‘Cheers’ as brewery wins national gongs
FRASeR WILSON
It’s been a good two weeks for the team at Strathaven Ales who picked up a host of national awards.
The team were left toasting their success last week when they picked up no fewer than four awards at the Scottish Society of Independent Brewers Awards (SIBA).
That saw them scoop two gold and two bronze titles at one of the industry’s most sought after awards bashes.
And that came on the back of further national success, with CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) announcing their Craigmill Mild beer as the best ‘mild’ in Scotland – the second time the beer has scooped the title.
Brewery director Craig Buchanan told the News: “We’re delighted to have had such success at the SIBAs.
“It’s been a good week for us after the guys at CAMRA told us one of our beers had been named best in the country by the public.”
At the awards their Claverhouse beer won gold in the ‘best premium bitter 4.5-6.4 per cent ABV, and bronze in the ‘bottle and cans premium bitter 4.5-6.4 per cent ABV’ categories.
Their Usquebae Ale was recognised in the ‘bottles and cans speciality bitter’ category, picking up a bronze.
They also scooped a gold for Old Mortality, which was named ‘best
British bitter up to 4.4 per cent’.
With SIBA gongs decided by industry judges and CAMRA awards based on the public vote, the brewery has amassed a strong cross-section of support.
They’ve come a long way since their creation in 1998, becoming one of Scotland’s most recognisable and respected brands.
Now they will travel down south for the SIBA UK awards, where they hope their beers can have success their too.
SIBA awards look to congratulate excellence in the brewing industry across a variety of categories, from pump clip, can and bottle design, to efforts taken by brewers to make their business more eco-friendly, or to support their local community.
And the team will be looking to secure more silverware, having had success at the UK awards before.
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