• Swindon & Wiltshire Awards
• Friday June 14 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Arkell’s brewhouse team celebrates trio of awards

Arkell’s Brewery is celebrating after scooping a trio of prestigious awards in recent competitions.

Haze Pale Ale and Malthouse Craft Lager were awarded Gold and Bronze at the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates’ South West Independent Beer Awards, and Kingsdown Ale bottled beer received Gold in the South West Taste of the West Awards.

Haze is the brewery’s first vegan & gluten-free beer; a 4 per cent ABV pale ale with a tropical fruit nose and a tropical fruit and mango flavour.

Receiving Gold in the Keg Session Pale Ale category at the SIBA Awards, head brewer Alex Arkell said: “It couldn’t be better feedback on our brand-new beer, straight in with a Gold for its first-ever award.

“We are equally delighted that our Malthouse Craft Lager has been recognised with Bronze in the Keg Session Lager category. It’s a fantastic award for our newly rebranded Malthouse, and reconfirms that the lager is as good as we think it is!”

Malthouse is a 4.2 per cent ABV, handmade, refreshing, characterful English lager, brewed using local barley.

Alex explained: “Unlike many lagers, we like to slow ferment Malthouse for up to a month, creating a softer, cleaner flavour with a satisfying fullness in the mouth.

“After this, rather than pasteurising and cooking the aromas, we gently triple micro filter the beer to lock in the thirst-quenching flavour.”

The SIBA South West Independent Beer Awards, which took place at MaltingsFest in Newton Abbot, highlight the very best beers from a huge range of styles, strengths, and flavours, including traditional bitters, stouts, modern hazy IPAs, and Pale Ales.

Judged by beer experts, experienced beer judges, and fellow brewers from other regions, they are seen as the ‘brewers’ choice awards’ in the UK.

Arkell’s also received an award from The Taste of the West Awards programme, which has been promoting and supporting the South West food and drink industry for over 30 years. They are regarded as a benchmark for excellence across the whole South West region.

Kingsdown Ale, one of the brewery’s long-standing brews, was successful in the Taste of The West product Awards 2024, achieving Gold for the bottled beer.

The 4.8 per cent ABV dark ale is a luscious, deep, fruit-forward strong bitter with a superb chestnut colour, and smooth aftertaste.

Already an award-winning beer, Alex said: “It’s fantastic to see the hard work of the brew team recognised again. With a combined length of service in the team of over one hundred years, they always aim to craft exceptional beers that reflect our heritage and unwavering commitment to quality, while exploring innovative ways to keep up with changing trends.”