So who’s got the X-Factor beer of Britain then?
By: JimOldfield
November 24th, 2012
Regional brewers are gagging to see whose beer has the “X” factor, as SIBA publishes the finalists for its National Beer Competition at BeerX.
The brewers association has compiled its annual list of winning pints from its regional heats, after the Northern and Midlands champions were the last to be announced last month.
The listed beers will now go forward to BeerX – SIBA’s new industry conference to be held in Ponds Forge, Sheffield on March 13 next year.
In October, Blue Monkey Brewery, from Giltbrook, Nottinghamshire, scooped Gold AND Silver for Big Blue and Ape Ale in the Midlands finals, while the Lake District’s Watermill Inn & Brewery took Gold in the Northern contest for Isle of Dogs.
The National finals short-list is as follows:
Champion Standard Mild Ales:
East – B&T Brewery – Shefford Dark Mild3.8 per cent
Midlands – Great Oakley Brewery – Wellend Valley Mild 3.6 per cent
North – Bollington Brewing Co – Bollington Nights, 3.9 per cent
Scotland – Strathaven Ales – Craigmill Mild, 3.5 per cent
South East – Wantsum Brewery – Black Prince, 3.9 per cent
South West – Arbor Ales – Mild West, 3.6 per cent
Wales & West – Cotswold Spring Brewery – OSM, 3.9 per cent
Champion Standard Bitters:
East – Green Jack Brewing Co – Golden Best, 3.8 per cent
Midlands – The Grainstore Brewery – Rutland Bitter, 3.4 per cent
North – Barngates Brewery – Cat Nap, 3.6 per cent
Scotland – Fyne Ales – Jarl, 3.8 per cent
South East – Whitstable Brewery – Native, 3.7 per cent
South West – Forge Brewery – Discovery, 3.8 per cent
Wales & West – Stonehouse Brewery, Station Bitter, 3.9 per cent
Champion Best Bitters
East – Oldershaw Brewery – Great Expectations, 4.2 per cent
Midlands – Black Hole Brewery – Cosmic, 4.2 per cent
North – Abbeydale Brewery – Deception, 4.1 per cent
Scotland – Tryst Brewery – Carronade Pale Ale, 4.2 per cent
South East – Triple fff Brewery – Moondance, 4.2 per cent
South West – Quantock Brewery – Wills Neck, 4.3 per cent
Wales & West – Cotswold Spring Brewery – Stunner, 4.0 per cent
Champion Premium Bitters
East – Oakham Ales – Bishop’s Farewell, 4.6 per cent
Midlands – Brampton Brewery – Tudor Rose, 4.6 per cent
North – Watermill Inn & Brewery – Isle of Dogs, 4.5 per cent
Scotland – The Highland Brewing Company – Pale Ale, 4.7 per cent
South East – Redemption Brewing Company – Hopspur, 4.5 per cent
South West – Hogswood Brewery – Kernow King, 4.6 per cent
Wales & West – Stonehouse Brewery – Kingston Flyer KPA, 4.6 per cent
Champion Strong Bitters
East – Farmer’s Ales – Farmer’s Golden Boar, 5.0 per cent
Midlands – Blue Monkey Brewery – Ape Ale, Strong Ale, 5.4 per cent
North – Kirkstall Brewery – Dissolution IPA, 5.0 per cent
Scotland – The Orkney Brewery – Wayfarer IPA, 5.0 per cent
South East – Redemption Brewing Company – Big Chief, 5.5 per cent
South West – Penpont – An Howl, 5.6 per cent
Wales & West – Salopian Brewery – Golden Thread, 5.0 per cent
Champion Premium Strong Bitters
East – Oakham Ales – Green Devil IPA, 6.0 per cent
Midlands – Blue Monkey Brewery – Big Blue, 6.8 per cent
North – Revolutions Brewing Company – Manifesto Strong Stout, 6.0 per cent
Scotland – Fyne Ales – Sublime Stout, 6.8 per cent
South East – Westerham Brewing Company – Audit Ale, 6.2 per cent
South West – Art Brew – Monkey IPA, 6.4 per cent
Wales & West – Wye Valley Brewery – Dorothy Goodbody’s Country Ale, 6.0 per cent
Champion Porters, Stouts, Old Ales & Strong Milds
East – B&T Brewery – Edwin Taylor’s Extra Stout, 4.5 per cent
Midlands – Brampton Brewery – Brampton Mild, 4.9 per cent
North – Acorn Brewery – Old Moor Porter, 4.4 per cent
Scotland – Cairngorm Brewery Company – Black Gold, 4.4 per cent
South East – Ramsgate Brewery – Gadds Faithful Dogbolter, 5.6 per cent
South West – Glastonbury –Thriller Cappuccino Porter, 5.0 per cent
Wales & West – Purple Moose Brewery – Dark Side of the Moose, 4.6 per cent
Champion Speciality Beers
East – B&T Brewery – Fruit Bat, 4.5 per cent
Midlands – Titanic Brewery – Titanic Cappuccino Stout, 4.5 per cent
North – Blackedge Brewing Company – Black Port, 4.9 per cent
Scotland – The Orkney Brewery – Golden Amber, 4.5 per cent
South East – Hopdaemon Brewery Co – Green Daemon, 5.0 per cent
South West – Dartmoor –Three Hares, 4.4 per cent
Wales & West – Purple Moose Brewery – Ysgawen, 4.0 per cent
Champion Bottled Bitters
East – Oakham Ales – Citra, 4.6 per cent
Midlands – Thornbridge – Wild Swan, 3.5 per cent
North – Cumbrian Legendary Ales – Langdale, 4.0 per cent
Scotland – Fyne Ales – Highlander, 4.8 per cent
South East – Hopdaemon Brewery Co – Skrimshander IPA, 4.5 per cent
South West – Moor Beer –Revival, 4.0 per cent
Wales & West – Salopian Brewery – Darwin’s Origin, 4.0 per cent
Champion Bottled Bitters over 5 per cent
East – Grain Brewery – India Pale Ale, 6.5 per cent
Midlands – Blue Monkey Brewery – Ape Ale, 5.4 per cent
North – Wold Top Brewery – Shepherds Watch, 6.0 per cent
Scotland – Arran Brewery – Arran Milestone, 6.0 per cent
South East – Hopdaemon Brewery Co – Leviathan, 6.0 per cent
South West – Arbor Ales –Yakima Valley IPA, 7.0 per cent
Wales & West – The Celt Experience Brewery – Celt Cryf, 5.2 per cent
Champion Bottled Gold Beers
East – Elgood & Sons – Elgood’s Golden Newt, 4.6 per cent
Midlands – Sadlers Ales – Worcester Sorcerer, 4.3 per cent
North – Wold Top Brewery – Wold Gold, 4.8 per cent
Scotland – Fyne Ales – Jarl, 3.8 per cent
South East – Binghams Brewery – Space Hoppy IPA, 5.0 per cent
South West – Forge – Litehouse, 4.3 per cent
Wales & West – Salopian Brewery – Oracle, 4.0 per cent
Champion Bottled Speciality Beers
East – Mauldons – Blackberry Porter, 4.8 per cent
Midlands – Loddon Brewery – Russet, 4.7 per cent
North – Hawkshead Brewery – Whisky-cask-aged Damson & Vanilla Imperial Stout, 8.3 per cent
Scotland – Stewart Brewing – Hefeweizen, 5.5 per cent
South East – Andwell Brewing Company – Andwells Lager, 4.8 per cent
South West – Arbor Ales – Breakfast Stout, 7.4 per cent
Wales & West – Purple Moose Brewery – Ysgawen, 4.0 per cent
Champion Bottled Porters, Stouts, Old Ales & Strong Milds
East – Elmtree Beers – Dark Horse, 5.0 per cent
Midlands – Hook Norton Brewery – Flagship, 5.5 per cent
North – Cumbrian Legendary Ales –Croglin Vampire, 8.0 per cent
Scotland – Cairngorm Brewery Company – Black Gold, 4.4 per cent
South East – Windsor and Eton Brewery – Conqueror 1075, 7.4 per cent
South West – St Austell – Smugglers Grand Cru, 11.5 per cent
Wales & West – Whittingtons Brewery – Stray Cat Stout, 4.4 per cent
Hand-Pumped link:
SIBA BeerX
