Arran Brewery Sleeping Warrior
Winners have been announced in the 2016 International Beer Challenge, with brewers picking up gold, silver and bronze medals.
Judges from a range of backgrounds, including retailers, publicans, brewers and writers, selected the winning beers. Each beer was judged on its appearance, aroma, taste and finish.
Fuller’s was awarded a silver medal for its craft lager, Frontier. In addition, Oliver’s Island and ESB were each awarded a bronze medal.
Fuller’s head brewer, John Keeling, said: “This is fantastic news. We are all very proud of Frontier and I’m glad it’s getting the recognition it deserves. This is also brilliant for Oliver’s Island. Winning a bronze, having only been on the market for a year, shows its quality and distinction. Of course, ESB is one of our most revered beers. I am proud of its longevity and how it’s still holding its own in an eclectic beer market.”
St Peter’s Brewery picked up five awards. There were two silver medals for its Cream Stout and new Black IPA, as well as three bronze medals for its Organic Ale and Dark G-Free and for Black IPA’s design and packaging.
Riggwelter, Black Sheep Brewery’s 5.9% ABV strong ruby ale, was awarded a gold medal, while Black Sheep Ale, Golden Sheep Ale and Monty Python’s Holy Grail all claimed bronze medals in the ales category.
Arran Brewery’s beers have picked up a silver and a bronze for, respectively, Arran Sleeping Warrior and Arran Guid Ale.
Arran managing director, Gerald Michaluk, said: “I am delighted to see the two beers we entered this year both win a medal. I am extremely proud of our brewing team, who keep on producing new and exciting craft beers, like Sleeping Warrior, while maintaining the quality of our traditional range, including one of the brewery’s oldest ales which picked up the bronze medal, Arran Guid Ale.”
Purity Brewing racked up no less than five awards. The aptly-named Pure Gold won the British style golden ale category, while Purity’s tenth anniversary beer, X, took gold as best wood-aged beer.
Longhorn IPA, Saddle Black and Mad Goose all picked up medals in their respective categories of new world style IPA, black IPA and British style pale ale.
Purity managing director, Paul Halsey, said: “To win an International Beer Challenge award is one of the highest honours we brewers can hope for, so to win five at this year’s competition is a phenomenal achievement. At Purity we strive to brew responsibly while never compromising on quality, so this recognition is testament to the entire team. I know our fans will enjoy this immensely as well, as they are just as much a part of the Purity family.”
Hook Norton picked up two silver medals and three bronze. There were silvers for Twelve Days (5.5%) and Flagship (5.5%), and bronze for Hooky Gold (4.1%), Hooky (3.5%) and Red Rye (4.7%).
Sharp’s Brewery was awarded eight medals — gold for 6 Vintage Blend, silver for Wolf Rock, Sea Fury and Single Brew Reserve 2013, and bronze awards for Atlantic, Sharp’s Pilsner, Chalky’s Bite and Honey Spice IPA.
James Nicholls, senior brand manager at Sharp’s, said: “We’re extremely proud of our growing portfolio of beers and it’s fantastic to have received such widespread recognition from a highly-respected awards panel.
“Winning eight medals is testament to Sharp’s passion and expertise in brewing a diverse range of beer styles, and the whole team can feel really proud of what we have achieved.”
Wold Top Brewery, from Yorkshire, was awarded a bronze medal for its 6% ABV Scarborough Fair IPA.
Alex Balchin, Wold Top’s brewery manager, said: “Gaining recognition from the International Beer Challenge for the quality of our beer is a real compliment and an amazing achievement.
“We’re delighted that Scarborough Fair IPA was awarded this medal, especially as there are so many new and exciting products coming out of the craft beer world.”
The beer is brewed with a blend of triple hops, maize, home-grown malt and water from the farm’s borehole. It was also a 2-star gold award winner in the The Guild of Fine Food Great Taste Awards.
