Blackedge wins gold at SIBA north-west competition

The brewer, based in Horwich near Bolton, won for its 4.5% ABV Ginger beer, which was described as being 'copper, ginger and orange'. It also picked up a bronze award for its Dark Mild.

Some 260 beers from 50 breweries were judged by 100 independent craft brewers, beer industry representatives and experienced beer drinkers at the Macron Stadium, Bolton. 

National awards targeted

Wayne Roper, director and owner of Blackedge Brewing Company,  said: “It is fantastic to be recognised in this way for our beers. Winning the overall awards and the three gold category awards means we will now have three entries in the SIBA national finals next March at BeerX.

"I hope we can go one step further and pick up the national award in 2017.” 

The overall silver award went to Brewsmith Beer's Oatmeal Stout. 

In the small pack (bottle and can) competition. Hawkshead Brewery in Kendal, Cumbria, won the overall gold and silver for its Tonka and Windermere Pale, and Hesket Newmarket Brewery won the overall bronze for Old Carrock.  

Tonka is a 8.5% ABV bottled beer, which was described as “deep, dark, unfiltered, velvety ale, aged with a smattering of tonk beans & cacao nibs.”

Life in low-gravity beers

Alex Brodie, owner of Hawkshead Brewery said: “It must be the first beer using tonka beans – a fruit of the South American Cumaru tree – to win such a prestigious award. We are also delighted to see Windermere Pale pick up the 'small pack' silver. It goes to show there is still life in low-gravity session beers.”

SIBA chairman and beer judge, Guy Sheppard, said the competition illustrated the number of great brewers in the north-west of England.

All gold category winners will now be entered into the SIBA National Finals, which take place at BeerX in Sheffield (16-19 March 2017).