Innis & Gunn Lager has scooped gold for Scotland at The World Beer Awards – the ‘beer Olympics’ – besting both its local competition and many international brands.
The Edinburgh-founded brewer’s Lager Beer was awarded ‘Gold’ in both the Country and Taste Categories.
Classic Pilsners from around the world had competed for that top award, but as well as being top Scot, Innis & Gunn’s Lager beat some big names, including Estrella Damm, Madri, Stella, Becks, Chang and Heverlee, who all won ‘Silver’.
Company founder Dougal Gunn Sharp, who launched Innis & Gunn Lager in 2013 after on-trade customers asked him to brew a premium Scottish lager, said: “This is a very proud moment for our team but this recognition only confirms what we’ve always known; our lager is the best in Scotland, and it can compete with any in the world.
“Everyone who tries our beer is a convert. And more and more people are trying our beer every day, so the potential is huge.
“I hope that drinkers feel a sense of pride that something homegrown in Scotland can win against the most well-known premium lagers in the world.”
The World Beer Awards 2024 final judging was held in Norwich, where ‘The Original’ from Innis and Gunn was also placed ‘Silver’ in the Taste category.
In the Scotland category, Innis & Gunn’s Lager was overall winner, while the Edinburgh Beer Factory’s Munich-style Paolozzi Lager received a gold award, Heverlee took silver and Tennent’s Lager took bronze.
This international win comes at the height of Innis & Gunn’s involvement with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. As the event’s official beer partner, the brewer has staged a month-long takeover at the Mound inviting visitors to get ‘a real taste of Scotland’, with local food and drink vendors, and live music.
Dougal added: “This has been an incredible month so far for Innis & Gunn, and we’re only halfway through. We look forward to welcoming thousands more Fringe-goers in the coming weeks to enjoy what is the Best in Scotland.”
As well as the Fringe, the company has successfully partnered with several of Scotland’s major cultural events, including the Royal Highland Show, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Belladrum music festival.
