Orkney and Drygate biggest winners at SIBA
ORKNEY Brewery and Glasgow’s Drygate have been crowned the top independent craft brewers in Scotland after taking the two top spots in the SIBA Scotland Independent Beer Awards 2018.
The annual awards, this year held at Drygate brewery, is organised by SIBA (the Society of Independent Brewers) and judged by a panel of brewers and beer experts.
Orkney’s Dark Island Reserve, a barrel-aged 10% ABV imperial stout, took home the Overall Gold in the cask competition, while Drygate’s 6% ABV milk stout, Orinoco, picked up Overall Gold in the bottle and can competition.
Orkney Brewery also scooped gold award wins in other categories, including Cask British Dark Beers (up to 4.4% ABV) and Cask Speciality Mid to Dark Beers, as well as the Bottle/Can British Bitter (up to 4.4% ABV).
Drygate picked up gold awards in the Bottle/Can Premium PA (4.4% ABV to 5.4% ABV), Bottle/Can Speciality Mid to Dark Beers, and Bottle/Can Sours/Spontaneous.
Other multiple gold winners included Loch Lomond Brewery, which picked up five gold awards, and Fyne Ales and Windswept Brewing Co, which took three golds apiece.
Craig Steven, commercial manager at Orkney Brewery, said the company’s awards are “particularly welcome given the quality and experience of all the independent brewers present”. “Our success, which is down to the hard work of all of our team, also comes at a great time as we celebrate 30 years of the Orkney Brewery,” he said.
