The Orkney Brewery has done the double at a major national beer competition, becoming the only Scottish brewer to take top honours in two different event categories.
The brewery’s speciality Dark Island Reserve and its Dragonhead stout both won gold at the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) National Independent Beer Awards 2018, held in Liverpool last week.
The SIBA National Independent Beer Awards, staged as part of the BeerX event, saw a huge range of beers judged across a number of styles in separate cask, keg and small pack (bottle and can) competitions.
Judged mostly by brewers, experts and beer journalists, the awards are very much seen as a prestigious ‘brewers’ choice’ by the industry.
Dark Island Reserve took the top award in the Cask Champion Speciality Mid to Dark Beers category of the event, while Dragonhead stout won its gold in the Keg Champion Standard Mild Ales & Brown Ales section of the competition.
Craig Steven, Orkney Brewery’s commercial manager, said: “Receiving these awards on behalf of the Orkney Brewery team is a great honour and an incredible testament to our meticulous approach to recipe, brewing methods and ingredient selection. Our brewers are delivering outstanding consistency across all styles, offering a great range of beer for all channels demanding more premium choices.”
“These latest accolades mean we have now picked up 17 awards overall inside 12 months – not a bad haul from one of Scotland’s first independent micro-brewers and great timing as we celebrate our 30th birthday this year.”
Buster Grant, SIBA chairman, added: “Judges had a tough job separating the pack as the standard was extremely high once again. The winners from the SIBA competition are officially the best independent craft beers in the UK, something brewers should be extremely proud of.”
More information on SIBA’s Independent Beer Awards is available at www.siba.co.uk/awards/