Navigation Brewery has taken home the overall champion cask beer award at the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) Midlands Independent Beer Awards. The event took place at the Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival.
The Navigation Brewery team with their SIBA gold award. Photograph: SIBA
Navigation’s winning beer, American IPA, was described by judges as “a light and fragrant ale which is dominated by the scents of spring — cherry blossom and acacia — with a delicate balance of floral notes and bitterness”.
Loose Cannon Brewery, from Abingdon, took silver with its Belgian-style Tripel, coming in at a hefty 8.5% ABV. Bronze was snapped up by Blue Monkey Brewery with its speciality Guerilla Chocolate Ameretto stout.
The awards took place ahead of the Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival (organised by CAMRA) at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, which continues today and over the weekend. Separate to CAMRA’s own awards, the SIBA Independent Beer Awards are run by the brewers themselves and are judged by fellow brewers from elsewhere in the UK, as well other representatives from the industry and expert beer judges.
Navigation head brewer, Dominic Flynn, said: “It’s amazing that two years ago we won this same award with Saviour, which this beer was based on, and it’s good to know it is tasting as good as ever.
Tough competition
“There were some amazing beers in this competition, so we really are blown away to win. It’s hard work making beer and we just try to make the best examples and styles as possible. We’re delighted and very proud.”
SIBA represents independent craft brewers across the UK, and all the winners of the Midlands Independent Beer Awards will now go on to the national finals at the BeerX UK event in Liverpool, in March 2022.
Neil Walker, chair of SIBA’s competitions committee, said: “The quality of beer in the competition was really exceptional, and all kept in absolutely perfect condition by the expert cellar team at Nottingham CAMRA Beer Festival. Huge thanks to them, and massive congratulations to all of the winners in this year’s awards. Anyone taking home a category gold has beaten some incredibly tough competition and should be very proud of their achievement.
“Particular congrats, of course, goes to the overall gold winner Navigation, who were worthy winners and whom I would wish the best of luck in the national finals early next year!”
Full list of winners
Overall Champion of the Cask Competition
Sponsored by Murphy & Son Ltd | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| Gold | Navigation Brewery | American | 5.2 | |
| Silver | Loose Cannon Brewery | Reunion Tripel | 8.5 | |
| Bronze | Blue Monkey Brewery | Guerrilla Chocolate Amaretto | 4.9 |
Cask British Dark Beers (up to 4.4%)
| Brewery | Product | ABV | ||
| Gold | Littleover Brewery | The Panther Stout | 4.2 | |
| Silver | Navigation Brewery | Eclipse Stout | 4.1 | |
| Bronze | Shipstones Beer Company | Nut Brown | 4 |
Cask British Dark Beers (4.5 to 6.4%)
| Brewery | Product | ABV | ||
| Gold | Dancing Duck Brewery | Dark Drake | 4.5 | |
| Silver | Loose Cannon Brewery | Robust British Porter | 5 | |
| Bronze | Weal Ales Brewery | Centwealial Milk Stout | 4.9 |
Cask British Bitters (up to 4.4%)
| Brewery | Product | ABV | ||
| Gold | Rebellion Beer Co. Ltd | Overthrow | 4.3 | |
| Silver | Brampton Brewery | Brampton Best | 4.2 | |
| Bronze | Dancing Duck Brewery | 22 | 4.3 |
Cask Premium Bitters (4.5 to 6.4%)
Sponsored by Charles Faram & Co Ltd | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| Gold | Towcester Mill Brewery | Steam Ale | 4.5 | |
| Silver | Brampton Brewery | Wasp Nest | 5 | |
| Bronze | The Chiltern Brewery | Three Hundreds Old Ale | 4.9 |
Cask Session IPA (up to 4.3%)
Sponsored by Beer Box Shop | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| Gold | Dancing Duck Brewery | DCUK | 4.3 | |
| Silver | Charnwood Brewery | Blue Fox | 4.2 | |
| Bronze | Brampton Brewery | Terminus | 4.2 |
Cask Premium PAs (4.4 to 5.4%)
| Brewery | Product | ABV | ||
| Gold | Navigation Brewery | American | 5.2 | |
| Silver | Blue Monkey Brewery | Infinity IPA | 4.6 | |
| Bronze | Weal Ales Brewery | Weller Weal | 4.6 |
Cask IPA (5.5 to 6.4%)
Sponsored by Premier Systems Ltd | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| Gold | Blue Monkey Brewery | Infinity Plus 1 | 5.6 | |
| Silver | Brampton Brewery | Speciale | 5.8 | |
| Bronze | Derby Brewing Company | Quintessential | 5.8 |
Cask Speciality Light Beers
| Brewery | Product | ABV | ||
| Gold | Milestone Brewery | Raspberry Wheat Beer | 5.6 | |
| Silver | Hollow Stone Brewing Co. | Sorbeto – Grapefruit IPA | 6 | |
| Bronze | Weal Ales Brewery | Lemon and Ginger Weal | 5.5 |
Cask Speciality Mid to Dark Beers
| Brewery | Product | ABV | ||
| Gold | Blue Monkey Brewery | Guerrilla Chocolate Amaretto | 4.9 | |
| Silver | Old Sawley Brewing Company | Plummeth The Hour | 4.5 | |
| Bronze | Hollow Stone Brewing Co. | Krubera Stout | 5.2 |
Cask Strong Beers 6.5% and over
| Brewery | Product | ABV | ||
| Gold | Loose Cannon Brewery | Reunion Tripel | 8.5 | |
| Silver | Backyard Brewhouse | Bad Santa | 6.8 | |
| Bronze | Grainstore Brewery | Nip | 7.3 |
