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Quantock, Wye Valley, and Eight Arch Brewing earn ‘Best beer in the UK’ awards

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

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