The 2019 Scottish Craft Beer Awards

Scotland’s craft brewing scene has emerged as a force in the United Kingdom. And last week The Scottish Beer Awards honored their own.

45 breweries entered almost 300 Scottish beers into this year’s blind tasting. And unlike America’s GABF awards, the 4^th annual Scottish Craft Beer Awards were presented for both business performance as well as taste.

Edinburgh-based Stewart Brewing was crowned Scottish Brewery of the Year for the second consecutive year after achieving a record year of business growth in turnover, exports and product development.

Stewart Brewing was also presented with the Exporter of the Year and Product Development Team of the Year awards, and won a gold and two silver medals in the taste competition.

But Stewart Brewing was followed closely by Fierce Beer who dominated in the taste awards again this year taking home 8 medals, including three gold medals.    And after only one year on the job, Fierce Beer’s Head Brewer, Dominique Bongers, won the coveted Brewer of the Year award.

Brewing giant, BrewDog won Beer of the Year, for its Sleekit Sour beer.  The Aberdeen, Scotland-headquartered brewer also collected five gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals, including all 3 medals in the sour beer category following the launch of BrewDog Overworks sours plant earlier this year.

The 2019 Scottish Beer Award Winners

Scottish Brewery of the Year: Stewart Brewing

Beer of the Year: Sleekit Sour, BrewDog OverWorks

Brewer of the Year: Dominique Bongers, Fierce Beer

Breakthrough Brewery of the Year: 71 Brewing

Best Lager: Munich Red, WEST Brewery

Best Lager: Franz Lager, Stewart Brewing

Best Lager: St Mungo, WEST Brewery

Best Pilsner: Fierce Gluten Free Pilsner, Fierce Beer

Best Pilsner: Peloton Pilsner, Six Degrees North

Best Pilsner: 71 lager – Dundonian Pilsner, 71 Brewing

Best Pale Ale: Vagabond Pale Ale, BrewDog

Best Pale Ale: Cloud Fall, 71 Brewing

Best Pale Ale: Hop Fiction, BrewDog

Best IPA: Bright Lights, LIDL GB & Stewart Brewing

Best IPA: Radical Road, Stewart Brewing

Best IPA: Big City, LIDL GB & Stewart Brewing

Best Session Beer: Easy Shift, Fierce Beer

Best Session Beer: Bellfield Session Ale, Bellfield Brewery

Best Session Beer: Green Monkey Wheat, Reids Gold Brewing Company

Best Sour Beer: Sleekit Sour, BrewDog OverWorks

Best Sour Beer: Cosmic Crush Raspberry, BrewDog OverWorks

Best Sour Beer: Cosmic Crush Cherry, BrewDog OverWorks

Best British Style Ale: St Giles, Stewart Brewing

Best British Style Ale: Ossian, Inveralmond Brewery

Best British Style Ale: GPA, WEST Brewery

Best Amber or Dark Ale: Daracha, Inveralmond Brewery

Best Amber or Dark Ale: Pavolv’s Dog, Williams Bros Brewing Co

Best Amber or Dark Ale: Bastard Amber, Barney’s Beer

Best Porter: Zombie Cake, BrewDog

Best Porter: Cafe Racer, Fierce Beer

Best Porter: Midnight Sun, Williams Brothers Brewing Co

Best Stout: Orinoco, Drygate Brewing Co

Best Stout: Moose Mousse, Fierce Beer

Best Stout: 1806, Windswept Brewing Co

Best Amplified Beer: Imperial Cafe Racer, Fierce Beer

Best Amplified Beer: Marshall – Jim’s Treble, Williams Bros Brewing Co

Best Amplified Beer: Jaggery Stout, Merchant City Brewing Co

Best Fruit Forward: Elvis Juice, BrewDog

Best Fruit Forward: The Hoppy Botanist, Campervan Brewery

Best Fruit Forward: Che Guava, Williams Bros Brewing Co

Best Juicy or Hazy Beer: Neipa Vic Secret, Overtone Brewing

Best Juicy or Hazy Beer: Neipa Here Nor There, 71 Brewing

Best Juicy or Hazy Beer: Dank Side of the Moon, Campervan Brewery

Best Barrel Aged Beer: BEAR, Windswept Brewing Co

Best Barrel Aged Beer: Bourbon BA Imperial Cafe Racer, Fierce Beer

Best Barrel Aged Beer: Glenfarclas Cask Aged Jaggery Stout, Merchant City Brewing Co

Best Speciality Beer: Ten Ton Truck Vietnamese Coffee Edition, BrewDog

Best Speciality Beer: Coconut Very Big Moose, Fierce Beer

Best Speciality Beer: People Like Buns, Fierce Beer

Growth Business of the Year: Fierce Beer

Exporter of the Year: Stewart Brewing

Excellence in Marketing: The Innis & Gunn Brewing Co

Product Development Team of the Year: Stewart Brewing

Best Beer Experience: 71 Brewing

Best Beer Event: BrewDog AGM

The winners of the 4th annual Scottish Beer Awards were awarded in Edinburgh on Thursday September 19th,  2019. Over 350 people celebrated the night away at the annual brewing event which was followed by a trade show and conference with speakers from the USA and Germany.

Congratulations to all…