British beers triumph in international competition

British beers romped to victory in the Brewing Industry International Awards (BIIA) in Burton-on-Trent last week.

Of 86 medal winners 40 were from UK breweries including golds for Thwaites Wainwright and Smooth beers, Everards Tiger Best Bitter, Thornbridge Jaipur IPA, Joseph Holt Crystal Lager and Marston's Manns Brown Ale.

In the Morning Advertiser-sponsored International Cask Ale award Moorehouses's Black Cat won gold in the 2.9% to 3.8% ABV category; Liberation Brewery won gold for its Liberation Ale in the 3.9% to 4.3% ABV category; Highland Brewing Co won gold for Orkney IPA in the 4.4% to 4.8% ABV category and again for Orkney Blast in the 4.9% to 6.9% ABV category.

The overall winning nine championship beers have already been selected and will be announced at an awards ceremony in London in April.

"It has been a delight to stage the brewing awards back in Burton," said the judge's chairman Bill Taylor. "We couldn't have asked for a better show of support for this competition: entries outstripped the level of the last contest, judges from around the world freely gave of their time and expertise and a raft of other industry organisations helped us with the logistical challenge of staging the event in the new National Brewery Centre."

Following the competition, which finished on Friday (11 February), the National Brewery Centre opened its doors to allow consumers in to try the beers, the first time consumers have been given the chance to do so.

A full list of the medal winners can be found here: http://www.brewingawards.org/home_1_1_home.html