Medal-haul adds to Swannay Brewery’s success

The Highland Brewing Company’s Swannay Brewery has taken home another seven medals, this time at the SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers Association) regional competition. With 98 beers entered from all over Scotland, the judging took place at the Scottish Real Ale Festival (Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh) on Friday 25 June. The judging panel consisted of individuals selected by SIBA and was separate to that of the CAMRA Champion Beer of Scotland award, which the Swannay Brewery had won overall the day before.

Of the seven awards, four were gold, two were silver and one was bronze – including silver and bronze overall. Orkney Blast (6.0% ABV*), recently crowned ‘Champion Beer of Scotland 2010’, won its category of ‘Strong Ales’ and also placed third overall. At the other end of the alcohol-strength spectrum, Orkney Best (3.6% ABV) won its category of ‘Bitters and Pale Ales’ and placed second overall. Dark Munro won its category ‘Milds’, and Orkney IPA won its category of Premium Bitters. The brewery said: “It is notable that such varying styles of beer have all done so well, especially against such testing, generally well-established, competition.”

Full breakdown of results [see link below for other beers that placed]:

Rob Hill, owner and head brewer at the Highland Brewing Company, was at the festival making an emergency top up delivery of Orkney Blast, which was evidently selling well due to its aforementioned success, when the competition results started being announced. “I couldn’t quite believe it”, he said after hearing the brewery name being read out no less than seven times, and subsequently being called to the stage four times to receive the gold awards. “It’s fantastic! It’s the third year in a row the Orkney Blast has placed first in it’s category at the SIBA competition – we’ve got the hat trick! We feel that this, coupled with the fact that we’ve taken the Champion Beer of Scotland title for the third time in four years, highlights our ultimate commitment to the consistent quality of our beers. We’re immensely proud.”

 Swannay Brewery won four awards in both the 2009 and 2008 competitions.

 All the beers are available in cask and 500ml bottles. All the beers are brewed at the Swannay Brewery, by Evie, Orkney.

Links

http://www.siba.co.uk/events/?page_id=775

http://www.scottishbeerfestival.org.uk/

http://www.highlandbrewingcompany.co.uk/