Four Hook Norton beers have been judged as among the best in the world in the International Beer Challenge (IBC) 2009

Hook Norton’s Old Hooky was listed at number one and Double Stout came in at number eight in the Independent newspaper’s list of the top 50 beers in the world, which was published on Saturday 17 October.

The newspaper went in search of the perfect pint and asked four of the country’s top beer writers to choose the top 50 beers in the world.

The panel comprised Roger Protz, contributing editor for www.beer-pages.com; Pete Brown, the author of ‘Hops and Glory’; Zak Avery who runs a beer events firm (www.thebeerboy.co.uk) and Jeff Evans (www.insidebeer.com) the author of the ‘Good Bottled Beer Guide’.

Number one in the list was Old Hooky.

“This often-overlooked beer is a classic example of an English bitter,” says Zak Avery. “Copper-brown in colour, with lots of toasted biscuity malt, dried fruit and a hoppy spiciness in the finish, Old Hooky is complex and drinkable in equal measures.”

And Hook Norton’s Double Stout came in at number eight.

“Brewed to a 19th-century recipe, this beer has milk chocolate and bitter coffee notes before a dry, roasted finish,” says Jeff Evans. “It comes from a Victorian tower brewery in Oxfordshire.”

Hook Norton Managing Director James Clarke said: “For Hook Norton beers to be recognised by four of the country’s best beer experts is a fantastic achievement.”

“We are a local brewer, which now has an international reputation for quality.”

The news comes as four Hook Norton beers have been judged as among the best in the world in the International Beer Challenge (IBC) 2009 – the world’s premier competition for bottled beers.

The judges awarded the accolade of a Gold medal to Double Stout, Twelve Days, Haymaker and Old Hooky – more than any other brewer in the world.

Two more Hook Norton beers picked up bronze awards – Hooky Bitter and Hooky Gold – and all six beers won medals for the quality of their bottle design and labelling.

The announcement was made last week at the Royal Society of Arts in London.

Chairman of the IBC judges was award winning beer writer Jeff Evans, who said “The IBC is the premier competition for bottled and packaged beer in the world.

“This year, there were entries from more than 20 countries including India, New Zealand, Canada, Nigeria, USA, Japan and Namibia.

“Our judges are similarly international, and each recognised as an expert in their own right as a brewer, taster, retailer or writer. These experts come not just from the United Kingdom but also Belgium, Czech Republic, USA, Belgium, Germany, Norway, New Zealand and the Netherlands.

“The threshold for winning gold is set very high – only 30 odd gold medals were awarded out of the hundreds of entries and six different classes of styles of beer – ales, stouts & porters, lagers, wheat beers, fruit beers and speciality. We do not hand out medals particularly gold, willy-nilly.”

Hook Norton’s Managing Director James Clarke said: “I am delighted that our bottled beers have been honoured by this prestigious competition.

“The IBC is the largest and most important competition for packaged beers in the world and for Hook Norton to win more golds and more medals than any UK brewer, is a fantastic achievement.

“Double Stout, Twelve Days, Haymaker, Old Hooky, Hooky Bitter and Hooky Gold are all premium beers which are selling well – and these awards are an affirmation by the IBC of their quality.”

Hook Norton’s wining IBC beers:

·         Double Stout- received a Gold medal and a Bronze for Design and Packaging

·         Twelve Days – received a Gold medal and a Bronze for Design and Packaging

·         Haymaker – received a Gold medal and a Bronze for Design and Packaging

·         Old Hooky – received a Gold medal and a Bronze for Design and Packaging

·         Hooky Bitter – received a Bronze medal and a Silver for Design and Packaging

·         Hooky Gold – received a Bronze medal and a Silver for Design and Packaging