A British microbrewery has taken home gold from a major European beer competition, having already been crowned champions of the UK.
Steam Town Brew Co, from Eastleigh, near Southampton, had their Imperial Raise stout put forward by the Society of Independent Breweries and Associates (SIBA) for European Beer Star, in Germany, after being named champions at the UK’s Indie Beer Awards. Their beer was named global champion in the flavoured and pastry stouts category.
“Our small brewing team and the wider Steam Town family are over the moon with this international gold at the European Beer Star awards, for our Imperial Raise pastry stout,” said the brewery’s David Mackie, who was in Nuremburg to accept the award.
“Hailing from our small Industrial town of Eastleigh in Hampshire, we’re delighted to be recognised for our hard work and dedication to our British craft. It’s a great endorsement of the UK Indie beer scene and we’re really proud to be a part of it.”
Imperial Raise is a 10% ABV chocolate fudge sundae pastry stout. Described by the brewers as “very rich and decadent”, it delivers a chocolate fudge aroma to start, then a sweet and full bodied flavour “leading into a big and rich chocolate vanilla fudge flavour delight”.
Neil Walker, of SIBA and the Indie Beer Awards, said: “We are delighted for Dave and the Steam Town team for their win at European Beer Star, and are hugely proud to have been able to platform their superb imperial stout following its win in the Indie Beer Awards UK. We know how sensational this beer is, and now so does the rest of Europe!”
Steam Town Brew Co was planned by beer mates David and Drew in 2016, after working together on large beer festival events. They were both living near the railway Town of Eastleigh and always found themselves having to visit nearby Winchester or Southampton when they wanted in a night out. So, over time, the Steam Town idea grew.
After finding a historic and characterful mixed-use building next to Eastleigh railway station, they opened in November 2017. A 10hl brewhouse, bar, and restaurant, refurbished to give a nod to Eastleigh’s industrial and railway heritage, produces just over 300,000 pints each year.
