Brewing Industry International Awards shortlist announced
One of the British brewing industry's most northerly outposts leads the shortlisted beers in the biannual Brewing Industry International Awards.
Results of last week's judging in Burton upon Trent shows that Orkney Brewery, run by former publican Roger White, has three brands nominated for a guaranteed medal: Northern Light in the international packaged ale category, Dragonhead Stout among the dark beers and mid-gravity cask ale Red MacGregor.
London brewer Young's has three cask ales nominated - Special, Double Chocolate Stout and Triple A - while Kent's Shepherd Neame picked up three nominations for lagers brewed under licence - Oranjeboom, Kingfisher and Hurlimann. Sussex brewer Harvey's scored among the stronger beers with its Imperial Extra Double Stout, Porter and Tom Paine.
Orkney was among a record number of microbrewers entering the competition which supplied more than 100 out of the 683 entries from around the world. Its performance was the highlight of another strong showing from Britain's brewers. Here is the full list of British beers shortlisted for a medal:
- Packaged: Orkney Northern Light, Robert Cain's Best Bitter, Young's Special and Double Chocolate Stout, Cameron's Scorpion Super Lager, McEwan's Scotch Ale, Robinson's Old Tom, Harvey's Imperial Extra Double Stout.
- Dark beers: Murphy's Stout, Holt's Mild, Orkney Dragonhead Stout, Harvey's Porter, York's Centurion's Ghost, Wychwood Black Wych.
- Lagers: Carling (Coors), Kronenbourg (ScotCo), Oranjeboom, Kingfisher, Hurlimann (all Shepherd Neame).
- Keg ales: Worthington (Coors), Flowers IPA (Interbrew), Tennent's Velvet (Interbrew), Guernsey Special Bitter, Jersey Special Bitter.
- Cask ales: Deuchars IPA (Caledonian), Hook Norton Best Bitter, Oak Brewing Navvy, Orkney Red MacGregor, Brain's SA, Young's Triple A, Harvey's Tom Paine, Oak Wobbly Bob, Ridley's Old Bob.
Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will be awarded at a special ceremony to be held at London's Guildhall on April 16. The awards are, for the first time, sponsored by JD Wetherspoon.
