Winners from the ‘Wales & West’ beer competition, run by SIBA, have been announced, with Salopian Brewery taking home the much coveted overall Gold in the cask competition with ‘Hoptwister’ and Gloucester Brewery winning overall champion in the small pack (bottle and can) competition with Gloucester Gold.
Beers from 65 different independent breweries were pitted against one another by 130 expert judges during the competition, which takes place at the Ludlow Spring Festival. The competition spans a range of categories, including everything from traditional bitters, stouts and milds to IPAs, pale ales, sour beers and specialty ales, being judged in both cask and small pack (can and bottle) format.
Jake Douglas, Director at Salopian Brewery had this to say on their win:
“We’re over the moon, it’s brilliant, we’ve won a number of awards this year but this one means the most. It’s a beer that ticks all the boxes for so many different people. Balanced, modern and hoppy, but really drinkable. We have a simple mantra that when people are drinking our beers they should get three quarters of the way through and want to have a another one, and this beer is great for that.”
Buster Grant, SIBA Competition Organiser, says these really are the best of the best:
“I would like to congratulate all of the category winners in what was an extremely high standard of competition this year. Particular praise must also be given to the overall champions who really are the best of the best in the region – I’m sure visitors to the festival are looking forward to getting their hands on these award winning beers.”
The awards, judged by brewers and beer industry experts, are seen as the pinnacle competition for craft brewers in the region. The beer festival, which continues today, allows members of the public to taste the Champion beers, along with around 200 others, in the beautiful setting of Ludlow Castle.
Overall Champion of the Competition
Sponsored by: SPAsoft Ltd
Brewery | Product | ABV | |
Gold | Salopian Brewery | Hoptwister | 4.5 |
Silver | Glamorgan Brewing Company | Jemimas Pitchfork | 4.4 |
Bronze | Bespoke Brewing Co Ltd | Money for Old Rope | 4.8 |
Standard Mild Ales & Brown Ales
Sponsored by Clarke Dove (Insurance Brokers) Ltd
Brewery | Product | ABV | |
Gold | Prescott Ales | Spring Seasons Best | 3.8 |
Silver | Big Hand Brewing Co. Ltd. | Little Monkey | 4.0 |
Bronze | Bespoke Brewing Co Ltd | Kings Shilling | 4.2 |
Standard Bitters & Pale Ales
Sponsored by CBI Insurance
Brewery | Product | ABV | |
Gold | Combined Brewers Ltd | Nibley Ale | 3.8 |
Silver | Purple Moose Brewery Ltd | Snowdonia Ale | 3.6 |
Bronze | Tudor Brewery | Blorenge | 3.8 |
Best Bitters & Pale Ale
Sponsored by Charles Faram & Co Ltd
Brewery | Product | ABV | |
Gold | Glamorgan Brewing Company | Jemimas Pitchfork | 4.4 |
Silver | Teme Valley Brewery | That | 4.1 |
Bronze | BC Brewing & Pub Company Ltd | Back to Basics | 4.2 |
Premium Bitters & Pale Ales
Sponsored by Rankin Brothers & Sons
Brewery | Product | ABV | |
Gold | Salopian Brewery | Hoptwister | 4.5 |
Silver | Glamorgan Brewing Company | Thunderbird | 4.5 |
Bronze | Hobsons Brewery | Town Crier | 4.5 |
Strong Bitters & Pale Ales
Sponsored by Crisp Malting Group
Brewery | Product | ABV | |
Gold | The Clun Brewery | Citadel | 5.9 |
Silver | The Waen Brewery ltd | Landmark | 5.5 |
Bronze | Hurns Brewing Company | Pecker Wrecker | 5.0 |
Premium Strong Beers
Sponsored by Murphy & Son Ltd
Brewery | Product | ABV | |
Gold | Wobbly Brewing Co | IPA No3 | 6.0 |
Silver | Wye Valley Brewery | Dorothy Goodbody’s Country Ale | 6.0 |
Bronze | Big Hand Brewing Co. Ltd. | Telekinesis | 6.9 |
Porters, Stouts, Old Ales, Strong Milds & Strong Brown Ales
Sponsored by Close Brothers Brewery Rentals
Brewery | Product | ABV | |
Gold | Bespoke Brewing Co Ltd | Money for Old Rope | 4.8 |
Silver | Hop & Stagger Brewery | Bridgnorth Porter | 5.0 |
Bronze | Grey Trees Brewery | Valley porter | 4.6 |
Speciality Beers
Sponsored by CBI Insurance Consultants
Brewery | Product | ABV | |
Gold | The Waen Brewery ltd | Snowball | 7.0 |
Silver | Stroud Brewery | Organic Smoked Porter | 6.5 |
Bronze | Boss Brewing Company | Boss Bliss | 4.6 |