In a competition showing the huge diversity of beer styles now being brewed in Scotland, it was Orkney Brewery and Fyne Ales that were named ‘Best of the Best’.
The SIBA Scotland Independent Beer Awards, held at Indie Beer Scotland 2024, gave overall cask beer gold to Orkney Brewery’s Dark Island Reserve, a 10% whisky-barrel-aged porter which wowed judges with its ‘big bold flavours of fruit, spice, oak and roast malt’, alongside a subtle whisky finish.
Orkney’s Craig Steven collected the award on behalf of his team: “It’s a great opportunity to come down here to the SIBA Awards; all our beer is brewed on the island and it comes down here to be up against all these great Scottish breweries, so to win the overall champion cask beer is just a tremendous achievement and testament to what we’ve been doing for the last 30 years.”
In the separate keg beer awards it was ‘Pinc’ from Fyne Ales ‘Origins Project’ – the name for their mixed-fermentation and sour beer project – which was named as overall gold winner. This Belgian saison-style base beer is aged on a mixture of grape pomace (Chardonnay & Pinot Noir), raspberries, apple juice and gooseberries to create ‘an aromatic, fruity and subtly acidic beer inspired by rosé wine’.
Fyne Ales’ Jamie Delap declared: “Absolutely delighted to win, coming down to Indie Beer is such a great chance to meet everyone from the industry and see the best of what Scottish beer has to offer. There are some fantastic beers here so to come out and win is just really appreciated.”
The beer itself is the first from Fyne Ales Origins Project’s new head brewer Dan Wye to be entered into a SIBA competition: “Dan has been doing a fantastic job and I’m really delighted for him to see one of his beers recognised by the judging table first try,” said Jamie.
The SIBA Scotland Independent Beer Awards are blind-tasted by expert beer judges, beer sommeliers, and master brewers from elsewhere in the UK, with the winners of each beer-style category going through to a final judging table where the overall Champion Gold, Silver and Bronze are selected.
“The quality of entries this year was truly outstanding and attendees to this year’s festival really were treated with the best that Scottish independent brewing has to offer. Huge congratulations to all of this year’s winners, and particularly Orkney and Fyne Ales who were our Overall Gold Champions,” said Neil Walker, SIBA head of comms and presenter of this year’s award in Glasgow.
