2011 SIBA Scotland Bottled Beer Awards

The SIBA Bottled Beer awards were judged and announced yesterday, and just like last year the BeerCast were there, taking part. In actual fact, last year’s competition also took place this year – the epic winter of 2010 meaning December’s judging had to be abandoned and moved to January, so our SIBA branded blue pencils have been getting plenty of work in 2011. Williams Brothers were the big winners last time out, taking three of the five categories (and second and third overall) – would they repeat this time?

In a word, no. The excellent Profanity Stout took bronze in the bottled Porters and Stouts category, Joker bronze in over 5%’s, and Williams Ginger silver in Speciality – so they had a good overall showing – but this time out they were eclipsed by their near neighbours from along the B908; Harviestoun. Matching WB’s triumph last year, the boys from Alva also took three of the five categories – but went one better and won the overall SIBA Champion Bottled Beer award as well. The new champion beer? Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted.

The old warhorse is one of the more popular of Scotland’s flagships – having won Champion Beer of Britain back in 2003, as well as a smattering of World Beer Awards (not to mention the very same SIBA bottled beer gong back in 2006). At 4.2%, it’s extremely easy drinking – which always reflects well in judging events such as this. Last year’s winner, for example, was Stewart Brewing Holyrood. Looking back at previous champs reveals a similar trend – Kelburn Cart Blanche, Broughton Champion Double Ale (the exception), Sinclair Atlas Latitude.

Golden session beers tend to work well in the bottle, they are refreshing and stand out when judged alongside a plethora of darker, richer styles. There are very few drinkers and judges who don’t like blonde, zesty beers – whereas things with a bigger hop profile, or traces of barrel-aging – are likely to divide opinions. There are also far more of them, of course – with three categories that favour the golden side of things. I’m glad B&T won, though – it’s a beer I’ve been drinking for years, another worthy reward for the team at Harviestoun.

The other winners in the categories…

Bottled Bitter (up to 4.9%)
Bronze – Inveralmond Lia Fail
Silver – Highland Orkney IPA
Gold – Fyne Ales Highlander

Bottled Bitters (over 5%)
Bronze – Williams Bros Joker IPA
Silver – Harviestoun Wild Hop IPA
Gold – Inveralmond Blackfriar

Bottled Gold Beers
Bronze – Fyne Ales Avalanche
Silver – Inveralmond Ossian
Gold – Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted

Bottled Speciality Beers
Bronze – Stewart Brewing Hefeweizen
Silver – Williams Bros Ginger
Gold – Harviestoun Ola Dubh

Bottled Porters, Milds, Old Ales & Stouts
Bronze – Williams Bros Profanity Stout
Silver – Ayr Rabbie’s Porter
Gold – Harviestoun Old Engine Oil

Bottled Beers (overall)
Bronze – Fyne Ales Highlander
Silver – Harviestoun Old Engine Oil
Gold – Harviestoun Bitter % Twisted

Best Movember Moment
Bronze, Silver and Gold – Steve Stewart

Earlier this year, we listed our BeerCast alternative ‘Best of’ bottled Scottish beers – you can find our final post, and all the winners, here