Breweries bring home the silverware in Sheffield
SCOTTISH breweries celebrated success at the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) National Independent Beer Awards, taking home more than one third of the gold awards up for grabs at the UK-wide event.
Alloa-based Williams Bros stuck its nose ahead of the pack picking up the Supreme Champions of the Cask Beer Competition Gold award with its Williams Black, which also topped the mild and brown ales category.
Orcadian brewer Swannay Brewery secured second spot in the top cask award, picking up silver in the Champion of Cask Beer competition for its 3.9% ABV Island Hopping.
Eight Scottish brewers cleaned up at the SIBA awards, picking up a total of 11 gold awards from a possible 29.
This year’s awards was reportedly the biggest ever, with SIBA judges assessing hundreds of cask, keg, bottled and canned beers across five days before announcing the winners at the organisation’s BeerX event in Sheffield.
Success for Williams Bros marks the second year running that a Scottish brewery has won the best cask beer award, following Loch Lomond taking home the top prize last year with its citrusy Southern Summit pale ale.
Scott Williams, co founder of Williams Bros, said the gold award was a “fantastic win” and “hugely exciting” for the brewer.
“This was one of our very first beers we ever brewed, so for it to still be winning awards is amazing,” said Williams.
“Mild has an image as an older, more old-fashioned style but it’s a great beer. Maybe Mild is the new IPA.”
Jo Stewart of Stewart Brewing, which picked up Champion Keg Standard Bitters and Pale Ales Gold for its 3.7% ABV Jack Back, said competition at this year’s awards was “fierce” with many “amazing beers from well-respected brewers”.
“It’s a massive result for our whole team and our customers who continue to support us,” said Stewart.
“It was also great to see many other Scottish brewers do so well in the competition too.”
Full list of SIBA winners (Scottish breweries in bold).
| Brewery | Beer | ABV | CLASS | Award |
| Williams Bros Brewing Co | Williams Black | 4.2 | Supreme Champion of the Cask Beer Competition | GOLD |
| Swannay Brewery | Island Hopping | 3.9 | Supreme Champion of the Cask Beer Competition | SILVER |
| Eight Arch Brewing Co. | Corbel | 5.5 | Supreme Champion of the Cask Beer Competition | BRONZE |
| Williams Bros Brewing Co | Williams Black | 4.2 | Champion Cask Standard Mild & Brown Ales | GOLD |
| Earl Soham brewery Ltd | Sir Rogers porter | 4.2 | Champion Cask Standard Mild & Brown Ales | SILVER |
| Blackedge Brewing Company Ltd | Dark MIld | 3.9 | Champion Cask Standard Mild & Brown Ales | BRONZE |
| Swannay Brewery | Island Hopping | 3.9 | Champion Cask Standard Bitters & Pale Ales | GOLD |
| York Brewery Ltd | Blonde | 3.9 | Champion Cask Standard Bitters & Pale Ales | SILVER |
| Combined Brewers Ltd | Nibley Ale | 3.8 | Champion Cask Standard Bitters & Pale Ales | BRONZE |
| Wantsum Brewery Ltd | Montgomery | 4.0 | Champion Cask Best Bitters & Pale Ales | GOLD |
| Barngates Brewery | Tag Lag | 4.4 | Champion Cask Best Bitters & Pale Ales | SILVER |
| Black Sheep Brewery | Special Ale | 4.4 | Champion Cask Best Bitters & Pale Ales | BRONZE |
| Alechemy Brewing Ltd | Bad Day At The Office | 4.5 | Champion Cask Premium Bitters & Pale Ales | GOLD |
| Salopian Brewery | Hoptwister | 4.5 | Champion Cask Premium Bitters & Pale Ales | SILVER |
| Cullercoats Brewery Ltd | Pilot | 4.8 | Champion Cask Premium Bitters & Pale Ales | BRONZE |
| Eight Arch Brewing Co. | Corbel | 5.5 | Champion Cask Strong Bitters & Pale Ales | GOLD |
| Slater’s Ales | Haka | 5.2 | Champion Cask Strong Bitters & Pale Ales | SILVER |
| Daleside Brewery | Monkey Wrench | 5.3 | Champion Cask Strong Bitters & Pale Ales | BRONZE |
| St Austell Brewery | Big Job | 7.2 | Champion Cask Premium Strong Beers | GOLD |
| Harrogate Brewing Company | Kursaal Imperial Stout | 7.5 | Champion Cask Premium Strong Beers | SILVER |
| Black Cat Brewery | Tzar Imperial Stout | 6.8 | Champion Cask Premium Strong Beers | BRONZE |
| New Lion Brewery | Totnes Stout | 4.4 | Champion Cask Porters, Stouts, Old Ales, Strong Milds & Strong Brown Ales | GOLD |
| Great Newsome Brewery | Liquorice Lads Stout | 4.3 | Champion Cask Porters, Stouts, Old Ales, Strong Milds & Strong Brown Ales | SILVER |
| Bespoke Brewing Co Ltd | Money for Old Rope | 4.8 | Champion Cask Porters, Stouts, Old Ales, Strong Milds & Strong Brown Ales | BRONZE |
| RCH Brewery | Chocolate Slug | 4.5 | Champion Cask Speciality Beers | GOLD |
| Blackedge Brewing Company Ltd | Ginger | 4.5 | Champion Cask Speciality Beers | SILVER |
| Northern Monk Brewing Co | Northern Star | 5.9 | Champion Cask Speciality Beers | BRONZE |
| Fyne Ales | Mills & Hills | 9.5 | Supreme Champion of the Small Pack Competition | GOLD |
| Loch Lomond Brewery | Silkie Stout | 5.0 | Supreme Champion of the Small Pack Competition | SILVER |
| Hawkshead Brewery | Lakeland Lager | 5.0 | Supreme Champion of the Small Pack Competition | BRONZE |
| Strathaven Ales | Craigmill Mild | 3.5 | Champion Small Pack Standard Mild & Brown Ales | GOLD |
| The Loose Cannon Brewing Company | Abingdon Bridge | 4.1 | Champion Small Pack Standard Mild & Brown Ales | SILVER |
| Wolf Brewery | Sirius Dog Star | 4.4 | Champion Small Pack Standard Mild & Brown Ales | BRONZE |
| Idle Valley Brewery Ltd | Vacant gesture | 3.8 | Champion Small Pack Standard Bitters & Pale Ales | GOLD |
| Gloucester Brewery Ltd | Gloucester Gold | 4.1 | Champion Small Pack Standard Bitters & Pale Ales | SILVER |
| Hawkshead Brewery | Windermere Pale | 4.0 | Champion Small Pack Standard Bitters & Pale Ales | BRONZE |
| Thornbridge Brewery | AM:PM | 4.5 | Champion Small Pack Premium Bitters & Pale Ales | GOLD |
| Woodfordes | Nelsons Revenge | 4.5 | Champion Small Pack Premium Bitters & Pale Ales | SILVER |
| Liberation Brewery | Liberation IPA | 4.8 | Champion Small Pack Premium Bitters & Pale Ales | BRONZE |
| Purity Brewing Company | Longhorn IPA | 5.0 | Champion Small Pack Strong Bitters & Pale Ales | GOLD |
| Irwell Works Brewery | Mad Dogs & Englishmen | 5.5 | Champion Small Pack Strong Bitters & Pale Ales | SILVER |
| Hambleton Ales LLP | Thoroughbred Pale Ale | 5.0 | Champion Small Pack Strong Bitters & Pale Ales | BRONZE |
| Fyne Ales | Mills & Hills | 9.5 | Champion Small Pack Premium Strong Beers | GOLD |
| Lacons Brewery | Audit | 8.0 | Champion Small Pack Premium Strong Beers | SILVER |
| Windsor and Eton Brewery | Uprising’s Treason | 6.0 | Champion Small Pack Premium Strong Beers | BRONZE |
| Brass Castle Brewery | Helles Lager | 4.4 | Champion Small Pack Standard Lager & Pilsners | GOLD |
| The Norfolk Brewhouse | DewHopper Norfolk Lager | 4.0 | Champion Small Pack Standard Lager & Pilsners | SILVER |
| Charnwood Brewery | Liska | 4.0 | Champion Small Pack Standard Lager & Pilsners | BRONZE |
| Hawkshead Brewery | Lakeland Lager | 5.0 | Champion Small Pack Premium Lager & Pilsners | GOLD |
| The Norfolk Brewhouse | StubbleStag | 5.0 | Champion Small Pack Premium Lager & Pilsners | SILVER |
| Edinburgh Beer Factory | Paolozzi | 5.2 | Champion Small Pack Premium Lager & Pilsners | BRONZE |
| Loch Lomond Brewery | Silkie Stout | 5.0 | Champion Small Pack Porters, Stouts, Old Ales, Strong Milds & Strong Brown Ales | GOLD |
| Salopian Brewery | Midnight Express | 5.2 | Champion Small Pack Porters, Stouts, Old Ales, Strong Milds & Strong Brown Ales | SILVER |
| Bristol Beer Factory | MIlk Stout | 4.5 | Champion Small Pack Porters, Stouts, Old Ales, Strong Milds & Strong Brown Ales | BRONZE |
| Swannay Brewery | Barrel Aged Orkney Porter (2014 Arran Ed) | 10.5 | Champion Small Pack Speciality Beers | GOLD |
| Elgood & Sons Ltd | Q E Cherry Wheat | 3.6 | Champion Small Pack Speciality Beers | SILVER |
| The Five Points Brewing Company | London Smoke | 7.8 | Champion Small Pack Speciality Beers | BRONZE |
| Burning Sky Brewery Limited | Easy Answers | 6.0 | Supreme Champion of the Keg Competition | GOLD |
| Grain Brewery | Slate | 6.0 | Supreme Champion of the Keg Competition | SILVER |
| Grain Brewery | Weizen | 5.0 | Supreme Champion of the Keg Competition | BRONZE |
| Arran Brewery | Arran Dark | 4.3 | Champion Keg Standard Mild & Brown Ales | GOLD |
| Everards Brewery | Tiger | 4.2 | Champion Keg Standard Mild & Brown Ales | SILVER |
| Elgoods Brewery Ltd | Black Dog | 3.6 | Champion Keg Standard Mild & Brown Ales | BRONZE |
| Stewart Brewing | Jack Back | 3.7 | Champion Keg Standard Bitters & Pale Ales | GOLD |
| Red Squirrel Brewing Company | Hopfest | 3.8 | Champion Keg Standard Bitters & Pale Ales | SILVER |
| Acorn Brewery | Barnsley Bitter | 3.8 | Champion Keg Standard Bitters & Pale Ales | BRONZE |
| Charnwood Brewery | American Pale Ale | 4.8 | Champion Keg Premium Bitters & Pale Ales | GOLD |
| New Lion Brewery | Pandit | 4.9 | Champion Keg Premium Bitters & Pale Ales | SILVER |
| The Dark Star Brewing Co Ltd | American Pale Ale | 4.7 | Champion Keg Premium Bitters & Pale Ales | BRONZE |
| Charnwood Brewery | India Pale ale | 5.8 | Champion Keg Strong Bitters & Pale Ales | GOLD |
| Salopian Brewery | Kashmir | 5.5 | Champion Keg Strong Bitters & Pale Ales | SILVER |
| Grain Brewery | Pale | 5.0 | Champion Keg Strong Bitters & Pale Ales | BRONZE |
| Burning Sky Brewery Limited | Easy Answers | 6.0 | Champion Keg Premium Strong Beers | GOLD |
| Saltaire Brewery Ltd | Kala Black IPA | 6.2 | Champion Keg Premium Strong Beers | SILVER |
| St. Peter’s Brewery | Black IPA | 7.0 | Champion Keg Premium Strong Beers | BRONZE |
| Coniston Brewery | Oliver’s Lager | 3.4 | Champion Keg Standard Lager & Pilsners | GOLD |
| Williams Bros Brewing Co | Caesar Augustus | 4.1 | Champion Keg Standard Lager & Pilsners | SILVER |
| Daleside Brewery | Daleside Larger | 4.0 | Champion Keg Standard Lager & Pilsners | BRONZE |
| Barngates Brewery | Vienna | 5.2 | Champion Keg Premium Lager & Pilsners | GOLD |
| Calvors Brewery Limited | Calvors Premium Pilsner Lager | 5.0 | Champion Keg Premium Lager & Pilsners | SILVER |
| St Austell Brewery Co Ltd | Korev | 4.8 | Champion Keg Premium Lager & Pilsners | BRONZE |
| Grain Brewery | Slate | 6.0 | Champion Keg Porters, Stouts, Old Ales, Strong Milds & Strong Brown Ales | GOLD |
| Thornbridge Brewery | Baize | 6.0 | Champion Keg Porters, Stouts, Old Ales, Strong Milds & Strong Brown Ales | SILVER |
| Hardknott Brewery | Dark Energy | 4.9 | Champion Keg Porters, Stouts, Old Ales, Strong Milds & Strong Brown Ales | BRONZE |
| Grain Brewery | Weizen | 5.0 | Champion Keg Speciality Beers | GOLD |
| The London Beer Factory | Fruit Loop | 4.1 | Champion Keg Speciality Beers | SILVER |
| Purple Moose Brewery | Chocolate Moose | 4.5 | Champion Keg Speciality Beers | BRONZE |
