Quantock Brewery and Wye Valley Brewery have taken home Overall Champion Gold in the Cask and Keg Awards at the SIBA Independent Beer Awards 2020, with Eight Arch Brewing Co being named the best bottled or canned beer – making their three beers the official best in the UK.
Judged by brewers and industry experts and organised by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) at their flagship BeerX UK event in Liverpool, the awards run across a huge range of beer style categories in cask, craft keg, bottle and can.
The Overall Champion Cask beer is Quantock Brewery’s 5.1% ABV ‘Titanium’ – an aromatic ‘West Coast’ style American IPA with citrus, pine and tropical fruit notes.
James Higgins accepted the cask award alongside the rest of the Quantock team at BeerX UK and gave us his reaction, “It’s a phenomenal achievement, we’ve picked up a few awards with this beer but this is the big one and it means so much. Titanium uses Ekuanot and Citra hops and we think it’s tasting better than ever, but we’re absolutely speechless to win aganst the calibre of beers in the competition.”
In the craft keg competition it was Wye Valley brewery who took home the Overall Gold with their 4.5% ‘1985’ lager, which combines British and European hops in a German Kolsch-style beer. Jack Morris was collecting the award for Wye Valley, “To win the overall keg with a clean, crisp lager against such in your face and super hoppy beers is massive for us. It’s a great beer that manages to do everything you want a lager to do but have a little extra hop bite, with some nice orange and clementine aromas and flavour. We are really proud of it.”
In the can and bottle competition it was Eigth Arch Brewing Co’s 4.2% ‘Square Logic’ pale ale which combines ‘fruit-filled’ hops and huge drinkability, the award was accepted by Steve Farrell, Founder of Eight Arch Brewing Co, “We never expected to win and it’s great to see a lower abv beer winning against such huge rival beers of an amazing calibre. We’ve only been going for 4 years and canning our beers for 2, so to take the top award with a canned beer is massive. The beer has got loads of citra hops which give it a tropical flavour, but it’s still dry and has a crispness too.”
The SIBA Independent Beer Awards at BeerX UK are the trade association’s National finals and in order to earn a place at the competition brewers must first win at their regional competition – making these overall Champions very much the ‘best of the best’ when it comes to British independent craft beer.
SIBA Competitions Chair Guy Sheppard, a brewer himself at Exe Valley in the South West, congratulated the winners on their huge achievement:
“The SIBA Independent Beer Awards 2020 were our biggest ever, and with an incredibly high standard of beer across the board. These three beers are the very best of the best in the UK and the brewers should be hugely proud of their achievement. Huge congratulations to them and the rest of the winners across the competition!”
SIBA National Independent Beer Awards 2020 – Full Results
Overall Champion of the Cask Competition
Sponsored by Close Brothers Brewery Rentals |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Quantock Brewery |
Titanium |
5.1 |
Silver |
Windswept Brewing Co Ltd |
Wolf |
6 |
Bronze |
Swannay Brewery |
Orkney Blast |
6 |
Cask British Dark Beers (up to 4.4%)
Sponsored by NFU Mutual Insurance |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Padstow Brewing Co |
Padstow Pilot |
4 |
Silver |
SULWATH BREWERS LTD |
Black Galloway |
4.4 |
Bronze |
Long Man Brewery |
Old Man |
4.3 |
Cask British Dark Beers (4.5 to 6.4%)
Sponsored by Crisp Malting Group Ltd |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Windswept Brewing Co Ltd |
Wolf |
6 |
Silver |
Lincoln Green Brewery |
tuck |
4.7 |
Bronze |
The Five Points Brewing Company |
Railway Porter |
4.8 |
Cask British Bitters (up to 4.4%)
Sponsored by Thomas Fawcett & Sons Ltd |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Purity Brewing Company |
Pure Gold |
3.8 |
Silver |
Glamorgan Brewing Co |
CWRW GORSLAS |
4 |
Bronze |
Blackedge Brewing Company Ltd |
West Coast |
4.1 |
Cask Premium Bitters (4.5 to 6.4%)
Sponsored by Rankin Brothers & Sons |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
The Backyard Brewhouse |
Gold |
4.5 |
Silver |
Strathaven Ales |
Claverhouse |
4.5 |
Bronze |
Mantle Brewery |
Hoodwinked |
5 |
Cask Session IPA (up to 4.3%)
Sponsored by Rastal GmbH & Co KG |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Swannay Brewery |
Banyan |
3.9 |
Silver |
Eight Arch Brewing Co. |
Square Logic |
4.2 |
Bronze |
Big Bog Brewing Co |
Hinkypunk |
4.1 |
Cask Premium PAs (4.4 to 5.4%)
Sponsored by Charles Faram & Co Ltd |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Quantock Brewery |
Titanium |
5.1 |
Silver |
Hophurst Brewery Ltd |
APA |
5.2 |
Bronze |
Windswept Brewing Co Ltd |
Hurricane |
4.5 |
Cask IPA (5.5 to 6.4%)
Sponsored by Murphy & Son Ltd |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Swannay Brewery |
Orkney Blast |
6 |
Silver |
Ilkley Brewery |
Lotus |
5.9 |
Bronze |
Blue Monkey Brewery |
Infinity Plus 1 |
5.6 |
Cask Speciality Light Beers
Sponsored by Napthens |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Milestone Brewery |
Raspberry Wheat Beer |
5.6 |
Silver |
Windswept Brewing Co Ltd |
Weizen |
5.2 |
Bronze |
Hophurst Brewery Ltd |
Milkshake IPA |
4.5 |
Cask Speciality Mid to Dark Beers
Sponsored by Anton Paar Ltd |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Blackedge Brewing Company Ltd |
Black Port |
4.6 |
Silver |
Plain Ales Brewery Ltd |
Inncognito |
4.8 |
Bronze |
Grafton Brewery |
CARAMEL STOUT |
4.8 |
Cask Strong Beers 6.5% and over
Sponsored by Pentair Food & Beverage Solutions |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
The Grainstore Brewery Limited |
Nip |
7.3 |
Silver |
Brass Castle Brewery |
Annexation |
8.3 |
Bronze |
Gun Brewery |
Zamzama |
6.5 |
Overall Champion of the Bottle/Can Competition
Sponsored by Cottage Delight |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Eight Arch Brewing Co. |
Square Logic |
4.2 |
Silver |
Hawkshead Brewery |
Unfashionably Late |
7.4 |
Bronze |
Signature Brew Ltd |
Anthology |
10 |
Bottle/Can British Dark Beers (up to 4.4%)
Sponsored by IC Filling Systems Ltd |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Cairngorm Brewery |
Black Gold |
4.4 |
Silver |
Gun Brewery |
Parabellum |
4.1 |
Bronze |
White Horse Brewery |
Oxford Dark Blue |
4.3 |
Bottle/Can British Dark Beers (4.5 to 6.4%)
Sponsored by Willis European |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Weal Ales Brewery |
Centwealial Milk Stout |
4.9 |
Silver |
The Cronx Brewery |
Entire |
5.2 |
Bronze |
George’s Brewery |
Hopmonster Mad Dog Mild |
4.9 |
Bottle/Can British Bitters (up to 4.4%)
Sponsored by Saxon Packaging |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Stonehenge Ales Ltd |
Heel Stone |
4.3 |
Silver |
Dancing Duck Brewery |
22 |
4.3 |
Bronze |
Acorn Brewery |
Yorkshire Pride |
3.7 |
Bottle/Can Premium Bitters (4.5 to 6.4%)
Sponsored by Core Equipment Ltd |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Hadrian Border Brewery |
Grainger Ale |
4.6 |
Silver |
Redemption Brewing Company |
Hopspur |
4.5 |
Bronze |
Fyne Ales |
Avalanche |
4.5 |
Bottle/Can Session IPA (up to 4.3%)
Sponsored by Beer Box Shop |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Eight Arch Brewing Co. |
Square Logic |
4.2 |
Silver |
Salopian Brewery |
Oracle |
4 |
Bronze |
Calverley’s Brewery |
Pale Ale – Citra – Simcoe – Mosaic |
4.2 |
Bottle/Can Premium PAs (4.4 to 5.4%)
Sponsored by Vigo Ltd |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Wood Brewery Ltd |
Coracle |
5.2 |
Silver |
Firebrand Brewing |
West Coast Session IPA |
4.5 |
Bronze |
Bank Top Brewery |
Palomino Rising |
5 |
Bottle/Can IPA (5.5 to 6.4%)
Sponsored by Premier Systems Ltd |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
The Wimbledon Brewery Company LTD |
Wimbledon IPA |
6.2 |
Silver |
Eight Arch Brewing Co. |
Corbel |
5.5 |
Bronze |
Rooster’s Brewing Co. |
Baby-Faced Assassin |
6.1 |
Bottle/Can ImperialIPA (6.5% & Over)
Sponsored by Framax UK Ltd |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Hawkshead Brewery |
Unfashionably Late |
7.4 |
Silver |
Wild Card Brewery |
DDH IPA |
7.5 |
Bronze |
Ossett Brewing Company Ltd |
Alpaca |
6.6 |
Bottle/Can Session Lager & Pilsners
Sponsored by Willis European |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Rebellion Beer Company |
Lager |
4.4 |
Silver |
Glamorgan Brewing Co |
WELSH LAGER |
4.3 |
Bronze |
Daleside Brewery Ltd |
Lager |
4.3 |
Bottle/Can Premium Lager & Pilsners
Sponsored by Makro Labelling UK Ltd |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Powderkeg Brewery |
Cut Loose |
4.7 |
Silver |
Ferry Ales Brewery |
Lincoln Lager |
4.5 |
Bronze |
Joseph Holt Ltd |
Diamond |
5 |
Bottle/Can Speciality Light Beers
Sponsored by Beatson Clark |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Loch Lomond Brewery |
Come on Pilgrim |
5 |
Silver |
Windsor and Eton Brewery |
Uprising’s Caught By The Fuzz |
5 |
Bronze |
The Norfolk Brewhouse |
Jackalope |
4.2 |
Bottle/Can Speciality Mid to Dark Beers
Sponsored by Brook House Hops |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Westerham |
Wally Winkers Death By Chocolate |
4.5 |
Silver |
Stewart Brewing Ltd |
Not Your Buddy, Guy! |
6.8 |
Bronze |
Titanic Brewery |
Plum porter |
4.9 |
Bottle/CanSours/Spontaneous
Sponsored by Brook House Hops |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Elgood & Sons Ltd |
Coolship Fruit |
5 |
Silver |
Fyne Ales |
Origins Brewing – Acres |
7 |
Bronze |
Hawkshead Brewery |
Key Lime Tau |
6.28 |
Bottle/Can Strong Beers 6.5% and over
Sponsored by Bulk Storage & Process Systems Ltd |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Signature Brew Ltd |
Anthology |
10 |
Silver |
Harviestoun Brewery |
Old Engine Oil Engineers Reserve |
9 |
Bronze |
Firebrand Brewing |
Imperial Stout |
9.5 |
Overall Champion of the Keg Beers
Sponsored by Kegstar |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Wye Valley Brewery |
1985 |
4.5 |
Silver |
Purity Brewing Company |
Mad Goose |
4.2 |
Bronze |
Purity Brewing Company |
Longhorn IPA |
5 |
Keg British Dark Beers (up to 4.4%)
Sponsored by Innovus Engineering |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Neckstamper Brewing |
Bonebox Cooler |
4.4 |
Silver |
Dawkins |
East Bristol Session Porter |
4.1 |
Bronze |
Wold Top Brewery |
Headland Red |
4.3 |
Keg British Dark Beers (4.5 to 6.4%)
Sponsored by Innovus Engineering |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Grain Brewery Ltd |
Slate |
6 |
Silver |
Hophurst Brewery ltd |
Porteresque |
5.5 |
Bronze |
Burning Sky brewery |
Robust Porter |
5.6 |
Keg British Bitters (up to 4.4%)
Sponsored by Schafer Container Systems |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Purity Brewing Company |
Mad Goose |
4.2 |
Silver |
Bollington Brewing Company |
Inception |
3.8 |
Bronze |
Arkells Brewery |
Hurricane ale |
4 |
Keg Premium Bitters (4.5 to 6.4%)
Sponsored by Alfa Laval Ltd |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Purity Brewing Company |
Longhorn IPA |
5 |
Silver |
RedWillow |
Wreckless |
4.8 |
Bronze |
Turpin’s Brewery Cambridge |
Dragon’s Bite |
4.9 |
Keg Session IPA (up to 4.3%)
Sponsored by Close Brothers Brewery Rentals |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Dog Falls Brewing Co. |
Colloidoscope |
4.3 |
Silver |
Tring |
Oatmeal Pale |
4.2 |
Bronze |
Timothy Taylor’s |
Hopical Storm |
4 |
Keg Premium PAs (4.4 to 5.4%)
Sponsored by Rastal GmbH & Co KG |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Stewart Brewing |
Cascadian East |
5.4 |
Silver |
Vocation |
Heart & Soul |
4.4 |
Bronze |
Purity Brewing Company |
Session IPA |
4.5 |
Keg IPA (5.5 to 6.4%)
Sponsored by Muntons Plc |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
To The Moon Brewery |
Apollo v2 |
6 |
Silver |
Firebrand Brewing |
NEIPA |
5.5 |
Bronze |
Tap East |
IPA |
6 |
Keg Imperial IPA (6.5% and over)
Sponsored by Kegstar |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Padstow Brewing Co. |
Sundowner 2.0 |
6.8 |
Silver |
Grain Brewery Ltd |
Lignum Vitae |
6.5 |
Bronze |
Neckstamper Brewing |
Bite Your Name In |
7.8 |
Keg Session Lager & Pilsners
Sponsored by Zoedale Plc |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Zerodegrees Bristol |
Cloud Waltz |
4.4 |
Silver |
Wolf Brewery |
Crafty Wolf |
4.2 |
Bronze |
Loch Leven Brewery |
Shining Knight |
4 |
Keg Premium Lager & Pilsners
Sponsored by Flextech Hose Solutions Ltd |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Wye Valley Brewery |
1985 |
4.5 |
Silver |
Brimstage Brewery |
Woolyback Lager |
4.5 |
Bronze |
Utopian Brewing |
Utopian Unfiltered Lager |
4.7 |
Keg Speciality Light Beers
Sponsored by Vale Labels Ltd |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Vocation |
Cooler Shaker |
6.6 |
Silver |
Adnams |
Earl Grey Lager |
5 |
Bronze |
Truman’s Brewery |
Bow Bells |
4.2 |
Keg Speciality Mid to Dark Beers
Sponsored by Kegstar |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
The Gipsy Hill Brewing Company Ltd |
Outlooker |
5.4 |
Silver |
Dawkins |
Foresters Black Caramel |
4.8 |
Bronze |
Beartown Brewey |
Smores |
6 |
Keg Sours/Spontaneous
Sponsored by Lallemand UK |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
Fyne Ales |
Origins Brewing – Beams |
5.7 |
Silver |
Gloucester Brewery |
Golden Sour |
3.9 |
Bronze |
CRATE Brewery |
Citra Sour |
3.5 |
Keg Strong Beers 6.5% and over
Sponsored by Polykeg UK Ltd |
|
Brewery |
Product |
ABV |
Gold |
North Brewing Co |
Transmission |
6.9 |
Silver |
Geipel Brewing |
Bock |
6.5 |
Bronze |
Hophurst Brewery Ltd |
Bitter Sweet Symphony |
6.5 |
COPY ENDS