Orkney ale judged best in the world

Orkney Brewery’s Dark Island Reserve has been named the world’s best strong dark, dark ale in a major international competition.

Already judged Europe’s best, the 10 per cent speciality ale beat off stiff competition to take the global “strong dark, dark ale” title in the World Beer Awards 2011.

Judging in the competition is blind, with regional style heats held in Europe, the USA and Asia under the careful eye of a regional chairman. They choose the style winner in each region, which is then tasted against the other regional winners to select the World’s Best Style.

News of the highly prestigious award was greeted with jubilation at the Orkney Brewery in Quoyloo, with company boss Norman Sinclair hailing it as the most important accolade ever won by his experienced team.