Blackedge Brewing Co and Redwillow named best brewers in the North West at SIBA Independent Beer Awards


Blackedge Brewing Co and Redwillow Brewery have been named the best independent craft breweries in the North West, taking home the two top spots at the coveted SIBA North West Independent Beer Awards 2018.

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.

Local favourites Blackedge Brewing Co brew their beer just 3 miles from the Bolton Wanderers ground where the competition took place, and took home the overall Gold in the cask beer category with their ‘West Coast’ Pale Ale – an aromatic brew featuring punchy American hops . Speaking on behalf of his team was Wayne Roper, Director and Head Brewer,

“We’re absolutely delighted, it’s been a tough year in a market that is so saturated and competitive and this is brilliant recognition from ours peers.  We’re all about quality, no compromise on ingredients, and we brew full flavoured beers that people want to drink – it’s great to see that shining through to judges in the competition.”

Redwillow Brewery in Macclesfield took home the top award in the Bottle & Can competition, winning overall Gold with their ‘Weightless’ Session IPA, a lower strength style IPA with pithy grapefruit and mango flavours. Brewer Mel Mason accepted the award on behalf of the Redwillow team,

“It’s very exciting to win in a blind tasting against such strong competition. We brew this beer to be balanced, sessionable and flavourful and it’s amazing to know we’re getting it right. The beer started life as a Mosaic pale ale as part of our single hop range but was so popular, it flew out, we had to make it part of our core range! It’s just really juicy and not too bitter, with a great aroma and flavor.”

SIBA’s Chief Executive Mike Benner was on hand to present the awards and had this to say on the quality of entries this year,

“I was blown away by the standard of brewing on display at the SIBA North West Independent Beer Awards and all of the winners should be hugely proud of their achievement – judges had a really tough job separating out the best of the best. I’d especially like to congratulate Blackedge and Redwillow, who alongside a number of wins in various categories across the competition, also claimed the overall champion Golds – the top awards on offer.”

The competition took place prior to the opening of the Bolton Beer Festival 2018, at the Macron Stadium in Bolton, which continues through until saturday 20th October. For more details visit http://www.beer-festival.co.uk

Overall Champion of the Cask Competition

 Sponsored by
Napthens Solicitors
Brewery Product ABV
Gold Blackedge Brewing Company Ltd West Coast 4.1
Silver Blackedge Brewing Company Ltd USAle 4
Bronze Stockport Brewing Company Magnum 5.5

Cask

Cask British Dark Beers (up to 4.4%)

 Sponsored by

SPAsoft Ltd

Brewery Product ABV
Gold Irwell Works Brewery Marshmallow Unicorn 4.4
Silver Coach House Brewing Co. Ltd Gunpowder Mild 3.8
Bronze Red Star Havana Moon 4.2

 

Cask British Dark Beers (4.5% to 6.4%)

     Brewery Product ABV
Gold Stockport Brewing Company Magnum 5.5
Silver Northern Monkey Brew Co Underdog 6
Bronze Hooded Ram Brewing Company Limited Red Neck 5.3

 

Cask British Bitter (up to 4.4%)

 Sponsored by

Rastal GmbH & Co. KG

  Brewery Product ABV
Gold Blackedge Brewing Company Ltd West Coast 4.1
Silver Keswick Brewing Co Keswick Gold 3.6
Bronze Prospect Brewery Ltd Cascade Blonde 4.1

 

Cask British Premium Bitter (4.5% to 6.4%)

 Sponsored by

Rankin Brother & Sons

  Brewery Product ABV
Gold Weetwood Ales Old Dog 4.5
Silver Barngates Brewery Red Bull Terrier 4.8
Bronze Keswick Brewing Co Keswick Special Bitter 4.8

 

Cask Session IPA (up to 4.3%)

     Brewery Product ABV
Gold Blackedge Brewing Company Ltd USAle 4
Silver Moorhouse’s Brewery Scaredy Cat 4.3
Bronze LANCASTER BREWERY Mosaic ipa 4.2

Cask Premium PAs (4.4% to 5.4%)

 Sponsored by

Murphy & Son Ltd

  Brewery Product ABV
Gold Spitting Feathers Empire IPA 5.2
Silver Blackedge Brewing Company Ltd Blonde 4.5
Bronze Bowland Brewery Buster IPA 4.5

Cask IPA (5.5% to 6.4%)

Sponsored by

Charles Faram & Co. Ltd

Brewery Product ABV
Gold Bowness Bay Brewing Steamer IPA 5.7
Silver Brewhouse and kitchen Lucky sam 6
Bronze Irwell Works Brewery Mad Dogs & Englishmen 5.5

 

Cask Speciality Light Beers

Brewery Product ABV
Gold Avid Brewing Co Limited Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream Pale 4.6
Silver Brimstage Brewery Elder Pale Ale 4.1
Bronze Beartown Brewery Bluebeary 4.0

 

Cask Speciality Mid to Dark Beers

Brewery Product ABV
Gold RedWillow Brewery Ltd Smokeless 5.7
Silver Northern Monkey Brew Co Reeny’s Beans 4
Bronze Blackedge Brewing Company Ltd Treacle Stout 4.9

Cask Strong Beers (6.5% and Over)

Sponsored byBulk Storage & Process Systems Brewery Product ABV
Gold Bowland Brewery Dragonglass 7.4
Silver Bank Top Brewery Herkules White Walker 6.7
Bronze Blackedge Brewing Company Ltd DIPA 8

 

Overall Champion of the Bottle/Can Competition

 Sponsored by

 

Brewology

Brewery Product ABV
Gold RedWillow Brewery Ltd Weightless 4.2
Silver Weetwood Ales Old Dog 4.5
Bronze Hawkshead Brewery Hawkshead Lager 5.0

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

  Brewery Product ABV
Gold Blackedge Brewing Company Ltd Black Stout 4.0
Silver Coach House Brewing Co. Ltd Gunpowder Mild 3.8
Bronze Keswick Brewing Co Keswick Bitter 3.7

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

     Brewery Product ABV
Gold Keswick Brewing Co Dark Horse 6.0
Silver Joseph Holt Sixex 6.0
Bronze Hesket Newmarket Brewery Ltd Old Carrock 6.0

Bottle/Can British Bitter (up to 4.4%)

     Brewery Product ABV
Gold Irwell Works Brewery Copper Plate 3.8
Silver Prospect Brewery Ltd Silver Tally 3.7
Bronze Hawkshead Brewery Red 4.2

Bottle/Can British Premium Bitter (4.5% to 6.4%)

    Brewery Product ABV
Gold Weetwood Ales Old Dog 4.5
Silver RedWillow Brewery Ltd Sleepless 5.4
Bronze Bank Top Brewery Pavilion Pale Ale 4.5

Bottle/Can Session IPA (up to 4.3%)

     Brewery Product ABV
Gold RedWillow Brewery Ltd Weightless 4.2
Silver Hawkshead Brewery Windermere Pale 3.5
Bronze Irwell Works Brewery Breadcrumbs 3.6

Bottle/Can Premium PA (4.4% to 5.4%)

 Sponsored by

Beatson Clark Ltd

  Brewery Product ABV
Gold Coach House Brewing Co. Ltd Post Horn 5.0
Silver Brightside Brewing Company Ltd IPA 5.0
Bronze Bollington Brewing Co Endurance IPA 5.1

Bottle/Can IPA (5.5% to 6.4%)

 Sponsored by

Beer Box Shop

  Brewery Product ABV
Gold Bowness Bay Brewing Steamer IPA 5.7
Silver Irwell Works Brewery Mad Dogs & Englishmen 5.5
Bronze Brimstage Brewery Brimstage IPA 6

Bottle/Can Imperial IPA (6.5% and over)

     Brewery Product ABV
Gold Blackedge Brewing Company Ltd DIPA 8
Silver Keswick Brewing Co Thirst Celebartion 7
Bronze Wily Fox Brewery Chakra 6.6

Bottle/Can Premium Lager & Pilsner (4.5% to 6.4%)

Brewery Product ABV
Gold Hawkshead Brewery Hawkshead Lager 5
Silver Joseph Holt Diamond 5
Bronze Brightside Brewing Company Ltd Helles 4.8

Bottle/Can Speciality Light Beers

Brewery Product ABV
Gold Joseph Holt Humdinger  4.1
Silver Brightside Brewing Company Ltd Wildside Cherry Tart  4.6
Bronze Coach House Brewing Co. Ltd Blueberry Classic Bitter  5.0

Bottle/Can Speciality Mid to Dark Beers

Brewery Product ABV
Gold Hawkshead Brewery Tiramisu Imperial Stout 10
Silver DonkeyStone Brewing Co ltd Javanilla 5
Bronze Bank Top Brewery Port O’Call 5

Bottle/Can Strong Beers (6.5% and Over)

Brewery Product ABV
Gold RedWillow Brewery Ltd Perceptionless 6.6

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