Left to right are: Dr Declan Teare, Yeovil Ales; Guy Sheppard, SIBA competitions chair; and Darren Batten, Palmers Brewery

Tally Ho by Palmers Brewery, and YPA by Yeovil Ales have taken home the two top spots at the SIBA South West Independent Beer Awards.

The awards took place prior to the famous Tuckers Maltings Beer Festival in Newton Abbot.

Tally Ho was named overall champion cask beer and is described as strong, complex, and full of deep distinctive notes, with a rich fruit cake flavour. First brewed in the 1940s, the dark, strong old ale has a loyal following.

YPA took overall gold in the bottleand can competition and is a a smooth, fruity beer. Notes of citrus fruit and sweeter peaches and apricots are provided by a well-crafted blend of pale malts and aromatic hops.

SIBA competition chair, Guy Sheppard, said: “The new outdoor venue has proved a great success, and the quality of the beers this year has been as high as ever, with some amazing cask, bottle and canned beers on show in the competition.

“I would like to congratulate all of the winners and, in particular, the overall golds, which really are the best of the best craft beer from the South West.”

Darren Batten, from Palmers Brewery, said: “On our 225th birthday, it’s thrilling to win the top gold for Tally Ho at the SIBA South West beer competition. It’s a treat, I’m lost for words!”

Dr Declan Teare, head brewer at Yeovil Ales, said: “Given the amazing quality of beers in the South West, it’s incredible to be judged by our peers with YPA as the best bottled beer in the region. Yeovil Pale Ale is our double IPA style, easy-drinking beer, and it’s one of our favourites!”