The finalists in the 5th annual Scottish Beer Awards have been announced with 207 beers all brewed in Scotland progressing to the finals of the national competition, sponsored by ALDI.  

The awards programme is the largest independent assessment of the Scottish brewing sector on record and the results provide an important indicator into the quality of Scottish beer and the performance of Scotland’s brewing businesses. 

In a challenging year for breweries when many had their on trade business devastated by the impact of the pandemic,  organisers of the awards made a commitment to stage the competition in an effort to present medals and assist brewers with positive publicity before Christmas.

In September, 314 beers were tasted blind by a panel of 26 judges which include many of the UK’s foremost brewing and beer experts.  Samples were marked in a carefully staged COVID compliant process which booked judges into socially distanced sessions under the licence of the Edinburgh Corn Exchange.  

The tasting competition is also supported by 41 written submissions from brewing businesses which have been judged in a day of business judging in areas including business performance, product development, branding, sales, and marketing.   6 breweries have been selected in the Scottish Brewery of the Year category and these are 71 Brewing, Bellfield Brewery, Drygate, Fierce Beer, Loch Lomond Brewery and Stewart Brewing.

Chair of the judging panel, Hilary Jones, commented.

“It has been an extremely challenging year for Scottish - and global - brewing but it has been inspiring to read how many of the brewers in Scotland have taken some of the challenges head on.  This year we were particularly impressed with the quality of the entries in the business categories, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of many of the smaller businesses in the sector during the pandemic. We learned about some really innovative thinking, with breweries turning their hand to new skills in order to protect their businesses, stay relevant and engage directly with their loyal consumers.  Congratulations to all the entrants, we have much to be proud of our Scottish brewing sector this year.”

Since inception, the Scottish Beer Awards has been sponsored by ALDI.   Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director for ALDI Scotland, commented;

“It has been a very difficult year for breweries and we very much support the efforts of the Scottish Beer Awards in presenting awards this year.  In the most adverse of circumstances, Scotland’s breweries continue to produce outstanding beer and we’re very proud at ALDI to be able to continue to support the growth of the brewing sector in Scotland through our ongoing collaborations.  We wish all the finalists the very best of luck in this year’s competition.”

All medal winners will be announced as part of a live digital broadcast which takes place on Thursday 26 November 2020 at 630pm.  The event which is staged as a virtual awards celebration will be presented live from Glasgow by comedian and broadcaster, Des Clarke.  The ticketed event will be staged using the latest event technology with guests able to join virtual tables, network with other guests, watch live interviews with winners and celebrate as the awards are presented.

The awards programme created and designed by KD Media in 2015, is also raising funds for The BEN, the Benevolent Society of the Licensed Trade of Scotland and guests will be encouraged to make donations on the night to support the charity. 

THE FINALISTS IN FULL

TASTE AWARDS

BEER OF THE YEAR

This award will be presented to the highest scoring beer in the competition and will be announced at the digital event.


BEST AMBER OR DARK ALE

Ferry Alt; The Ferry Brewery

Highlander; Fyne Ales

Inveralmond Brewery Lia Fail; The Innis and Gunn Brewing Company

Pavlov's Dog; Williams Bros Brewing Co

Rivet Red; 71 Brewing

The J'Ale; Brew Toon

Vital Spark; Fyne Ales


BEST AMPLIFIED BEER SPONSORED BY CARA TECHNOLOGY

AlmondHill; The Ferry Brewery

Auld Toon; six°north

Big Joe; Overtone Brewing

BLACK; The Ferry Brewery

Immovable Object; Drygate Brewing Co

Jim's Treble; Williams Bros Brewing Co

Lost Monster; Loch Lomond Brewery

Marshmallow Milk Stout; Barney's Beer

Old Jock Scotch Ale; Broughton Ales Ltd

VERY BIG MOOSE; FIERCE BEER

VP04; The Innis and Gunn Brewing Company

 
BEST BARREL-AGED BEER

Barrel-Aged Imperial Cafe Racer; Fierce Beer

Bourbon Barrel-Aged Very Big Moose; Fierce Beer

Lost in Leith 1; Campervan Brewery

Lost in Leith 2; Campervan Brewery

Lost in Leith 3; Campervan Brewery

Nightmare of Cake; Drygate Brewing Co

Ol' Seamus; Barneys Beer

Origins Brewing – Elegy; Fyne Ales

Origins Brewing - Expedition II; Fyne Ales

Over the sea to Skye; Cuillin Brewery

Tennents Whisky Oak Aged; Tennent Caledonian Breweries

The Original; The Innis and Gunn Brewing Company

Uisge Beatha Stout; Spey Valley Brewery

Wolf of Glen Moray; Windswept Brewing Co


BEST BRITISH-STYLE ALE

Belhaven Scottish Ale; Belhaven Brewery

Blonde; Windswept Brewing Co

Edinburgh Gold; Stewart Brewing

Fraoch; Williams Bros Brewing Co

G40; WEST Brewery

Inveralmond Brewery Ossian; The Innis and Gunn Brewing Company

Maverick; Fyne Ales

Stewart's 80/-; Stewart Brewing

Wolf; Windswept Brewing Co Ltd


BEST FRUITED SOUR BEER

Blueberry And Pomegranate Sour; Overtone Brewing

Caught By The Fuzz; 71 Brewing

Cherry Crush; Brew Toon

Fierce By Nature: Wild Bramble Sour; Fierce Beer

Jam Slam; 71 Brewing

Mimosa; Campervan Brewery

Mirabelle Plum And Ginger Gose; Overtone Brewing

Oh Ya Bassa; Winton Brewery

Origins Brewing – Acres; Fyne Ales

Sour to the People; Brew Toon

Trinitone (Grapefruit) Blast; Drygate Brewing Co

Trinitone (Raspberry) Blast; Drygate Brewing Co

 

BEST FRUIT-FORWARD BEER

Big Blue; Stewart Brewing

Cranachan Killer; Fierce Beer

Disco Forklift Truck; Drygate Brewing Co

Hoppy Botanist; Campervan Brewery

Mango Unchained; Brew Toon

Mangoes on the Run; The Innis and Gunn Brewing Company

Otis; Williams Bros Brewing Co & ALDI

Raspberry Carronade; Brew Toon

Raspberry Ripple; Brew Toon

Raspberry Sun; Reids Gold Brewing Company Ltd

Rubus; Williams Bros Brewing Co & ALDI

Stooty Fruity; Winton Brewery

Wit Man!; Overtone Brewing


BEST IMPERIAL OR DOUBLE IPA

Big Yin; Overtone Brewing

Black Rain; Loch Lomond Brewery

Double Joker IPA; Williams Bros Brewing Co

D-Up; The Ferry Brewery

Fancy Juice; Fierce Beer

Sapien; Williams Bros Brewing Co

Unstoppable Force; Drygate Brewing Co


BEST IPA SPONSORED BY BREWERS SELECT

Anti-Establishment IPA; ALDI UK

Big Sur West Coast IPA; Overtone Brewing

Bravehop; Loch Lomond Brewery

Gladeye IPA; Drygate Brewing Co

Hare of the Dog; Hurly Burly Brewery

Hip Pop; Stewart Brewing

Hop Pinata; WooHa Brewing Company

Hopo 6.2 IPA; Broughton Ales Ltd

Hothead IPA; Stewart Brewing

India Pale Ale; Cross Borders Brewing Company

Klute; Williams Bros Brewing Co & ALDI

Pale Keith; Keith Brewery

Radical Road; Stewart Brewing

Roubaix; six°north

Split Shift; Fierce Beer

Studio 54; Williams Bros Brewing Co

Tin Man; Williams Bros Brewing Co

Tornado; Windswept Brewing Co


BEST JUICY OR HAZY BEER

Citra Ekuanot New England IPA; Cross Borders Brewing Company

Ferry American; The Ferry Brewery

Hazy IPA; Stewart Brewing

Late Shift; Fierce Beer

Lotus Oat Cream NEIPA; Overtone Brewing

Luminous Lights; 71 Brewing

Northern Hemisphere; Overtone Brewing

Oatmeal Pale Ale; Cross Borders Brewing Company

Southern Hemisphere; Overtone Brewing

Southern Summit; Loch Lomond Brewery

Spey's Software ; Spey Valley Brewery

Yippie IPA; St Andrews Brewing Company

Zoom Time; Loch Lomond Brewery


BEST LAGER

Bearface Lager; Drygate Brewing Co

Craft Lager; Bellfield Brewery

Craft Lager; Williams Bros Brewing Co

Franz; Stewart Brewing

Grape and Grain; Reids Gold Brewing Company

Hopo Blonde Gluten Free Lager; Broughton Ales

Lager Beer; The Innis and Gunn Brewing Company

Munich Red; WEST Brewery

St Mungo; WEST Brewery

Stewart's Lager; Stewart Brewing

Tennents Gluten Free Beer; Tennent Caledonian Breweries

Tennents Lager; Tennent Caledonian Breweries

Tennents Light Lager; Tennent Caledonian Breweries

WEST 4; WEST Brewery


BEST LOW OR NO ALCOHOL BEER

Designated Driver; Reids Gold Brewing Company

Hop 0%; Broughton Ales Ltd

Low; Barney's Beer

NIX; WEST Brewery

Yardarm Lager; Jump Ship Brewing


BEST PALE ALE SPONSORED BY KEGSTAR

90 Mile Pale; Overtone Brewing

Cascadian East; Stewart Brewing

Cloud Fall; 71 Brewing

Hollyrood; Stewart Brewing

Kai Pai; Stewart Brewing

North Sea Haar; Reids Gold Brewing Company

Pale Ale ; St Andrews Brewing Company

Peelywally; Winton Brewery

Small Giant; Stewart Brewing

Southern Summit; Loch Lomond Brewery

TA; The Organic Laundry-Hidden Lane Brewery

Talking Head; Williams Bros Brewing Co

Winter Sunshine; Spey Valley Brewery


BEST PILSNER

1814; Spey Valley Brewery

Bohemian Pilsner; Bellfield Brewery

Caesar Augustus; Williams Bros Brewing Co

Electric Café; Loch Lomond Brewery

Fierce Pilsner; Fierce Beer

Pilsner; Cross Borders Brewing Company


BEST PORTER

Cafe Racer; Fierce Beer

Coffee Porter; Windswept Brewing Co Ltd

Dirty Sanchez; Fierce Beer

Glasgow Porter; Out of Town Brewing

Leith Porter; Campervan Brewery

Midnight Sun; Williams Bros Brewing Co

Rauch n Roll; WooHa Brewing Company Ltd

Sugar Bush; The Ferry Brewery

The Shortie; Brewgooder / Ardberg


BEST SESSION BEER

Birds & Bees; Williams Bros Brewing Co

Echelon ; six°north

Green Monkey Wheat; Reids Gold Brewing Company

Heffen Heff; Fierce Beer

Heidi-Weisse; WEST Brewery

Hurricane; Windswept Brewing Co Ltd

IPA; St Andrews Brewing Company

Jarl; Fyne Ales

Kvltvre; Barney's Beer

Leith Juice; Campervan Brewery

Omnium; six°north

Perfect Storm; Williams Bros Brewing Co & ALDI

Session IPA; Stewart Brewing

Wanderlust; six°north

Wee Braw; Cross Borders Brewing Company


BEST SOUR BEER

BA Hopocrisy; six°north

Blood of Nidhoggr; Fierce Beer

Exhale; six°north

Fierce by Nature: Brett IPA; Fierce Beer

Flemish Black; six°north

Inhale; six°north

Origins Brewing - Home 3-Year Blend 2018; Fyne Ales

Sour Red Rye; Barney's Beer

Unfinished Symphony; Drygate Brewing Co

Zest Life; six°north

 

BEST SPECIALITY BEER

Belgian Saison; The Ferry Brewery

Bombini; six°north

Bounty Like It; Reids Gold Brewing Company

Brevet; six°north

Coco Noco; Drygate Brewing Co

Coconut Cookie; Reids Gold Brewing Company

Eskimo Joe; Fierce Beer

Ethiopian Coffee IPA; Overtone Brewing

Great White; Loch Lomond Brewery

Hi-Hefe; The Ferry Brewery

Last Sheep Sheared; Hurly Burly Brewery Ltd

Maple Pancake; Fierce Beer

Origin; six°north

Transient 2; Campervan Brewery


BEST STOUT

Cauld Reekie; Stewart Brewing

Chokka Blokka; Williams Bros Brewing Co

Dark Nite; Brew Toon

March of the Penguins; Williams Bros Brewing Co

Moose Mousse; Fierce Beer

Orinoco ; Drygate Brewing Co

Silkie Stout; Loch Lomond Brewery

Spey Stout; Spey Valley Brewery

Stout Jock: Black Thistle Malt Stout; Broughton Ales

Stout Keith; Keith Brewery

Tennents Export Stout; Tennent Caledonian Breweries

WEST Black; WEST Brewery

White Russian; Stewart Brewing

Witch Pricker; Windswept Brewing Co Ltd

 

 

BUSINESS AWARDS

BREWER OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY CLOSE BROTHERS BREWERY RENTALS

Tony Kotronis; Consolidated Craft Breweries

Daniel Miller; Overtone Brewing

Barry Reid; Reids Gold Brewing Company

Craig Scotland; Stewart Brewing

Simon Roberts; WEST Brewery


BEST BEER BAR

Cross Borders Brewing Company – Portobello, Edinburgh

six°north - Stonehaven

St Andrews Brewing Company – St Andrews

The Innis and Gunn Brewing Company – Leith, Edinburgh

Winton Brewery – Dunbar, East Lothian


BEST BEER DESTINATION

Bellfield Brewery

Stewart Brewing

The Innis and Gunn Brewing Company

WEST Brewery


EXCELLENCE IN BRANDING SPONSORED BY RANKIN BROTHERS & SONS

Barney's Beer

Bellfield Brewery

Cuillin Brewery

Jump Ship Brewing

Loch Lomond Brewery

Stewart Brewing

The Ferry Brewery


PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY MUNTONS

Barney's Beer

Keith Brewery Ltd.

Loch Lomond Brewery

Stewart Brewing

Williams Bros Brewing Co

Windswept Brewing Co Ltd


SALES TEAM OF THE YEAR

71 Brewing

Stewart Brewing

WooHa Brewing Company


SCOTTISH BREWERY OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY ALDI

71 Brewing

Bellfield Brewery

Drygate Brewing Co

Fierce Beer

Loch Lomond Brewery

Stewart Brewing