The Batley blonde on everyone’s lips!
By: JimOldfield
May 22nd, 2012
A four-month-old Yorkshire brewery has just won one of the north’s most coveted beer awards… after judges EAVESDROPPED on what the drinkers themselves liked best!
Batley’s Pennine Brewery began trading only in late January, but its brewers proved they’re no babes in arms – by wowing some 6,000 real ale lovers at the Dales Festival of Food and Drink in North Yorkshire.
Pennine’s Real Blonde ale not only sold out fastest at the festival – but bar staff, trained to keep an ear on what the drinkers were talking about, also reported that it was the ale on everyone’s lips.
As a result, Real Blonde took the Dame Brittan’s Festival Choice award at the huge three-day event at Leyburn in Wensleydale after the 4 per cent, finely balanced blonde ale with a mouth-wateringly fruity aftertaste beat some 40 other contenders.
Pennine managing director Stewart Rowley beamed: “Winning this award after just three months of trading is fantastic news.
“The fact that it was drinker’s choice makes it even more special, because it tells us that our beer is loved by our most vital critics – our customers.
“The Dales Festival of Food and Drink is the biggest event of its kind in the north so we will really cherish this honour.”
The food and drink festival attracted a staggering 12,000 visitors, with more than half of them visiting the integral real ale festival – which is organised by Daleside Brewery of Harrogate.
As they enjoyed their pints, they didn’t know that they were voting Pennine Brewery to its historic first award, as Daleside’s managing director Eric Lucan explained.
He revealed that the award was made on the speed at which the beer sold, and the ale that bar staff judged to be the most talked-about.
He said Real Blonde sold out fastest and added: “Lots of people were heard talking about it, and instead of trying other pints, many opted to have a second or third pint of Real Blonde, once they had tasted it.
“It was really well enjoyed. I’m sure it’s going to be the first of many prizes for the Pennine Brewery.”
The second most popular with the drinkers was Wensleydale’s Black Dub Oat Stout, and third place went to Leeds Brewery for Jubilee IPA.
Stewart set up Pennine Brewery in the West Yorkshire town in September 2011 but the company only made its first beer delivery on January 21 this year.
It now has over 300 regular customers and sells 40 bbl (over 11,500 pints) per week.
He will receive the Dame Brittan Shield in a presentation ceremony on July 15.
Hand-Pumped link:
www.pennine-brewery.co.uk
