI have done a fantastic job of laying the groundwork for businesses to get a foot in the door.”