Square Logic by Eight Arch, an aromatic and fruity pale ale using buckets of American hops, was named the best cask beer in the competition after a final round judging against all other beer style category winners.
In the separate keg beer competition, it was Yonder Brewing’s Raspberry Gose that took the top spot, wowing judges with huge fruit flavours, subtle sourness and a refreshing, balanced finished.
SIBA Head of Comms Neil Walker said: “These awards recognise the very best independent craft breweries in the south-west and the quality of beers today was truly outstanding.
“A massive well-done to the brewers and to our hosts at the MaltingsFest who have ensured all of the beers were served in absolute peak condition.”
Incredibly tough
Walker continued: “To win your category in these awards is incredibly tough, so I’d like to give particular congratulations to our two Overall Champion winners who were named by the expert judging panel as the very best of the best.”
The awards, which were presented at MaltingsFest opposite Tucker’s Maltings site, are judged by beer sommeliers, master brewers and other expert beer judges from across the industry.
Steve Farrell, owner and founder of Eight Arch Brewing in Dorset, said: “[I’m] absolutely over the moon to win the overall cask champion at SIBA South West. [I] Just did not expect it, as a 4.2% beer going up against some of the region’s bigger beers is always tough, so [it’s] an amazing feeling to win.
“The beer itself is a really easy drinking pale, there’s oats and wheat to give great body, but also loads of citra and mosaic hops too giving great aroma and flavour. The whole aim of this beer is that people can just enjoy it and drink pints and pints of it, and obviously the judges enjoyed it today.”
Other winners included Padstow Brewing Co’s Padstow Pilot 4% for cask session dark beer, Twisted Oak’s Ghost Town 5.7% in cask British dark beer, Utopian Brewing’s British Pale Ale 4.4% for the cask British bitter section and Branscombe Vale Brewery’s SummaThat 5% in cask British best bitter.
Cask champs
The six other cask category victors were Eight Arch’s Square Logic 4.2% in cask session pale ale, Quantock Brewery’s Radicle 4.5% for cask pale ale, St Austell Brewery’s Big Job 7.2% in cask IPA, Nuttycombe Brewery’s Doonicans 4.2% for cask speciality light beer, Hanlons Brewery’s Port Stout 4.8% for cask speciality amber to dark beer and Moor Beer’s Old Freddy Walker 7.3% for cask imperial and strong beer.
There were 13 winners in the keg competions with Yonder Brewing’s Raspberry Gose 4% taking the title for sour and wild ale. Other winners included Padstow Brewery’s Shallow End 2.8% for non-alcoholic and low ABV, Exter Brewery’s IPL It’s Proper Lager 3.9% for session lager, Padstow Brewing’s Oktoberfest 6% for premium lager, Electric Bear brewing’s Werrrd! 4.2% in session pale ale.
Moor Beer’s Distortion 4.7% won keg pale ale, Quantock’s We’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat 6.3% in IPA, TQ Beerworks’ Old School West Coast DIPA 8% won double and triple IPA, Padstow Brewing’s Midnight Pete 5.5% took speciality IPA while Moor Beer collected its third category title with Stout 5% in the stout and porter section.
Rounding off the keg winners were Utopian brewing’s Rainbock 7% in imperial and strong ale, Castle Brewing’s A New Season 5.5% for continental style beer and Padstow Brewing scooped its fourth section win with Definitely Marple 4.1% in speciality and flavoured beer.
