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

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

The best beers in the South 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 South 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, Stouts and even Sour and Speciality beers featuring flavours such as Lemon Curd, Pink Lemonade and even Gingerbread.

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

Powderkeg Beer – ‘Harmony Helles’ Lager 4.2%, Utopian Brewing – ‘Cerne Specialni’ Black Lager 5.9%, Ramsbury Brewery – ‘Farmer’s Best’ Bitter 3.6%, St Austell Brewery – ‘Tribute’ Pale Ale 4.2%, Quantock Brewery – ‘We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat’ IPA 6.3%, Powderkeg Beer – ‘6ixes & 7evens’ American Amber 5%, Driftwood Spars – ‘Alfie’s Revenge’ Strong Ale 6.5%, New Bristol Brewery – ‘Coffee & Biscotti’ Stout 5%, Padstow Brewing Co. – ‘Cold Desert’ Porter 8%, Exmoor Ales – ‘Beast’ Porter 6.6%, Firebrand Brewing – ‘Pink Lemonade’ Sour 6%, Castle Brewery – ‘A New Season’ Saison 5.5%, and Driftwood Spars Brewery – ‘Codename Robin’ Stout 7%.

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
Bronze	Firebrand Brewing	Shorebreak AF Hazy Pale	0.5

	Brewery	Beer	ABV
Gold	Powderkeg Beer	Harmony helles	4.2
Silver	Kettlesmith Brewing Company	Mission Bay	4.5
Bronze	Cheddar Ales	Lisa Likes Nelson	5
Bronze	Ramsbury Brewery	Red Ram	4.5
Bronze	Keltek Cornish Brewery	Swifties Lager	4
Bronze	St Austell Brewery	korev	4.8

	Brewery	Beer	ABV
Bronze	Hop Kettle Brewery	Cosmic Shake	4.4

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

Author: Neil Walker

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