Nearly 400 guests from across the UK brewing industry gathered to hear news on award winners following an extensive judging process which has been running since February.
Edinburgh’s Stewart Brewing were presented with the ultimate award of the night, Scottish Brewery of the Year, after a phenomenal year of growth in turnover, exports and product development.
While Scott Williams of Williams Brothers Brewing Co. was named Master Brewer of the Year narrowly beating out Dougal Sharp of Innis and Gunn and Andrew Fulton of the Orkney Brewery.
The awards were presented for both business performance and taste, with nearly 300 Scottish beers presented into the blind tasting competition conducted by drinks production company Cara Technology.
Fierce Beer from Aberdeen, were the big winners in the hotly contended taste categories, taking home a total of four gold medals and one silver medal.
While 2017 champions and fellow Aberdeenshire brewing giants BrewDog enjoyed further success this year winning a total of six medals across the IPA, Barrel Aged, Stout and Amplified Beers categories.
The surprise winner of the night was in the Beer of the Year category, with the award going to Belhaven's Grapefruit IPA.
(All pictures by Gerardo Jaconelli for The Scottish Gin Awards – @gerardojac on Instagram)
(Sponsored by Bruce Stevenson Insurance Company)
WINNER: Stewart Brewing
Finalists: Eden Mill, Edinburgh Beer Factory, Fierce Beer, The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company
WINNER: Scott Williams, Williams Brothers Brewing Co.
Finalists: Andrew Fulton, The Orkney Brewery, Dougal Sharp, The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company
WINNER: Edinburgh Beer Factory
Finalists: Bellfield Brewery, Brew Toon, Dalrannoch Brewing Co., Merchant City Brewing Company, Redcastle Brewery, Up Front Brewing
(Sponsored by ALDI)
WINNER: Jonathan Robinson (Digger), The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company
Finalists: Adam Gray, Merchant City Brewing Co., Thomas Willis, Redcastle Brewery
(Sponsored by Rankin Brothers & Sons)
WINNER: Stewart Brewing
Finalists: Bellfield Brewery, Fierce Beer, St Andrews Brewing Company, The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company
(Sponsored by Kegstar)
WINNER: Fyne Ales for Origins Brewing
Finalists: Bute Brew Co. for Thorough Bread Beer and the Circular Economy, Eyeball Brewing for Innovative Product Range, The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company for Barrels into Beer, Williams Brothers Brewing Co. for Innovative Bottle Design
WINNER: Belhaven Brewery
Finalists: Black Isle Brewing Co., Fierce Beer, The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company, WooHa Brewing Company
WINNER: The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company
Finalists: Cross Borders Brewing Company, Fierce Beer, Merchant City Brewing Co., Stewart Brewing, Tempest Brewing Co., Williams Brothers Brewing Co.
WINNER: Barney’s Beer
Finalists: Cromarty Brewing Co., Dead End Brew Machine, Edinburgh Beer Factory, Tempest Brewing Co., The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company
WINNER: six°north, Glasgow
Finalists: Barney’s Beer, Black Isle Brewing Co., Brew Toon, Old Worthy Brewing Co., Shilling Brewing Company, St Andrews Brewing Company, The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company, Williams Brothers Brewing Co.
WINNER: Edinburgh Beer Factory
Finalists: Born in the Borders, Fyne Ales, The Orkney Brewery, Stewart Brewing, Tennent’s Wellpark Brewery
WINNER: Fyne Ales for FyneFest
Finalists: BrewDog for Collabfest, Drygate Brewing Co., West End Beer Festival, Up Front Brewing, Out of Town Brewing, Dead End Brew Machine & Gallus for Beer Makes Glasgow Festival, six°north for Midsummer Beer Happening, Tempest Brewing Co. for Springfest & Oktoberfest, Windswept Brewing Co. for Moktoberfest
(Sponsored by Barr Printer)
GOLD MEDAL: Fierce Beer - Dirty Sanchez
SILVER MEDAL: Tempest Brewing Co. - Red Eye Flight
BRONZE MEDAL: Top Out Brewery - Smoked Porter
GOLD MEDAL: Spey Valley Brewery - Spey's Hopper
SILVER MEDAL: Windswept Brewing Co. - Wolf
BRONZE MEDAL: Fyne Ales - Vital Spark
(Sponsored by Bairds Malt & Brewers Select)
GOLD MEDAL: BrewDog - King of Eights
SILVER MEDAL: Fierce Beer – Split Shift
BRONZE MEDAL: BrewDog - Hazy Jane
GOLD MEDAL: Eden Mill - Three Pistons
SILVER MEDAL: Barney's Beer – Cloudburst
BRONZE MEDAL: Stewart Brewing - Cascadian East
GOLD MEDAL: The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company – Session IPA
SILVER MEDAL: Barney's Beer - Glory Days
BRONZE MEDAL: Tempest Brewing Co. - Vermont Sessions
GOLD MEDAL: Tennent Caledonian Breweries – Tennent’s Gluten Free Lager
SILVER MEDAL: Eyeball Brewing - Eyeball Yellow
BRONZE MEDAL: Brew Toon - Weekend Hooker
GOLD MEDAL: Fyne Ales - Maverick
SILVER MEDAL: Belhaven Brewery - 80 Shilling
BRONZE MEDAL: Inveralmond Brewery – Ossian
GOLD MEDAL: Drygate Brewing Co. - Orinoco Breakfast Stout
SILVER MEDAL: BrewDog - Jet Black Heart
BRONZE MEDAL: Williams Bros Brewing Co. - Profanity Stout
(Sponsored by Cara Technology)
GOLD MEDAL: Fierce Beer - Very Big Moose
SILVER MEDAL: BrewDog - Pulp Patriot
BRONZE MEDAL: Barney's Beer - Marshmallow Milk Stout
GOLD MEDAL: Fierce Beer - Tangerine Tart
SILVER MEDAL: Stewart Brewing/BrewDog - Corpse Reviver
BRONZE MEDAL: Fyne Ales - Origins Brewing – Expedition
(Sponsored by Foodies Magazine)
GOLD MEDAL: Belhaven Brewery - Twisted Grapefruit IPA
SILVER MEDAL: Williams Bros Brewing Co., Exclusively for ALDI - Rubus
BRONZE MEDAL: Dead End Brew Machine - Death III
GOLD MEDAL: Fierce Beer - BA Very Big Moose
SILVER MEDAL: BrewDog - Dog G
BRONZE MEDAL: Windswept Brewing Co. - BEAR
WINNER: Belhaven Brewery – Twisted Grapefruit IPA
Hilary Jones, chair of the judging panel commented; “Now in its third year, the Scottish Beer Awards is an eagerly awaited celebration firmly fixed in the UK brewing calendar. With a proven record of inclusivity and collaboration across the whole sector, these awards are truly representative of an exciting industry making first class products.
"To see so many breweries, both large and small, triumph this evening is hugely encouraging and a sign of the growing success of Scottish companies in the world of brewing.”
This year’s competition saw the introduction of a new category, created in collaboration with headline sponsors, ALDI to recognise emerging talent.
The Emerging Brewer of the Year Award was presented to Jonathan Robinson of Innis & Gunn who was praised by the judging panel for his passion and commitment to the sector and specifically towards his role as a young brewer in a rapidly growing business.
Graham Nicolson, group buying director, ALDI Scotland, commented: “We’re hugely proud to have been headline sponsors of the Scottish Beer Awards since 2016 and privileged to work with so many of the breweries recognised at the awards this evening. The popularity of Scottish beer continues to grow, and we are pleased to be a part of such an exciting time for the Scottish brewing sector.
“The quality of beer being produced in Scotland continues to be second to none and the industry offers some exceptional career prospects for young people. We extend our congratulations to the winner of the emerging brewer award and wish Jonathan from Innis & Gunn every success in his future career.”
