Purity Brewing in Alcester and Grainstore Brewery in Oakham have taken the overall cask and keg golds in SIBA’s Midlands Independent Beer Awards.
Left to right: James Calder, chief executive of SIBA; Steve Fuller, sales manager at Grainstore Brewery; and Joanna Coleman, of purity Brewing Co
The awards are run by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) and are hosted by the Rail Ale Festival at the Roundhouse, near Chesterfield.
Purity’s Pure Helles (5% ABV) won gold in the keg category and is a traditional German pale lager beer. Pure Helles uses the finest English Maris Otter malt, Pilgrim hops from Worcestershire, and a blend of classic German hops to give the beer a clean, refreshing taste and a bright appearance.
Paul Halsey, founder and chief executive of Purity Brewing Co, said: “We’re delighted to win this award. It’s been 17 years in the making. I’ve been working with colleagues from Maisel’s brewing in Germany for a long, long time. They are the experts of German lager and this beer was born out of a collaboration they did with us. They helped us really refine how to make a great, great Helles. This beer is gluten free, vegan, and organic. We’re delighted to win gold.”
Grainstore Brewery’s Rutland Beast (5.3% ABV) took gold in cask beer competition. Rutland Beast is strong, yet well balanced. Dark earthy brown in colour, it’s brewed using a combination of seven different malts and wheats, as well as three classic hop varieties. It’s described as a ‘bit of an animal’.
Steve Fuller, sales manager at Grainstore Brewery, said: “It’s incredible. It’s an incredible achievement for everyone at the brewery. I’m lost for words. The folks in the brewery make some exceptional beer.
“Rutland Beast is a dark beer that’s very tasty, and it sells very, very well. I hope that this gold makes my life as a sales manager that little bit easier because it’s a beer that deserves to be enjoyed in every pub across the Midlands!”
SIBA chief executive, James Calder, said: “Having poured many of the beers today I can attest to the incredibly high standard of independent beers across the Midlands region. I want to congratulate all our medal winners and, in particular, Purity and Grainstore, who were the two outstanding ‘best in show’.
“Big thanks to the team at the Rail Ale Festival at Chesterfield Roundhouse for helping to organise a fantastic competition and festival.”
Full list of winners
Overall champion of the cask competition
| Sponsored by Keg Logistics | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| GOLD | Grainstore Brewery | Rutland Beast | 5.3 | |
| SILVER | Backyard Brewhouse | Bad Santa, Oak Aged | 6.8 | |
| BRONZE | Grainstore Brewery | Nip | 7.3 |
Cask session dark beer
| Sponsored by Abacus Flooring Solutions | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| GOLD | Nottingham Brewery Ltd | Rock Mild | 3.8 | |
| SILVER | Brampton Brewery | Impy Dark | 4.3 | |
| SILVER | Little Brewing Co | The Panther Stout | 4.2 | |
| SILVER | Brunswick Brewing Co Ltd | Railway Porter | 4.3 | |
| BRONZE | White Horse Brewery | Wayland Smithy | 4.4 | |
| BRONZE | Grainstore Brewery | Rutland Panther | 3.4 | |
| BRONZE | Milestone Brewery | Black Pearl | 4.3 | |
| BRONZE | Shipstone’s Beer Company | Nut Brown | 4 | |
| BRONZE | Vale Brewery | Red Kite | 4.3 |
Cask British dark beer
| Sponsored by Murphy & Son | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| GOLD | Grainstore Brewery | Rutland Beast | 5.3 | |
| SILVER | Weal Ales Brewery | Centwealial Milk Stout | 4.9 | |
| BRONZE | Loose Cannon Brewery | Robust Brisith Porter | 5 | |
| BRONZE | Castle Rock Brewery | Oatmeal Stout | 4.6 | |
| BRONZE | Loddon Brewery | Hocus Pocus | 4.6 | |
| BRONZE | Dancing Duck Brewery | Dark Drake | 4.5 |
Cask British bitter
| Brewery | Product | ABV | ||
| GOLD | Everards of Leicestershire | Tiger | 4.2 | |
| SILVER | Brewhouse & Kitchen Sutton Coldfield | OO4 Oaks | 4.2 | |
| SILVER | Shipstone’s Beer Company | Original Bitter | 3.8 | |
| SILVER | Titanic Brewery | Steerage | 3.8 | |
| SILVER | Purity Brewing Company | JIMBO – Very Best Bitter | 4 | |
| SILVER | Rebellion Beer Co. Ltd. | Overthrow | 4.3 | |
| BRONZE | Blue Monkey Brewery | Primate Best Bitter | 4 | |
| BRONZE | Derby Brewing Company | Business As Usual | 4.4 | |
| BRONZE | Backyard Brewhouse | The Hoard | 3.9 | |
| BRONZE | Dancing Duck Brewery | 22 | 4.3 | |
| BRONZE | Lincoln Green Brewing Company | Hood | 4.2 | |
| BRONZE | Charnwood Brewery | Vixen | 4 | |
| BRONZE | Front Row brewing | Sinbin | 4.2 | |
| BRONZE | Green Duck Brewery | Blonde | 4.2 | |
| BRONZE | White Horse Brewery | White Horse Bitter | 3.7 | |
| BRONZE | Peak Ales | Bakewell Best | 4.2 | |
| BRONZE | Phipps NBC | Steam Roller | 4.4 |
Cask British best bitter
| Sponsored by Charles Faram | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| SILVER | Grainstore Brewery | Ten Fifty | 5 | |
| SILVER | Fownes Brewing Company | … at the Gates of Dawn | 5 | |
| SILVER | Titanic Brewery | White Star | 4.5 | |
| BRONZE | Everards of Leicestershire | Old Original | 5.2 | |
| BRONZE | Loddon Brewery | Dragonfly | 5.2 | |
| BRONZE | Matlock Wolds Farm | Reverence | 5 | |
| BRONZE | Milestone Brewery | Little John | 5 |
Cask session pale ale
| Sponsored by Rankin Brothers & Sons | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| GOLD | White Horse Brewery | Pacific Pale | 4 | |
| SILVER | Purity Brewing Company | Pure Gold | 3.8 | |
| SILVER | Fownes Brewing Company | The Elephant Riders | 4 | |
| SILVER | Green Duck Brewery | Session IPA | 4 | |
| SILVER | Titanic Brewery | Iceberg | 4.1 | |
| SILVER | Nottinghham Brewery Ltd | Scrum on down | 4 | |
| BRONZE | Backyard Brewhouse | Modern Sate | 4.4 | |
| BRONZE | Little Brewing Co | Loop | 3.7 | |
| BRONZE | Milestone Brewery | Maid Marian | 4.3 | |
| BRONZE | Alter Ego Brewing Co | Echo Chamber | 3.8 | |
| BRONZE | Charnwood Brewery | Blue Fox | 4.2 | |
| BRONZE | Brampton Brewery | Terminus | 4.2 | |
| BRONZE | Castle Rock Brewery | Army Of Me | 3.4 | |
| BRONZE | Lincoln Green Brewing Company | Archer | 4 | |
| BRONZE | Welbeck Abbey Brewery | Skylight | 4.4 | |
| BRONZE | Howard Town Brewery | Kerala | 4.2 | |
| BRONZE | Navigation Brewery | New Dawn Pale | 3.9 | |
| BRONZE | Vale Brewery | Vale Pale Ale | 4.2 | |
| BRONZE | Blue Monkey Brewery | BG Sips | 4 | |
| BRONZE | Dancing Duck Brewery | DCUK | 4.3 | |
| BRONZE | Everards of Leicestershire | Golden Hop | 3.5 | |
| BRONZE | Loose Cannon Brewery | Recoil | 4.2 |
Cask Pale Ale
| Sponsored by Rankin Brothers & Sons | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| GOLD | White Horse Brewery | West Coast IPA | 4.6 | |
| GOLD | Welbeck Abbey Brewery | Atlas | 5 | |
| SILVER | Castle Rock Brewery | In Bloom | 4.5 | |
| SILVER | Green Duck Brewery | American Pale | 4.5 | |
| SILVER | Little Brewing Co | Taj | 4.6 | |
| SILVER | Black Iris Brewery | Endless Summer | 4.5 | |
| BRONZE | Backyard Brewhouse | Gold | 4.5 | |
| BRONZE | Lincoln Green Brewing Company | Ãine Kveik | 5.4 | |
| BRONZE | Derby Brewing Company | Mercia IPA | 5 | |
| BRONZE | Towcester Mill Brewery | Roman Road | 5.2 | |
| BRONZE | Milestone Brewery | Fletchers | 5.2 | |
| BRONZE | Thornbridge Brewery | Crackendale | 5.2 | |
| BRONZE | Weal Ales Brewery | Weller Weal | 4.6 | |
| BRONZE | Loddon Brewery | Ferrymans Gold | 4.4 | |
| BRONZE | Uttoxeter Brewing Company | Admiral Gardner | 4.5 |
Cask IPA
| Sponsored by Rankin Brothers & Sons | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| BRONZE | Blue Monkey Brewery | Infinity Plus 1 | 5.6 | |
| BRONZE | Thornbridge Brewery | Jaipur | 5.9 | |
| BRONZE | Derby Brewing Company | You Had Me At IPA | 6 |
Cask speciality light beer
| Sponsored by Ekegplus | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| GOLD | Peak Ales | Chatsworth Gold | 4.6 | |
| SILVER | Milestone Brewery | Raspberry Wheat Beer | 5.6 | |
| SILVER | Hollow Stone Brewing Co | Sorbeto – Grapefruit WIT IPA | 6 | |
| SILVER | Weal Ales Brewery | Lemon and Ginger Weal | 5.5 | |
| BRONZE | Titanic Brewery | Raspberry Pale | 4.7 |
Cask speciality amber to dark beer
| Brewery | Product | ABV | ||
| GOLD | Backyard Brewhouse | Bad Santa, Oak Aged | 6.8 | |
| SILVER | Titanic Brewery | Plum Porter | 4.9 | |
| BRONZE | Alter Ego Brewing Co | S’more Fire | 5.2 |
Cask Imperial & Strong Beer
| Sponsored by Murphy & Son | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| GOLD | Grainstore Brewery | Nip | 7.3 | |
| SILVER | Uttoxeter Brewing Company | Winners Enclosure | 6.5 |
Overall champion of the keg competition
| Sponsored by Keg Logistics | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| GOLD | Purity Brewing Company | Pure Helles | 5 | |
| SILVER | Fownes Brewing Company | Korvak’s Downfall | 9 | |
| BRONZE | Purity Brewing Company | Double Bunny | 6.8 |
Keg lager
| Sponsored by Ekegplus | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| GOLD | Purity Brewing Company | Pure Helles | 5 | |
| GOLD | Rebellion Beer Co. Ltd. | Rebellion Lager | 4.4 | |
| BRONZE | Langton Brewery Ltd | Bridge 62 | 5 | |
| BRONZE | Davenports Brewery Ltd | Continental lager | 4.5 |
Keg pale ale
| Sponsored by Abacus Flooring Solutions | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| GOLD | Howard Town Brewery | Xanadu | 4.3 | |
| SILVER | Green Duck Brewery | Foam Party | 4.5 | |
| SILVER | Oxford Brewery | Hoptric | 4.4 | |
| SILVER | Purity Brewing Company | Session IPA | 4.5 | |
| BRONZE | Rebellion Beer Co. Ltd. | 24 Carat | 5 | |
| BRONZE | Alter Ego Brewing Co | Force Field | 4.5 | |
| BRONZE | Matlock Wolds Farm | Apogee | 5.5 | |
| BRONZE | Brewhouse & Kitchen Sutton Coldfield | Nipmuc | 4.8 |
Keg imperial and strong ale
| Brewery | Product | ABV | ||
| GOLD | Fownes Brewing Company | Korvak’s Downfall | 9 | |
| SILVER | Thornbridge Brewery | Necessary Evil | 13 | |
| BRONZE | Navigation Brewery | Gravitational Anomaly | 11.6 |
Keg IPA
| Sponsored by Charles Faram | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| GOLD | Purity Brewing Company | Double Bunny | 6.8 | |
| BRONZE | Dhillon’s Brewery | Red Rebel IPA | 6.2 |
Keg wheat beer
| Brewery | Product | ABV | ||
| SILVER | Dhillon’s Brewery | Weizenbock | 7.8 |
Keg speciality IPA
| Sponsored by Beer Box Shop | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| BRONZE | Front Row brewing | Crafty Flanker | 6 | |
| BRONZE | Brewhouse & Kitchen Lichfield | Spellman Sam | 4.8 |
Keg speciality and flavoured Beer
| Brewery | Product | ABV | ||
| SILVER | Navigation Brewery | Key Lime Pale | 4 | |
| BRONZE | Milestone Brewery | Raspberry Wheat Beer | 5.6 |
Keg Belgian, French, and Trappist Ale
| Sponsored by Beer Box Shop | Brewery | Product | ABV | |
| BRONZE | Navigation Brewery | Blonde | 5 |
Keg non-alcoholic and low ABV
| Brewery | Product | ABV | ||
| SILVER | Birmingham Brewing Company | Sober Brummie | 0.5 |
Keg double and triple IPA
| Brewery | Product | ABV | ||
| BRONZE | Navigation Brewery | Square Waves | 8.4 |
Keg stout and porter
| Brewery | Product | ABV | ||
| SILVER | Milestone Brewery | Black Pearl | 4.3 | |
| BRONZE | Loose Cannon Brewery | Robust British Porter | 5 | |
| BRONZE | Fownes Brewing Company | Korvak’s Verdict | 5 | |
| BRONZE | Rebellion Beer Co. Ltd. | Black | 5.2 |
Keg bitter
| Brewery | Product | ABV | ||
| GOLD | Loddon Brewery | Dragonfly | 5.2 |
