Manchester breweries scoop up the accolades at top regional beer awards

Manchester breweries were raising a glass in celebration after taking home no fewer than five prizes at a top regional beer awards prize-giving.

Marble Beers and Joseph Holt made it a good night for the city’s beer scene at the SIBA Bottle and Can Beer Independent Beer Awards 2021 for the North West.

There were other winners from across Greater Manchester too as the finest bottled and canned ales in the region were hailed.

The prize-winners will now go forward to fight it out for national honours.

Which prizes did Manchester breweries win?

Marble led the way on the night with three awards making their way to one of Manchester’s most celebrated breweries.

The Marble team took home gold awards for their Extra Special Marble in the Premium Bitters category and for the American Pilsner among the Session Lager and Pilsners.

There was also a silver award for Stout in the British Dark Beers (4.5 to 6.4%) category.

Joseph Holt, meanwhile, won a silver for its Diamond Lager in the Premium Lager and Pilsners category and a bronze for Sixex in the same category Marble’s Stout took silver in.

What about other Greater Manchester breweries?

A number of other awards made their way to breweries around the city-region’s 10 local authorities.

One of the big winners on the night was Wigan’s Hophurst brewery, which secured two golds for its Milkshake IPA and its dark beer Irish Cream Porteresque.

Prizes also went to Prospect in Wigan, with silvers for dark ale Nutty Slack and bitter Pioneer.

It was also a successful evening for Bolton breweries, with Bank Top scooping two bronzes for Herkules White Walker and Palomino Rising and Horwich-based Blackedge getting silvers for dark beer Man In Black and imperial IPA What’s Going On.

What are the SIBA Bottle & Can Beer Independent Beer Awards 2021?

The awards are one of the UK’s leading beer competitions, with experts including brewers, beer sommeliers and top tasters sitting on the judging panel and awarding the prizes.

This year the judging sessions had to take place online over Zoom, with the panel marking ales for appearance, aroma, flavour, aftertaste and saleability.

SIBA is the voice of independent British breweries and also run competitions to find the best keg and cask beer around.

The North West winners will now go forward to fight it out for national awards against the other regional champions in the New Year.

What did the organisers say about the winners?

Neil Walker, SIBA’s competitions committee chair who helped run the two-day judging, said: “The SIBA Bottle and Can Independent Beer Awards name the very best craft beers in the region, all from small independent breweries who make quality beers that are full of flavour.

“With medallists beating competition from across the region, I’d like to say a huge congratulations to all of this year’s winners as the quality of entries was incredibly high, and encourage anyone looking for a great-tasting local beer to enjoy or gift this Christmas to give these breweries a try. You won’t be disappointed.”

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