Gentlemen prefer Liberation Blonde

Wednesday 01 April 2015

The Liberation Group has picked up another industry award, this time a Bronze Medal for its Liberation Craft Blonde in the Pale and Golden Lagers category of the Society of Independent Brewers Beer X celebration of British beer held in Sheffield.

Liberation Brewery, based at Longueville in Jersey, was competing against beers from all over the UK. Only 60 beers received a national award, from around 2,000 that entered initial regional heats of the SIBA competition. It is estimated that there are 8,000 regular beers brewed in Britain, and 10,000 more seasonal or one-off brews.

Paul Hurley, Head Brewer at the Liberation Brewery said: "SIBA Beer X is one of the most important competitions in the national character and to achieve this award out of so many top quality beers is good news for us, and for the Channel Islands. We are one of the smaller breweries that compete so to win against much larger rivals is also very pleasing. It is a team effort at the brewery and this award is for everyone who works here."

The finalist beers were judged by a panel of industry experts and beer enthusiasts in Sheffield and the winners were announced by SIBA chairman Guy Sheppard and BBC Radio food and drink broadcaster Nigel Barden.

Mr Sheppard said: “With close to 800 brewers now members of SIBA, competition for our awards is fierce and all our winners can be very proud of their achievement. We congratulate them on brewing beers that have been judged as the best in the country and we hope they will use this success to market their beers to pubs and consumers in the future. I would like to wish them every success within the vibrant, innovative British brewing industry.”

SIBA holds regional beer competitions in ten regions during the year, with the winners from each heat going through to the national final in Sheffield. The beers from all contestants are made available to judges and then to thousands of beer drinkers who can enjoy them at the BeerX Festival of Beer.