The winners of the 3rd annual Scottish Beer Awards have been revealed at the biggest ever celebration of Scottish brewing held in Edinburgh last night (Thursday 27th September 2018).
Nearly 400 guests from across the UK brewing industry gathered to hear news on award winners after a wide-ranging competition which has been running since February. Awards were presented for both business performance and taste after 296 Scottish beers were presented into the blind tasting competition.
Edinburgh’s Stewart Brewing was presented with the ultimate award of the night, Scottish Brewery of the Year, after a phenomenal year of growth in turnover, exports and product development. Stewart Brewing also walked away with awards for Growth Business of the Year and two taste award medals for their Corpse Reviver and Cascadian beers.
However, it was Fierce Beer from Aberdeen who triumphed in the hotly contended taste awards, winning a total of 4 gold medals and one silver medal. 2017 champions, BrewDog enjoyed further success this year winning a total of 6 medals in the IPA, Barrel Aged, Stout and Amplified Beers categories.
Hilary Jones, chair of the judging panel commented;
“Now in its third year, the Scottish Beer Awards is an eagerly awaited celebration firmly fixed in the UK brewing calendar. With a proven record of inclusivity and collaboration across the whole sector, these awards are truly representative of an exciting industry making first class products. To see so many breweries, both large and small, triumph this evening is hugely encouraging and a sign of the growing success of Scottish companies in the world of brewing.”
This year’s competition saw the introduction of a new category, created in collaboration with headline sponsors, ALDI to recognise emerging talent. The Emerging Brewer of the Year Award was presented to Jonathan Robinson of Innis & Gunn who was praised by the judging panel for his passion and commitment to the sector and specifically towards his role as a young brewer in a rapidly growing business.
Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, ALDI Scotland, commented:
“We’re hugely proud to have been headline sponsors of the Scottish Beer Awards since 2016 and privileged to work with so many of the breweries recognised at the awards this evening. The popularity of Scottish beer continues to grow, and we are pleased to be a part of such an exciting time for the Scottish brewing sector.
“The quality of beer being produced in Scotland continues to be second to none and the industry offers some exceptional career prospects for young people. We extend our congratulations to the winner of the emerging brewer award and wish Jonathan from Innis & Gunn every success in his future career.”
Full List of Winners:
Scottish Brewery of the Year sponsored by Bruce Stevenson Insurance Company
WINNER: Stewart Brewing
FINALISTS:
Eden Mill
Edinburgh Beer Factory
Fierce Beer
The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company
Beer of the Year
WINNER: Belhaven Brewery – Twisted Grapefruit IPA
Best Lager or Pilsner
GOLD MEDAL: Tennent Caledonian Breweries – Tennent’s Gluten Free Lager
SILVER MEDAL: Eyeball Brewing – Eyeball Yellow
BRONZE MEDAL: Brew Toon – Weekend Hooker
FINALISTS:
Bellfield Brewery – Bohemian Pilsner
BrewDog – Fools Gold
Cromarty Brewing Co. – Lager
Cromarty Brewing Co. – Arctic Swell
Drygate Brewing Co. – Chimera India Pale Lager
Edinburgh Beer Factory – Paolozzi Unfiltered Helles Lager
Edinburgh Beer Factory – Paolozzi Helles Lager
Eyeball Brewing – Eyeball Black
Merchant City Brewing Co. – Vienna Lager
six°north – Peloton
Stewart Brewing – Franz Lager
Stewart Brewing – Stewart’s Lager
Tempest Brewing Co. – Hell-Es Lager
Tennent Caledonian Breweries – Caledonia Double Hop
The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company – Lager
Williams Bros Brewing Co. – Caesar Augustus
Best Pale Ale
GOLD MEDAL: Eden Mill – Three Pistons
SILVER MEDAL: Barney’s Beer – Cloudburst
BRONZE MEDAL: Stewart Brewing – Cascadian East
FINALISTS:
Belhaven Brewery – Bridge To Nowhere Pale Ale
Black Isle Brewing Co. – Rhode Runner
Born in the Borders – Flower of Scotland
Bute Brew Co. – Straad Ass
Campbell’s Brewery – Gunner
Cromarty Brewing Co. – Rogue Wave
Cromarty Brewing Co. – Happy Chappy
Cross Borders Brewing Company – Braw
Cross Borders Brewing Company – APA
Ferry Brewery – Ferry Fair
Fierce Beer – Day Shift
Merchant City Brewing Co. – American Pale Ale
Redcastle Brewery – Crusader
Stewart Brewing – Ka Pai
Stewart Brewing – Hollyrood
Tempest Brewing Co. – Long White Cloud
Tennent Caledonian Breweries – Caledonia Outpost IPA
The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company – Frank & Sense
The Orkney Brewery – Orkney Gold
Williams Bros Brewing Co. – Birds & Bees
Best IPA sponsored by Bairds Malt & Brewers Select
GOLD MEDAL: BrewDog – King of Eights
SILVER MEDAL: Fierce Beer – Split Shift
BRONZE MEDAL: BrewDog – Hazy Jane
FINALISTS:
BrewDog – Jet Trash
Bute Brew Co. – 48 Ferries
Cromarty Brewing Co. – Black Hop Down
Drygate Brewing Co. – Seven Peaks
Drygate Brewing Co. – Galdeye IPA
Spey Valley Brewery – Hardware
St Andrews Brewing Company – Notorious B.I.P.A.
Stewart Brewing – Radical Road
Stewart Brewing – First World Problems
Stewart Brewing – Voss IPA
Stewart Brewing For Lidl – Bright Lights IPA
Swannay Brewery – Muckle IPA
Tempest Brewing Co. – Brave New World
Tempest Brewing Co. – Soma IPA
Tennent Caledonian Breweries – Tennents Export IPA
Top Out Brewery – The Cone
Up Front Brewing – Ishmael
Windswept Brewing Co. – Tornado
Best Session Beer
GOLD MEDAL: The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company – Session IPA
SILVER MEDAL: Barney’s Beer – Glory Days
BRONZE MEDAL: Tempest Brewing Co. – Vermont Sessions
FINALISTS:
Born in the Borders – Foxy Blonde
BrewDog – Dead Pony Club
Bute Brew Co. – Scalpsie Blonde
Cromarty Brewing Co. – Whiteout
Cross Borders Brewing Company – Wee Braw
Drygate Brewing Co. – Ax Man Rye IPA
Eden Mill – Weize Guy
Ferry Brewery – 3 Bridges
Fierce Beer – Heffen Heff
six°north – Omnium
Spey Valley Brewery – Stillman’s IPA
Stewart Brewing – Session IPA
Tempest Brewing Co. – Pale Armadillo
The Orkney Brewery – Corncrake
Windswept Brewing Co. – Lighthouse
Windswept Brewing Co. – Hurricane
Windswept Brewing Co. – Aurora
Best British Style Ale sponsored by Wolffe
GOLD MEDAL: Fyne Ales – Maverick
SILVER MEDAL: Belhaven Brewery – 80 Shilling
BRONZE MEDAL: Inveralmond Brewery – Ossian
FINALISTS:
Barney’s Beer – Good Ordinary Pale Ale
Belhaven Brewery – Scottish Ale
Born in the Borders – Game Bird
Bute Brew Co. – Red
Bute Brew Co. – Thorough Bread
Eden Mill – 19th Brew
Inveralmond Brewery – Lia Fail
The Orkney Brewery – Orkney Raven
Swannay Brewery – Scapa Special
Williams Brothers Brewing Co. – Fraoch
Best Amber or Dark Ale
GOLD MEDAL: Spey Valley Brewery – Spey’s Hopper
SILVER MEDAL: Windswept Brewing Co. – Wolf
BRONZE MEDAL: Fyne Ales – Vital Spark
FINALISTS:
Dalrannoch Brewing Co. – Red Skelp
Edinburgh Beer Factory – BUNK! Edinburgh Brown
Ferry Brewery – Ferry Alt
Inveralmond Brewery – Daracha
Late Night Hype Brewing Co. – Lennox Amber
Merchant City Brewing Co. – Unit 1 Red Ale
Stewart Brewing – St Giles
Stewart Brewing – Embra
The Orkney Brewery – Orkney Dark Island
The Orkney Brewery – Orkney Red MacGregor
Best Porter sponsored by Barr Printer
GOLD MEDAL: Fierce Beer – Dirty Sanchez
SILVER MEDAL: Tempest Brewing Co. – Red Eye Flight
BRONZE MEDAL: Top Out Brewery – Smoked Porter
FINALISTS:
Barney’s Beer – Capital Porter
Black Isle Brewing Co. – Double Hit
Cromarty Brewing Co. – Ghost Town
Cross Borders Brewing Company – India Porter
Ferry Brewery – Thomas Miller
Tempest Brewing Co. – Elemental
Best Stout
GOLD MEDAL: Drygate Brewing Co. – Orinoco Breakfast Stout
SILVER MEDAL: BrewDog – Jet Black Heart
BRONZE MEDAL: Williams Bros Brewing Co. – Profanity Stout
FINALISTS:
Belhaven Brewery – Scottish Stout
Belhaven Brewery – Scottish Oat Stout
Born in the Borders – Liquid Velvet
Cromarty Brewing Co. – Brewed Awakening
Drygate Brewing Co. – Dark Skies
Eden Mill – Imperfect Storm
Fierce Beer – Moose Mousse
Fyne Ales – Sublime Stout
Stewart Brewing – Cauld Reekie
Stewart Brewing/Electric Bear Brewing – Not Your Buddy, Guy
Tennent Caledonian Breweries – Tennent’s Export Stout
The Orkney Brewery – Orkney Dragonhead Stout
Up Front Brewing – AHAB
Williams Bros Brewing Co. – March Of The Penguin
Best Amplified Beer sponsored by Cara Technology
GOLD MEDAL: Fierce Beer – Very Big Moose
SILVER MEDAL: BrewDog – Pulp Patriot
BRONZE MEDAL: Barney’s Beer – Marshmallow Milk Stout
FINALISTS:
Black Isle Brewing Co. – Scotch Ale
Black Isle Brewing Co. – Systems Theory
BrewDog – Cocoa Psycho
Drygate Brewing Co. – Orpheus
Fyne Ales – Mills & Hills
Merchant City Brewing Co. – Jaggery Imperial Stout
six°north – Chapeau
Swannay Brewery – Orkney Porter
Tempest Brewing Co. – Marmalade on Rye
Tempest Brewing Co. – Mexicake
Williams Bros Brewing Co. – Double Joker IPA
Williams Bros Brewing Co. – Alba
Windswept Brewing Co. – Chinook
Best Sour Beer
GOLD MEDAL: Fierce Beer – Tangerine Tart
SILVER MEDAL: Stewart Brewing/BrewDog – Corpse Reviver
BRONZE MEDAL: Fyne Ales – Origins Brewing – Expedition
FINALISTS:
Barney’s Beer – Cosmic Ripple
BrewDog – Zephyr – Lime Gose Edition
Cromarty Brewing Co. – Udder Madness
Fierce Beer – Very Berry
Fyne Ales – Origins Brewing – Goodnight, Summer
Tempest Brewing Co. – Drop Kick Me Jesus
Best Fruit Forward sponsored by Foodies Magazine
GOLD MEDAL: Belhaven Brewery – Twisted Grapefruit IPA
SILVER MEDAL: Williams Bros Brewing Co., Exclusively for ALDI – Rubus
BRONZE MEDAL: Dead End Brew Machine – Death III
FINALISTS:
Belhaven Brewery – Twisted Mango IPA
BrewDog – Clockwork Tangerine
BrewDog – Elvis Juice
Drygate Brewing Co. – Disco Forklift Truck
Edinburgh Beer Factory – BUNK! Cherry Saison
Fierce Beer – Cranachan Killer
Late Night Hype Brewing Co. – BoomTang IPA
Merchant City Brewing Co. – Kiwi & Lime Saison
Tempest Brewing Co. – Dios Mio
The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company – Mangoes on the Run
Top Out Brewery – Simon Says-On
Best Barrel Aged Beer
GOLD MEDAL: Fierce Beer – BA Very Big Moose
SILVER MEDAL: BrewDog – Dog G
BRONZE MEDAL: Windswept Brewing Co. – BEAR
FINALISTS:
Black Isle Brewing Co. – Systems Theory (East Coast)
Black Isle Brewing Co. – Systems Theory (West Coast)
Cromarty Brewing Co. – Double Barrel Rocker
Eden Mill – Russian Caravan Imperial Stout
Merchant City Brewing Co. – Bourbon Barrelled Vienna Lager
St Andrews Brewing Company – Party Like an Australian
Stewart Brewing/Electric Bear Brewing – Not Your Buddy, Guy (Barrel Aged)
Swannay Brewery – Barrel Aged Orkney Porter (Arran Ed)
The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company – Blood Red Sky
The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company – Kindred Spirits
The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company – Mika’s Choice
The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company – The Original
The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company – Vanishing Point
The Orkney Brewery – Orkney Dark Island Reserve
Windswept Brewing Co. – WOLF of Glen Moray
Master Brewer of the Year
WINNER: Scott Williams, Williams Brothers Brewing Co.
FINALISTS:
Andrew Fulton, The Orkney Brewery
Dougal Sharp, The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company
Breakthrough Brewery
WINNER: Edinburgh Beer Factory
FINALISTS:
Bellfield Brewery
Brew Toon
Dalrannoch Brewing Co.
Merchant City Brewing Company
Redcastle Brewery
Up Front Brewing
Emerging Brewer of the Year sponsored by ALDI
WINNER: Jonathan Robinson (Digger), The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company
FINALISTS:
Adam Gray, Merchant City Brewing Co.
Thomas Willis, Redcastle Brewery
Growth Business of the Year sponsored by Rankin Brothers & Sons
WINNER: Stewart Brewing
FINALISTS:
Bellfield Brewery
Fierce Beer
St Andrews Brewing Company
The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company
Innovation of the Year sponsored by Kegstar
WINNER: Fyne Ales for Origins Brewing
FINALISTS:
Bute Brew Co. for Thorough Bread Beer and the Circular Economy
Eyeball Brewing for Innovative Product Range
The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company for Barrels into Beer
Williams Brothers Brewing Co. for Innovative Bottle Design
Exporter of the Year
WINNER: Belhaven Brewery
FINALISTS:
Black Isle Brewing Co.
Fierce Beer
The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company
WooHa Brewing Company
Excellence in Marketing
WINNER: The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company
FINALISTS:
Cross Borders Brewing Company
Fierce Beer
Merchant City Brewing Co.
Stewart Brewing
Tempest Brewing Co.
Williams Brothers Brewing Co.
Product Development Team of the Year
WINNER: Barney’s Beer
FINALISTS:
Cromarty Brewing Co.
Dead End Brew Machine
Edinburgh Beer Factory
Tempest Brewing Co.
The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company
Beer Bar of the Year
WINNER: six°north, Glasgow
FINALISTS:
Barney’s Beer
Black Isle Brewing Co.
Brew Toon
Old Worthy Brewing Co.
Shilling Brewing Company
St Andrews Brewing Company
The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company
Williams Brothers Brewing Co.
Beer Destination of the Year
WINNER: Edinburgh Beer Factory
FINALISTS:
Born in the Borders
Fyne Ales
The Orkney Brewery
Stewart Brewing
Tennent’s Wellpark Brewery
Beer Event of the Year
WINNER: Fyne Ales for FyneFest
FINALISTS:
BrewDog for Collabfest
Drygate Brewing Co., West End Beer Festival, Up Front Brewing, Out of Town Brewing, Dead End Brew Machine & Gallus for Beer Makes Glasgow Festival
six°north for Midsummer Beer Happening
Tempest Brewing Co. for Springfest & Oktoberfest
Windswept Brewing Co. for Moktoberfest
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