Harvey’s named UK Brewery of the Year at International Beer Challenge

06-Sep-2018 - Last updated on 06-Sep-2018 at 10:53 GMT

Back for more: It was the second year in succession that the Sussex brewery has received the accolade

Harvey’s Brewery has been named UK Brewer of the Year 2018 at the International Beer Challenge Awards in London this week, having secured the most points of any UK brewery in the medals table.

The Sussex-based brewery’s tally included three Gold and three Silver awards, and it was the second year in succession that the brewery has received the accolade.

The brewery was also named ‘Joint Supreme Champions’ in the Design & Packaging section of the competition for its craft can range, which features designs from local artist Susan Lynch.

Speaking about the accolades, head brewer and joint managing director Miles Jenner said: “It is always reassuring to have the quality of our local beers recognised on an international stage and we are all thrilled with the results.

Helles lager comes up trumps

“The Design & Packaging Trophies are an additional delight and a tribute to the flair of our local artists, in partnership with our marketing department. This year, we can certainly claim to be a local work of art!”

Elsewhere at the awards, ABK Hell Das Blaue, a 5% Bavarian Helles lager was named the world’s best beer after facing off against the gold medal winning beers from each of the style categories, while London’s Fourpure took home the Glenn Payne Rising Star trophy as the best up and coming brewery in the world.

The International Beer Challenge is run by Drinks Retailing News, and is judged by a panel of brewers, journalists and educators.

High benchmark set

IBC chairman Jeff Evans said: “It’s been another fantastic year for beer and another fantastic year for the competition, which is now 22-years-old. We’ve received more entries than ever before and judged beers from no fewer than 39 countries. The full colour of world brewing was represented, with styles ranging from dark milds to doppelbocks, Pilsners to porters and saisons to Scotch ales on show.

“The benchmark is set extremely high and there are, sadly, many beers that fail to win any medal at all, and that means that those that claim bronze, or even better, silver, really do have plenty to shout about.

“But the pinnacle is the gold, a medal that is very sparingly awarded, and it is by scrutinising the list of gold medallists – and tasting them tonight, because here we have them in the room – that we can see just how exciting the world of beer has become.

“But we also go a step further, in the pursuit of excellence. We then take all the gold medal winners and judge them again to find the best of the best, our trophy winners. Congratulations to all our trophy winners. It really is no mean achievement.”