Grain Brewery and Ampersand Brew Co took home the top two awards at the Indie Beer Awards East, which took place at the CAMRA Peterborough Beer Festival.
SIBA chairman Anthony Hughes (centre) presents awards to Phil Halls (right), from Grain Brewery, and Ellie Folkard, from Ampersand Brew Co
Grain Brewery’s Lignum Vitae, a 6.5% ABV IPA, wowed the judges in the cask beer section. It is described by the brewery as being “light on the palate and bursting with juicy and tropical fruit hop flavours”.
“This is the 20th year of Grain Brewery, and to know we can still brew champion beers with so many top-quality independent breweries in the region is fantastic news,” said the brewery’s Phil Halls. “A massive well done to all of the team at Grain.”
Ampersand Brew Co’s Hypothesis, a 10% ABV imperial barrel-aged stout, took gold in the keg competition. The beer focuses on roasted and chocolate flavours, balanced by a spicy bitterness which the brewery describes as a “moreish stout that we keep coming back to”.
Andy Hipwell, co-owner of Ampersand, said: “Winning this prestigious award is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the hard work, dedication, and love that our small team puts into every beer we make.
“This is a special beer to us as it was one of the first commercial beers Amy and I made over nine years ago. It is great to see it competing with the best and we can’t wait to take it to the nationals next year.
“It was also fantastic to see our neighbours, Grain, scoop the top cask award, meaning a double win for the Waveney Valley.”
