North West’s Best Craft Beers Revealed: Just in time for Christmas

December 14, 2022| Neil Walker | Brewery News, North West

The best beers in the North West have today been revealed with the announcement of this year’s winners in the SIBA Independent Beer Awards 2022 – the UK’s leading beer competition judged by brewers, beer sommeliers and expert tasters.

The winning bottled and canned beers from the North West will now go forward to fight it out with the best from across the UK in the National finals, taking place in the New Year.

Gold, Silver and Bronze prizes were awarded to breweries from across the region in a variety of beer styles; from hoppy IPAs and Pale Ales, to Lagers, and more unusual beers such as a Port-infused Porter and Coffee Milk Stout.

This year’s North West Gold Award Winning beers, meaning they scored 90+ with the independent awards judging panel, were;

Lakes Brew Co – ‘NZ Pilsner’ Lager 4.5%, Brimstage Brewery – ‘Brimstage Lager’ 4.5%, Wander Beyond Brewing – ‘Wah Donka’ Wheat Wine 10.5%, Windermere Brewing Co. – ‘A Bit’er Ruff’ Bitter 4.1%, Chapter Brewing Co – ‘Teeter’ Pale Ale 5.1%, Great Corby Brewhouse – ‘Tizzie Whizie’ Pale Ale 3.5%, Lakes Brew Co. – ‘NE Session IPA’ 4.7%, Hophurst Brewery – ‘Talus’ IPA 6%, Red Rose Brewery – ‘Navigators’ Red Ale 3.9%, Serious Brewing Co – ‘Moonlight Stout’ 4.5%, Windermere Brewing Co. ‘Shih Tzu Faced’ Strong Ale 7%, Red Rose Brewery – ‘Crossover’ NEIPA 4.7%, and Wily Fox – ‘Dark Flagon’ Rum Porter 5%,

The SIBA Bottle & Can Independent Beer Awards 2022 are judged by a fleet of expert judges from across the UK, with beers marked against internationally recognized style guides for the different beer award categories – looking at appearance, aroma, flavour, aftertaste and saleability.

Buster Grant is SIBA’s Competitions Committee Chair and helped run the two-day judging, “The SIBA Independent Beer Awards are one of the largest and most influential beer competitions in the UK, with a rigorous judging system ensuring only the very best beers take home medals. If you’re looking for a local independent craft beer to stock up on this Christmas – or for the perfect present for a beer-loving friend or family member – then look no further.”

SIBA are the voice of British independent brewing and as well as the SIBA Bottle & Can Independent Beer Awards also run Regional and National competitions for cask and keg beer – all judged by beer sommeliers, experienced beer judges and perhaps most importantly fellow brewers – making these awards very much the ‘brewers choice’ awards for beer in the UK.

	Brewery	Beer	ABV
Gold-Best in Category	Lakes Brew Co	NZ Pilsner	4.5
Gold	Brimstage Brewery	Brimstage Lager	4.5
Silver	Ennerdale Craft Brewery	Seven Bridges	5
Bronze	Weetwood Ales	Kuhl Lager	4.2

	Brewery	Beer	ABV
Gold	Serious Brewing Company Ltd	Moonlight Stout	4.5
Silver	Cumbrian Ales	Vanilla Oatmeal Stout	4.8

North West’s Best Craft Beers Revealed: Just in time for Christmas

Author: Neil Walker

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