The prize, which was their first SIBA award, was for The Merchant’s Ale, a 4% ABV mild.
A total of 168 draught beers and 98 bottled brews entered the competition, held at Juddians Rugby Club in Tonbridge. The 14 Gold medal winners, along with those from seven other regional beer contests, will compete for a national award at SIBA’s BeerX next March.
SIBA chairman Guy Sheppard said, “The south east competition, like all SIBA’s regional beer contests, presents ample evidence of a thriving British brewing industry.”
Martin Guy, who founded Canterbrew Ltd in 2010, said, “I never imagined we would take the top award today and am immensely delighted and proud. “
Runners-up
The Overall Champions award is sponsored by maltsters Muntons. The Overall Silver prize went to Sussex-based 360o Brewing Company for its Pale #39, and the Overall Bronze to Binghams Brewery, based in Berkshire, for its Doodle Stout.
Hastings Brewery and Arundel Brewery both collected three medals, while Wandsworth brewer By the Horns, West Berkshire Brewery, Canterbury-based Wantsum Brewery, Romsey brewer Flack Manor, Isle of Wight-based Goddards, Whitstable Brewery and Binghams all went away with two medals apiece.
Hammerpot Brewery won silver in the Best Bitters category for its new Australian Pale Ale.
Head Brewer Lee Mitchell said: “These awards mean so much as they are judged by our peers from the industry, people who really know what makes good beer. The competition is incredibly fierce and they are much harder to win because there are now so many breweries competing for the awards – so to be recognised as one of the best is a huge accolade.”
For a full list of winners go to www.siba.co.uk/events/regional-competitions/south-east/2014-2