Navigation Brewery in Nottingham and Attic Brew Co in Birmingham have taken overall golds in SIBA’s Midlands Independent Beer Awards.
Left to right: John Nowacki, of Attic Brew Co, Buster Grant (SIBA), Craig Nightingale, of Navigation Brewery, and Andy Slee (SIBA)
The awards are run by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) and are hosted by the Rail Ale Festival at the Roundhouse, near Chesterfield, which continues today.
It was Navigation’s fruity golden ale, Rebel, which wowed judges in the cask competition, with tropical fruit and citrus flavours, and a clean bitterness in the balanced finish.
“I’m over the moon to win — I love this beer,” said Navigation’s research and development brewer, Craig Nightingale. “It is one of my favourite beers, and it’s the one I drink in the pubs at night.
“So it’s great to see it win as it’s the first time it has been in the running for awards, as well. The beer is based around Citra hops and it’s just super sessionable, super easy drinking, really crisp, and really flavourful.”
The overall champion keg beer was Attic Brew Co’s Signal IPA. It impressed with big citrus and stronefruit flavours of grapefruit, apricot, and blackcurrant.
“It’s amazing to win the award,” said Attic’s business development executive John Nowacki. “We think we’re brewing some really good beers, but it’s nice to have that back-up to know that we’re on the right track.
“We brew really hop-forward but really drinkable beers, with loads of body and not too much bitterness, so you can enjoy a few different beers.”
SIBA chief executive, Andy Slee, said: “Huge congratulations to all of this year’s winners and, in particular, our overall champions, who not not only won their style categories, but went on to be named the best of the best in what was an extremely hard-fought final round judging.
“The quality of beers in the competition was superb, and I want to say a huge thank you to the Rail Ale Festival for being such fantastic hosts and for ensuring all of the beer was served in such superb condition.”
