Brew York and Rooster’s named best independent craft brewers in the North East

August 18, 2017| Neil Walker | Brewery News, North East

Brew York and Rooster’s Brewery have won the two top awards in the SIBA North East Independent Beer Awards. Their win makes it a one-two for North Yorkshire brewers in a competition entered by breweries from the whole of Yorkshire, as well as Humberside, Cleveland, Durham, Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.

The prestigious awards, run by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) at the “B-Fest” Beer, Blues & Folk festival held at the Barbican Centre in York, are judged by brewers and beer experts and seen very much as the ‘brewers choice’ awards in the industry.

Brew York Brewery from York took home the overall Gold in the cask competition with their ‘Keras’ American Pale Ale, whereas Rooster’s Brewery in Knareborough was named overall small pack (bottle and can) winner for their Twenty-Four-Seven Session IPA.

Commenting on the competition was SIBA Competitions Committee Chair Guy Sheppard, who presented the awards,

“Thanks to all the judges from all around the country, a great new venue at the York Barbican. Thanks to all of the North East Regional Directors and very well done to the winners. The day went so smoothly and highlighted the high quality of beers coming out of the North East Region.” 

Brew York’s Keras is described as a ‘Classic American style session pale, which uses two old-school favourite US hops in Cascade and Chinook. Subtly dry hopped so the fresh citrus and pine notes dominate in this clean, crisp and moreish pale ale’, collecting the award was Owner and Brewer Wayne Smith who had this to say on their win,

“We’re over the moon, the beer festival is in our hometown so we only have to walk five minutes from our brewery to get here, so we hoped we would be in with a chance! Keras is our one off pale ale so to win gold overall is amazing, the cask that we sent in for the competition is our last cask that we had of it – so we might have to brew some more! It’s a classic pale ale with two American hops, Cascade and Chinook, and obviously it’s a crowd pleaser so we’re quite excited to brew it again.”

The smallpack winner, Rooster’s Twenty-Four-Seven is described as a Session IPA which combines ‘Four big-hitting hops, which come together to create a sessionable, hop-forward pale ale with the intensity of a new world IPA. Amarillo, Chinook and Simcoe from the USA work in harmony with New Zealand’s Nelson Sauvin to produce a punchbowl aroma of lemon, tangerine and gooseberry, followed by a balanced grapefruit bitterness.’, commenting on their win was Ian Fozard, Owner of Rooster’s brewery, who said

“This win is a real tribute to the brewery team and all the hard work they put in perfecting the beers. This is a beer that is growing in popularity with our customers and it’s great to see it a hit with judges too!”

The The “B-Fest” Beer, Blues & Folk Festival features 200 of the region’s best independent beers, served through 40 rotating handpulls, alongside local craft cider, street food and of course live music from top local bands. What’s more as the SIBA North East Region’s “Independent Beer Awards” are being judged immediately before the festival opened its doors, locals were the first to try the best-of-the-best beers from the competition.

The beer festival comprises of three ‘sessions’: 6pm until 11.30pm Friday 18th August, 12 noon until 5.30pm Saturday 19th August and 6.30pm until 11.30pm Saturday 19th August – tickets are available for £6 on the door or via the York Barbican website: http://www.yorkbarbican.co.uk/whats-on/b-fest-york-barbican/

Full Winners List

Overall Champion of the Cask Competition

Cask Standard Mild Ales & Brown Ales

Cask Standard Bitters & Pale Ales

Cask Best Bitters & Pale Ales

Premium Bitters & Pale Ales 

Cask Strong Bitters & Pale Ales

Cask Premium Strong Beers

Cask Porters, Stouts, Old Ales, Strong Milds & Strong Brown Ales

Cask Speciality Light Beers

Cask Speciality Mid to Dark Beers

Champion Small Pack Beers

Small Pack Standard Mild Ales & Brown Ales 

Small Pack Standard Bitters & Pale Ales

Small Pack Premium Bitters & Pale Ales

Small Pack Strong Bitters & Pale Ales

Small Pack Premium Strong Beers

Small Pack Standard Lager & Pilsners

Small Pack Premium Lager & Pilsners

Small Pack Porters, Stouts, Old Ales, Strong Milds & Strong Brown Ales

Small Pack Speciality Light Beers 

Small Pack Speciality Mid to Dark Beers 

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