Coors premium lager brand Grolsch beat off the challenge of

The award was voted for by consumers and Vegetarian Society members and Grolsch topped fellow contenders Becks, Caledonian Brewery Golden Promise (last year's winner), Hoegaarden, Carlsberg, Hardy's Merlot and Carl Jung Champagne.

Grolsch is brewed longer than many other lagers and is one of only a few to have vegetarian accreditation.

Coors' premium brands director David Preston commented: "This terrific award supports our firm belief that the only additive you need in great beer is time."

The company hopes the award will help raise Grolsch sales among the three million vegetarians and 17,000 society members in the UK.

*

*

* *

* Cask ale afiçionados at Tynemill/Castle Rock's 19 pubs in the East Midlands have voted 3.8% abv Deuchars IPA as their favourite tipple.

For the past five years, the pubs have staged their own best ale competition from the hundreds of ales available throughout the year.

Deuchars beat 175 contenders to take the title ­ the fourth time that Scottish brewer Caledonian has won it.

Voted second was JHB (Jeffrey Hudson Bitter), also a 3.8% abv brew, from Peterborough-based brewer Oakham.

Golden Bitter, 4.7% abv, from Archers of Swindon picking up third place.

The brewer of the year award went to Abbeydale Brewery from Sheffield for producing a range of beers that went down well with customers.

*

* * * * Indian premium lager brand Kingfisher has reported that more than 100 restaurants nationwide supported this year's Kingfisher World Curry Week.

The event, which was also supported by Knorr Patak, has a double purpose ­ not only celebrating Indian cuisine, but also helping raise money for Action Against Hunger.

Kingfisher is hoping to reach a target of £50,000 for the international charity organisation.

To help publicise the week, Kingfisher used the first Auto Rickshaw ("Put-Put") that has been registered for use on Britain's roads undercurrent safety standards.

*

* * * * Danish brewer Carlsberg is expanding sales of Criollo Stout ­ one of a range of speciality beers that are branded under the label of Semper Ardens (Latin for "a fire must burn in the heart of a master brewer").

Criollo Stout is brewed from six different types of malt including chocolate malt and caramel malt to give the beer its lightly roasted, sweet malt aroma and its almost black colour.

Rye malt gives the 6.8% brew its characteristic tang while wheat malt gives a soft taste and a fine, dense froth.

Carlsberg claims to be one of only a very few companies worldwide to use chocolate in the brewing process.

For Criollo, it uses chocolate with a cocoa content of 64%.

Other ingredients include English liquorice and aroma hops.

Carlsberg's Ken Andersen commented: "One of the aims of the Semper Ardens project was to underline the versatility of beer and to develop its potential.

We feel that Criollo Stout has entirely lived up to this aim."

There are no immediate plans to introduce the beer into the British market.

*

*

* *

* Hartlepool brewer Camerons is reviving one of its brews ­ Banner Bitter.

The beer will be brewed at Camerons' own mini-brewery ­ the Lions Den, which is situated next to the main Lion Brewery.

Banner is described as a 4% abv session bitter and is made from 100% pale ale malt.

The only hops used are Styrian Goldings, for both early and late hopping, which gives the pale ale a fruity/hoppy aroma and taste.

Sales and marketing director Mike Berriman commented: "Banner Bitter enjoyed an excellent reputation as a quality cask conditioned ale and we are delighted to give consumers the opportunity to drink the beer again."

*

* *

*

* Regional brewer Greene King is offering licensees the chance to win a £5,000 spending spree at Harrods.

For six weeks, commencing 24 November, every firkin leaving the company's Bury St Edmunds brewery will have a special sticker attached.

Licensees who complete a collector card with all the necessary stickers will then be eligible to enter the prize draw.

Other prizes include Abbot Ale sports bags, baseball caps, polo shirts, cuff links and glasses.

*

*

*

* *

The Museum microbrewery in Burton-upon-Trent is one of the beneficiaries of a £500,000 investment at the Coors Visitors Centre by Coors Brewers.

The money is going towards a number of improvements at the visitors centre, which includes the Museum brewery.

Museum produces a number of niche and limited-edition brews for Coors, notably Worthington's White Shield.