BLACKEDGE BREWING CO and HAWKSHEAD BREWERY win overall Golds at the SIBA North West Independent Beer Awards

October 11, 2019| Barry Watts | North West

Blackedge Brewing Co and Hawkshead Brewery have taken home the two top spots at the coveted SIBA North West Independent Beer Awards 2019.

The prestigious awards, run by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) and held at the Macron stadium in Bolton, are judged in a blind tasting by brewers and beer experts and seen very much as the brewers’ choice awards in the industry.

Blackedge Brewing Co in Horwich, Lancashire took home the overall Gold in the cask beer competition with their West Coast golden ale – a 4.1% beer brewed with west coast pacific hops. Director and Head Brewer Wayne Roper accepted the award and had this to say

“I’m absolutely overwhelmed to win this coveted award for our West Coast golden ale. This is the second year that our beer has been recognised at the awards and I wish to give full credit to everyone who has helped produce this beer and to making the SIBA event happen.”

Hawkshead Brewery in Cumbria took home the top award in the Bottle & Can competition, winning overall Gold with Route 590  – an IPA named after the Cumbrian west coast road, A590. Brewer Alex Routledge accepted the award on behalf of the team,

“We’re really pleased to be named overall champion for our Route 590 IPA. Our team works really hard to make the best beer possible and its fantastic to be recognised for the hard work we put in.”

SIBA’s Competitions Chairman Guy Sheppard was on hand to present the awards and had this to say on the quality of entries this year,

“Every year the beer just gets better and better and the standard of brewing on display at the SIBA North West Independent Beer Awards was exceptional. Our judges had a really hard time choosing the winners. I’d like to congratulate Blackedge and Hawkshead for winning the overall champion Gold – the top award on offer.”

The competition took place prior to the opening of the Bolton Beer Festival 2019, at the Macron Stadium in Bolton, which continues through until Saturday 12th October. For more details visit http://www.beer-festival.co.uk

SIBA North West Independent Beer Awards 2019

Overall Champion of the Cask Competition

Cask British Dark Beers (up to 4.4%)

Cask British Dark Beers (4.5 to 6.4%)

Cask British Bitters (up to 4.4%)

Cask Premium Bitters (4.5 to 6.4%)

Cask Session IPA (up to 4.3%)

Cask Premium PAs (4.4 to 5.4%)

Cask IPA (5.5 to 6.4%)

Cask Speciality Light Beers

Cask Speciality Mid to Dark Beers

Cask Strong Beers 6.5% and over

Champion Bottle/Can Beers

Bottle/Can British Dark Beers (up to 4.4%)

Bottle/Can British Dark Beers (4.5 to 6.4%)

Bottle/Can British Bitters (up to 4.4%)

Bottle/Can Premium Bitters (4.5 to 6.4%)

Bottle/Can Session IPA (up to 4.3%)

Bottle/Can Premium PAs (4.4 to 5.4%)

Bottle/Can Can IPA (5.5 to 6.4%)

Bottle/Can Can Imperial IPA (6.5% and over)

 Bottle/Can Session Lager & Pilsners

Bottle/Can Premium Lager & Pilsners

Bottle/Can Speciality Light Beers

Bottle/Can Speciality Mid to Dark Beers

Bottle/Can Sours/Spontaneous

Bottle/Can Strong Beers 6.5% and over

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