Broughton Brewery’s Old Jock Scotch ale has been named Scotland’s best cask beer at the SIBA Scotland Independent Beer Awards 2023. Swannay Brewery’s Orkney Porter won overall gold in the keg competition.
Buster Grant, of SIBA (centre) with Craig Garvie, of Swannay Brewery (left) and Christie Slater, of Broughton Brewery
The award judging took place ahead of Indie Beer Scotland, the country’s biggest independent craft beer festival.
Broughton Brewery’s Old Jock impressed judges with big roasted malt flavours and a balanced sweetness. “It’s absolutely fantastic to be here and win the overall cask beer award for Scotland,” said the brewery’s Christie Slater, accepting the award.
“Old Jock’s been around for a while. It’s a completely unpretentious beer, a true Scottish ale with not too many hops and a lot of big malt flavours, but at 6.7% it does pack a real punch.”
Swannay Brewery’s 9% ABV Orkney Porter took competition’s other big award, being named overall keg champion. It wowed judges with berry fruit and big smokey malt flavours.
“Massive congratulations to all of the winners from Indie Beer Scotland,” said Andy Slee, chief executive of SIBA (the Society of Independent Brewers). “The quality was superb across the board, so to take away an award from such tough competition is something to be truly proud of.
“This is especially true of our overall champions, Broughton and Swannay breweries, who not only won their categories but then went on to be named our overall champions. The very best of the best in Scotland for 2023.
