North Brewing Co and Wolf Brewery beers named best in the UK
Hertfordshire-based Tring Brewery was named the best bottled or canned at the awards, which were held in Liverpool at SIBA’s BeerX event last night (15 March).
The Champion Cask beer was Sirius Dog Star from Wolf and was described as being a “uniquely flavoured red ale. Lightly hopped with American Galena and Cluster hops, a smooth beer with a soft, fruity finish”.
Transmission from Leeds-based North Brewing Co took home the top gong in the Craft Keg competition and the brew was hailed as “hugely drinkable with a light body and dry finish”.
In the bottle and can category (known as ‘Small Pack’), it was Death or Glory from Tring Brewery – a “rich, sweet barley wine with a heady, alcoholic nose and incredibly complex flavour profile”.
Making great beer
North Brewing Co director John Gyngell said: “This award means so much to the whole team, who have been hustling hard and constantly growing the business and making great beer.
“This beer started life as a trial brew before our brewer Seb Brink even joined us full time. He’s still constantly improving it and, now with this beer, we think we have nailed that combination of drinkability and a modern, full flavour.”
Georgina Edwards from Wolf Brewery outlined the hard work that goes into the brews and how important the win was.
She said: “A lot of blood sweat and tears go into that beer so it means a huge amount to win.
“It means the world to the family. We were aiming for a smooth, dark, session beer that is accessible but with a huge flavour – something, I think, we achieved.”
Tough competiton
Sam Reed from Tring Brewery said: “One of our original founders was a royal lancer and this beer is his creation. It has proved so popular, we have been brewing it ever since!
“It is a great barley wine and it is nice to know that we are doing the right things after all these years of brewing it.”
SIBA chairman and Brecon Brewing brewer Buster Grant congratulated the winners on their achievement.
He said: “Making it to the finals is an achievement in itself, winning your style category is something to be even more proud of, and then going on to be named the Overall Champion Gold against such tough competition really is something truly special.
"These are the three best beers from independent craft brewers across cask, keg, bottle and can – beers that I would encourage both beer drinkers and publicans across the UK to seek out while they still can because demand for these beers is surely about to go through the roof!”
The full winners list:
Overall Cask Champions (sponsored by Close Brothers Brewery Rentals)
| Brewery | Product | ABV | |
Gold | Wolf Brewery | Sirius Dog Star | 4.4 | |
Silver | Oakham Ales | Green Devil IPA | 6.0 | |
Bronze | Bedlam Brewery Ltd | Porter | 5.0 |
Cask Champion Standard Mild Ales & Brown Ales (sponsored by Murphy & Sons)
| Brewery | Product | ABV | |
Gold | Wolf Brewery | Sirius Dog Star | 4.4 | |
Silver | Langham Brewery | Triple XXX | 4.4 | |
Bronze | Jaw Brew | Fathom | 4.0 |
Cask Champion Standard Bitters & Pale Ales (sponsored by Close Brothers Brewery)
| Brewery | Product | ABV | |
Gold | Wye Valley Brewery | The Hopfather | 3.9 | |
Silver | Purity Brewing Company | Bunny Hop | 3.5 | |
Bronze | Lacons Brewery | Encore | 3.8 |
Cask Champion Best Bitters & Pale Ales (sponsored by Napthens)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Grain Brewery | Redwood | 4.3 | |
Silver | Brew York Ltd | Keras | 4.1 | |
Bronze | Ludlow Brewing Company | Blonde | 4.0 |
Premium Bitters & Pale Ales (sponsored by Thomas Fawcett & Sons)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Hooded Ram Brewing Company | Liberty East Coast Pale | 4.8 | |
Silver | Dark Star Brewing Co Ltd | American Pale Ale | 4.7 | |
Bronze | The Backyard Brewhouse | Gold | 4.5 |
Cask Champion Strong Bitters & Pale Ales (sponsored by Charles Faram & Co)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Oakham Ales | Green Devil IPA | 6.0 | |
Silver | Rooster's Brewery Ltd | Baby-Faced Assassin | 6.1 | |
Bronze | Cairngorm Brewery | Wildcat | 5.1 |
Cask Champion Premium Strong Beers (sponsored by Crisp Malting Group)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Big Smoke Brew Co | The Judge DIPA | 8.5 | |
Silver | The Loose Cannon Brewing Co | Double IPA | 7.5 | |
Bronze | Brecon Brewing | Mind Bleach | 10.0 |
Cask Champion Porters, Stouts, Old Ales, Strong Milds & Strong Brown Ales (sponsored by SPAsoft)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Bedlam Brewery Ltd | Porter | 5.0 | |
Silver | Northern Monkey Brew Co | Underdog | 6.0 | |
Bronze | Windswept Brewing Co | Wolf | 6.0 |
Cask Champion Speciality Light Beers (sponsored by Ranking Brothers & Sons)
| Brewery | Product | ABV | |
Gold | Dancing Duck | Wot the Duck? Duck a l'orange | 6.4 | |
Silver | Loch Lomond Brewery | Out of Range | 5.9 | |
Bronze | Green Jack Brewing Co | Orange Wheat | 4.2 |
Cask Champion Speciality Mid to Dark Beers (sponsored by Pentair Food & Beverage Solutions
| Brewery | Product | ABV | |
Gold | Orkney Brewery | Dark Island Reserve | 10.0 | |
Silver | Blue Monkey Brewery | Guerrilla Chocolate Amaretto | 4.9 | |
Bronze | Mantle Brewery | Dark Heart | 5.2 |
Champion Small Pack Beers (sponsored by Croxsons)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Tring Brewery | Death or Glory Ale | 7.2 | |
Silver | Gun Brewery | Imperial Whisky Stout | 7.4 | |
Bronze | Wily Fox Brewery | Karma Citra | 4.3 |
Small Pack Champion Standard Mild Ales & Brown Ales
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Wolf Brewery | Sirius Dog Star | 4.4 | |
Silver | Brampton Brewery | Impy Dark | 4.3 | |
Bronze | Inner Bay Brewery | Jasper | 3.9 |
Small Pack Champion Standard Bitters & Pale Ales (sponsored by Norriq)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Wily Fox Brewery | Karma Citra | 4.3 | |
Silver | Loch Lomond Brewery | Southern Summit | 4.0 | |
Bronze | Ashover Brewery | Littlemoor Citra | 4.1 |
Small Pack Champion Premium Bitters & Pale Ales (sponsored by Vigo)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Thornbridge Brewery | AM:PM | 4.5 | |
Silver | Tring Brewery | Pale Four | 4.6 | |
Bronze | Rooster's Brewery | Twenty-Four Seven (24/7) | 4.7 |
Small Pack Champion Strong Bitters & Pale Ales (sponsored by Russell Scanlan)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Windsor and Eton | Uprising's Treason | 5.8 | |
Silver | Maxim Brewery | Maximus | 6.0 | |
Bronze | Loch Lomond Brewery | Bravehop Amber | 6.0 |
Small Pack Champion Premium Strong Beers (sponsored by Beatson Clark)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Tring Brewery | Death or Glory Ale | 7.2 | |
Silver | Knops Beer Company | Black Cork | 6.5 | |
Bronze | Geipel Brewing | Zoiglator Bock | 6.7 |
Small Pack Champion Standard Lager & Pilsners (sponsored by Vale Labels)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Stewart Brewing | Franz | 4.0 | |
Silver | Charnwood Brewery | Liska | 4.0 | |
Bronze | The Norfolk Brewhouse | DewHopper lager | 4.0 |
Small Pack Champion Premium Lager & Pilsners (sponsored by Saxon Packaging)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Calvors Brewery | Premium Pilsner | 5.0 | |
Silver | Harviestoun | Schiehallion | 4.8 | |
Bronze | Whitstable Brewery Co | Whitstable Pilsner | 4.9 |
Small Pack Champion Porters, Stouts, Old Ales, Strong Milds & Strong Brown Ales (sponsored by Zoedale)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Black Sheep Brewery | Glug M'Glug | 6.2 | |
Silver | Loch Lomond Brewery | Silkie Stout | 5.0 | |
Bronze | Ashover Brewery | Milk Stout | 6.0 |
Small Pack Champion Speciality Light Beers (sponsored by Anton Paar)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Flack Manor Brewery Ltd | Romsey Gold | 4.5 | |
Silver | Salopian Brewery | Lemon Dream | 4.5 | |
Bronze | Lymestone Brewery | Cherry Stone | 5.2 |
Small Pack Champion Speciality Mid to Dark Beers (sponsored by Cask Brewing Systems)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Gun Brewery | Imperial Whisky Stout | 7.4 | |
Silver | Windswept Brewing Co | Bear | 10.5 | |
Bronze | Purple Moose Brewery | Chocolate Moose | 4.5 |
Champion Keg Beers (sponsored by Kegstar)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | North Brewing | Transmission | 6.9 | |
Silver | Neckstamper Brewing | Elbow Crooker Session IPA | 4.0 | |
Bronze | Orkney Brewery | Dragonhead | 4.0 |
Keg Champion Standard Mild Ales & Brown Ales (sponsored Keg Logistics UK)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Orkney Brewery | Dragonhead | 4.0 | |
Silver |
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Bronze |
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Keg Champion Standard Bitters & Pale Ales (sponsored by Premier Systems)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Neckstamper Brewing | Elbow Crooker Session IPA | 4.0 | |
Silver | Brass Castle Brewery | Misfit | 4.3 | |
Bronze | Bewdley Brewery | Worcestershire Way | 3.6 |
Keg Champion Premium Bitters & Pale Ales (sponsored by Close Brothers Brewery Rentals)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Ilkley Brewery | Alpha Beta | 4.5 | |
Silver | Gloucester Brewery | Session IPA | 4.5 | |
Bronze | Harviestoun Brewery | Broken Dial | 4.5 |
Keg Champion Strong Bitters & Pale Ales (sponsored by Muntons)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Gloucester Brewery | American Pale Ale | 6.4 | |
Silver | Arundel Brewery | Uptown New England IPA | 6.2 | |
Bronze | Quantock Brewery | Titanium | 5.1 |
Keg Champion Premium Strong Beers (sponsored by Brewers Select)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | North Brewing Co | Transmission | 6.9 | |
Silver | Grain Brewery | Lignum Vitae | 6.5 | |
Bronze | Sambrooks Brewery | Russian Imperial Stout | 10.4 |
Keg Champion Standard Lager & Pilsners (sponsored by Kegstar)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Geipel Brewing | Aloha from Bala | 4.4 | |
Silver | Adnams | Dry Hopped lager | 4.2 | |
Bronze | Whitstable Brewery Co | Kentish Lager | 4.1 |
Keg Champion Premium Lager & Pilsners (sponsored by Festival Glass)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Otter Brewery | Tarka | 4.8 | |
Silver | Knops Beer Company | Cold Fury | 5.2 | |
Bronze | Hogs Back Brewery | Hogstar | 4.5 |
Keg Champion Porters, Stouts, Old Ales, Strong Milds & Strong Brown Ales (sponsored by Schafer Container Systems)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Greyhound Brewery | Rainbow Eyes | 5.2 | |
Silver | Grain Brewery | Slate | 6.0 | |
Bronze | Cheddar Ales Ltd | Velvet Bottom | 4.7 |
Keg Champion Speciality Light Beers (sponsored by Brewfitt)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | Windsor and Eton Brewery | Uprising's White Riot | 5.3 | |
Silver | Merchant City Brewing | American Pale Ale | 4.7 | |
Bronze | Barngates Brewery | Weiss | 4.8 |
Keg Champion Speciality Mid to Dark Beers (sponsored by Rastal GmbH & Co)
|
| Brewery | Product | ABV |
Gold | RedWillow | Restless | 8.5 | |
Silver | Elephant School Brewing Co | Mallowphant | 4.8 | |
Bronze | Purity Brewing Company | Saddle Black | 5.8 |