Ossett Brewing Company is toasting triple honours — one gold and two silvers — at this year’s World Beer Awards.
Ossett’s director of brewing, Paul Spencer
Silver King (4.3% ABV) claimed gold in the English pale ales category, while Excelsius (5.2% ABV) was runner-up with silver. Stout Yorkshire Treacle (4.8% ABV) snatched silver in the flavoured porter/stouts class.
Originally located at the back of Brewers Pride, in Ossett, the brewery was founded by Bob Lawson in 1998. Back then, Silver King and Excelsius formed the original line-up and were pioneering beers in the UK cask ale revolution.
Silver King won Ossett’s first national award in 2001, as a speciality beer, and Excelsius was SIBA national champion three
times over two decades.
Ossett owner, Jamie Lawson, said: “We are truly humbled by the recognition we have received for three of our core beers, especially for Silver King and Excelsius. To have core beers in our range that continue to win awards at a national level after two decades show that we have created classic recipes which are ageless.
“These highly prestigious awards are a wonderful morale boost for the team, following all the challenges faced in recent months to keep our beers flowing for collection and home delivery throughout the covid-19 lockdown, and since then supplying our own pubs, the free trade, wholesale partners, and pub companies.”
What the judges said
Silver King: “Clear and crisp, with classic subtle English hops and a balanced finish. Quite mild overall, and a pleasing beer. Good carbonation and a long bitter finish; a well-balanced beer.”
Excelsius: “Citrus nose, with hops well integrated. Alcohol smooths out the flavour profile to give balance, and it has a good aftertaste. Malt-forward on the nose, and the juicy hops work well with the sweetness.”
Yorkshire Treacle: “Pours dark, with a peaty smokiness on the nose. A small, bright hop character leans forwards, and amidst the smoke there’s also grapefruit and a peppery flavour moving through. There are some red fruit aromas, coffee undertones, chocolate, and more peat on the finish.”
During the coronavirus lockdown, Ossett introduced both a local click and collect and a nationwide delivery service, which remain available at ossett-brewery.co.uk or by phoning 01924 261333. Beers can also be sampled from the re-opened brewery taproom.
