Two North East breweries have won prizes at this year’s World Beer Awards.
Anarchy Brew Co based in Newcastle and Black Sheep Brewery from Masham, North Yorkshire landed six awards in total.
Over 3,500 beers from more than 50 countries entered into this year’s awards and judges blind tasted and scored the entries across three rounds of judging.
In the first round, each beer was tasted within its category and style and a country’s best was chosen as well as gold, silver and bronze medals being awarded.
The country’s best beers then proceeded forward to the next round where they were tasted against each other in their relevant style to find the World’s Best per style.
In the final round, the style winners competed again for the title of World’s Best per category. It was held in London, where more than 200 international brewers, industry experts and journalists tasted and voted for the winners.
Amongst the judges tasting the beers was Daisy Turnell, marketing manager at Anarchy Brew Co.
“Not in the category we won awards in,” she said.
The Benfield Road-based brewers won two awards in the country’s best section. In the IPA (Session) category they won a silver for their ‘Flat Out’ beer. They also won a silver in the IPA (Speciality) section for their ‘Dead Space’ brew.
“It was fantastic to get the two silvers,” said Daisy. “Anything that helps put North East breweries and the region on the map is great.”
It’s not the first time the brewery has won awards in the prestigious competition. Last year it was the UK winner in the IPA Speciality beer section for its Gluten-free Exile brew.
“We didn’t enter it this year as didn’t have a fresh barrel because of our brewing cycle,” Daisy said.
In IPA beers the hops begin to deteriorate after three weeks while the barrel has to be drunk within three months, she explained.
In the 2017 World Beer Awards, Anarchy Brew Co was UK winner in the Pale Ale category for its Urban Assault beer, while the can it came in won a silver in the Best Can Design category.
Also in 2017, its Anti-Venom brew was UK winner in the IPA section.
Meanwhile Black Sheep brewery was the UK winner in the Milk Stout category for its Black Sheep Milk Stout, won gold in the IPA (American style) category for its Pathmaker brew, a silver in the Pale Beer Amber section for its Black Sheep Ale and a bronze in the IPA (speciality) section for its Pineapple Milkshake.
Adrian Tierney-Jones, chair of the World Beer Awards, said: “Once again the winners in the World Beer Awards show an exciting snapshot of some of the best beers being brewed across the globe today.
“Naturally I would like to congratulate these winners, but I would also like to thank the many judges who have applied themselves to their tasks with diligence and great professionalism. I’m already looking forward to next year’s awards.”
