Moon Gazer Ales have picked up a gold medal at the SIBA Independent Beer Awards for their milk stout Skidaddler, named best keg stout under 6.4% ABV.
Steve Chroscicki, creator of Skidaddle, at the Independent Beer Awards presentation
The stout qualified for the national competition — in Liverpool this week — having won gold in the Eastern region, where it competed against leading brewers from seven counties.
“We are delighted that we were judged to be the top keg stout produced in the country, and to continue our proud run of representing craft beer from Norfolk,” said David Holliday, co-founder of Moon Gazer Ales.
“The news seems to be full of Guinness stout at the moment, so it great our small Norfolk brewery can make headlines, too!
“It’s also testament to how Moon Gazer cask beers can transfer excellently into keg — by way of us now using Key Kegs — which are effectively produced in the same way as cask beer but are dispensed on a pub’s keg line, which has opened up a whole new audience to our beers.
Brewer Andrew Woods with the gold medal back at the brewery
“Skidaddler is an easy-drinking, sweet, smooth British stout, and was judged in a fiercely contested category as so many craft brewers and regional breweries now create craft stouts.”
The beer was created by brewer Steve Chroscicki, and it was fitting that he was able to collect the award to mark his recent retirement.
“To be awarded the category champion against such a strong line up of top brewers was amazing,” added David. “We take great pride in our craft beers, using Norfolk malted barley, and just love the fact that we are able to fly the flag for Norfolk, our home county, of which we are so proud.”
The brewery is hoping to make the stout available in cans, but for now it can be found in pubs across Norfolk.
