‘New England’ IPA named best craft keg beer in SIBA East Independent Beer Awards
Baker’s Dozen Brewing Co., a husband-and-wife microbrewery in Ketton, Rutland, has taken home the Overall Gold in the SIBA East Independent Keg Beer Awards, beating brewers from across the East of England, stretching from North Lincolnshire down to Essex and Hertfordshire, as well Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.
Their ‘Undertow’ Session IPA is hazy and full flavoured, styled after American ‘New England’ IPAs but at a more sessionable strength of 4.8%. The beer was named best in class for the Pales Ales before going on to be named the Overall Champion in the final round judging, which sees all of the category winners go head to head. All of the winners from the awards will now go on to battle it out at the National finals in Liverpool next year.
The prestigious awards, run by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), and held at the Legra Tap & Kitchen in Leigh-on-Sea, are judged by brewers and beer experts and seen very much as the brewers’ choice awards in the industry. All of the beers involved in the competition will now be available as part of an ‘Independent Beer Awards Tap Takeover’ at the Legra Tap and other select venues across Leigh-on-Sea – giving local beer lovers the chance to taste this years’ winners, from today.
Dean and Gill Baker from Baker’s Dozen Brewing Co. were both on hand to accept their award, with Gill commenting “We’re just shocked and delighted to win, I’m actually shaking! We’re over the moon and really didn’t expect this.”
Dean added “What we love about this beer is that while it is hazy and aromatic like you would expect from a New England IPA or Pale Ale, it also has a really good undertow of bitterness – hence the name!”
Commenting on the win was SIBA Head of Comms Neil Walker, who presented the awards,
“The quality of beer now available on keg is incredible in the East, with some superb craft lagers, pales ales, IPAs and many international styles now being brewed across the region. The quality of beer in the comeptition was genuinely excellent and judges had a very tough job seperating winners from a very high quality pack. Huge congratulations to all of our Gold award breweries and in particular Dean and Gill from Baker’s Dozen who were very desevring winners of the SIBA East Independent Beer Awards Overall Gold – good luck in the national finals!”
The majority of the beers from the competition will now be available across Leigh-on-Sea beer venues as part of an ‘Independent Beer Awards Tap Takeover’, including the Legra Tap & Kittchen operated by Leigh-on-Sea brewery.
