British brewers have been picking up awards in two global competitions — the International Beer Challenge and the World Beer Awards, as well as CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival.
Sharp’s Brewery enjoyed success in the International Beer Challenge with silver medals for Wolf Rock Red IPA and Belgian style beer, Chalky’s Bite.
The brewery also secured five bronze awards, for Doom Bar, plus Camel Valley Pilsner, Offshore Pilsner, Tripel O, and Sea Fury.
Sharp’s also saw its Camel Valley Pilsner win a world’s best award in the speciality brut beer category at the World Beer Awards. This follows a world’s best lager award for Offshore Pilsner (previously known as Cornish Pilsner) in 2013.
In addition, Sharp’s picked up best in the UK awards for Wolf Rock, Chalky’s Bite, and Sea Fury in their categories. Furthermore, Atlantic picked up a gold medal in the pale ale category, while Doom Bar picked up a silver medal in amber ales.
Array of prizes
Camden Town Brewery claimed several prizes in the World Beer Awards, with the beer team enjoying wins for Show Off Juicy Lager (hoppy pilsner vlass), Beer 2018 (strong), Gentleman’s Wit (Belgian style witbier), and the new Week Nite Any Day Lager (light), which launched less than six months ago.
The beer which started the brewery nine years ago, Camden Hells Lager, picked up a gold commendation in the classic pilsner category, with Camden Pale Ale — another core range beer — receiving a silver commendation in the American-style pale ale class.
Devon’s Powderkeg Brewery was pleased to be have its Green Light named UK’s best low-alcohol pale ale at the World Beer Awards. Brewery co-founder, Jess Magill, said: “There are plenty of great naturally non-alcoholic drinks available, so if you’re drinking a low-alcohol beer, it has to hit the spot in terms of taste. No-one wants to feel like they’re being hard done by for choosing a low-alcohol option.”
Suffolk-based St Peter’s Brewery scooped four International Beer Awards. The brewery won a bronze award for its Cream Stout, two silver awards for its Plum Porter and Without Raspberry and Elderberry, plus the sought-after gold award for its Crafted Black IPA.
Oakham Ales, meanwhile, saw its Citra win a gold medal in the golden ales class at CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival. It went on to be awarded bronze in the overall champion beer contest.
Hook Norton’s Red Rye retained its title as the UK’s best rye beer at the World Beer Awards. There were also gold medals for IPA and Old Hooky, a silver for Cotswold Pale Ale, and a bronze for Hooky Gold.
In the International Beer Challenge, Hook Norton picked up bronze medals for Cotswold Pale, Double Stout, Flagship, Hooky Gold, and Old Hooky. Red Rye was once more the judges’ favourite, collecting a gold medal and being put forward to the grand final.
