Hardknott’s Dave Bailey was pleased that his 8% abv Queboid had won a bronze medal in SIBA’s National Craft Beer in Keg Competition. But his delight turned to disappointment when he learned that the Belgian-style IPA would not be sold at the post-judging public beer festival. Bailey said his team was “shocked” that host pub, The Barrels in Hereford, was not selling up the stronger beers left over from SIBA’s judging.
“No brewer is keen on giving their beer away for free so there has to be a discretionary exchange,” said Bailey. “My understanding was that the beer would be available at the festival for the general public to buy and enjoy.”
In a statement, SIBA said while it passes competition entrants’ beer to host pubs, in return for judging space, there was no guarantee that the beer would be sold at any subsequent public event. It added that these events are entirely the responsibility of the host venue and have no connection to SIBA.
The Barrels’ general manager Phil Pryce told The Brewery Manual that, in order to be responsible, the pub had offered the stronger beers as small tasters instead of selling them. Pryce said his weekend customers were “not the normal beer festival clientele”, adding that the pub doesn’t currently list any beers stronger than 4.5% abv.
Hardknott’s Bailey said that although he was “still pretty unhappy” with what had happened, he was glad to learn it had not been SIBA’s decision to withdraw the beer from sale. But he criticised the organisation’s choice of venue: “Why did SIBA choose a venue that didn’t understand what craft keg beer is all about? It could have been such a fantastic event.”
And Bailey accused SIBA’s central office of being “behind the curve” on UK craft keg beer, urging the organisation to give more support to the growing category. “I’d really love SIBA to embrace it much more. CAMRA’s quite anti-keg and that’s not going to change, but SIBA shouldn’t be constrained by packaging. If it’s good beer, then it’s good beer. SIBA should embrace it wholeheartedly.”
Fellow Cumbrian brewery Stringers saw its 9.3% abv stout Mutiny rejected for sale at the same event. Brewer Jon Kyme said: “I don’t have a problem with the pub deciding not to sell the beers. The only issue would be that SIBA should have sorted this out ahead of time.”
* Obscured amidst the controversy were the medallists to emerge from the National Craft Beer in Keg Competition. Thornbridge Brewery and Freedom Brewery each garnered two golds. Thornbridge's 5.0% abv Chiron came out on top amongst Premium Bitters, Pale and Golden Ales; Jaipur IPA was foremost amongst Strong Bitters and IPAs. Freedom's 4.0% abv Freedom Four won in the Pale and Golden Lagers; its 4.7% Organic Dark Lager triumphed in the Speciality Beers..
The other competitions and the gold medallists were:
Bitters, Pale and Golden Ales -The Ilkley Brewing Company, MJ Pale, 3.7% abv
Dark Ales, Stouts and Porters - Hepworth & Company Brewers, Conqueror Sussex Stout, 4.5% abv
Premium Pale and Golden Lagers - Williams Bros. Brewing, Ceildh 90 Lager, 4.7% abv
Rebecca Evans
7th February 2012
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
