Orkney Brewery and Fyne Ales have been named ‘best of the best’ at the SIBA Scotland Independent Beer Awards, held at Indie Beer Scotland.
Neil Walker, head of communications at SIBA, with award winners from Orkney Brewery and Fyne Ales
Orkney Brewery’s Dark Island Reserve, a 10% ABV whisky-barrel-aged porter, wowed judges in the cask beer competition, taking home overall gold after winning the cask speciality dark beers category. The beer has big bold flavours of fruit, spice, oak, and roast malt flavours, alongside a subtle whisky finish.
“It’s a great opportunity to come down here to the SIBA Awards,” said Craig Steven, of Orkney Brewery. “All our beer is brewed on the island and it comes down here to be up against all these great Scottish breweries, so to win the overall champion cask beer is just a tremendous achievement and testament to what we’ve been doing for the last 30 years.”
In the keg beer awards, Pinc, from Fyne Ales, part of their mixed fermentation and sour beer project, was named overall gold winner. The Belgian saison-style base beer is aged on a mixture of grape pomace (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir), raspberries, apple juice, and gooseberries to create an aromatic, fruity, and subtly acidic beer inspired by rosé wine. It won the competition’s keg sour and wild ale category before going on to take overall gold.
Jamie Delap, of Fyne Ales, said: “Absolutely delighted to win. Coming down to Indie Beer is such a great chance to meet everyone from the industry and see the best of what Scottish beer has to offer. There are some fantastic beers here so to come out and win is just really appreciated.”
The beer itself is the first from Fyne Ales Origins Project’s new head brewer, Dan Wye, to be entered into a SIBA competition. “Dan has been doing a fantastic job and I’m really delighted for him to see one of his beers recognised by the judging table first try” Jamie added.
Neil Walker, head of communications at SIBA, said: “The quality of entries this year was truly outstanding and attendees to this year’s festival really were treated with the best that Scottish independent brewing has to offer.
“Huge congratulations to all this year’s winners, and particularly Orkney and Fyne Ales, who were our overall gold champions.”
The full list of winners is here.
