Orkney beers claim national awards

Two breweries in Orkney are celebrating success following this week’s SIBA Scotland Independent Beer Awards, having earned a raft of awards between them.

At the awards, held in Glasgow, Swannay Brewery and The Orkney Brewery claimed a total of 13 awards between them, across 21 categories.

The awards are held ahead of the C>SK : 17” beer festival, which kicks off today.

The Orkney Brewery claimed a whopping ten awards across the competition’s categories — one gold, five silver and four bronze — with seven of its beers. Notably, the brewery’s Dark Island Reserve took the gold in the Cask Speciality Mid to Dark Beers category and Raven Ale took silver in the Cask Standard Bitters & Pale Ales category.

Notably, the brewery’s Dark Island Reserve took the gold in the Cask Speciality Mid to Dark Beers category and Raven Ale took silver in the Cask Standard Bitters & Pale Ales category.

Meanwhile, The Swannay Brewery, which is based in Evie, just missed out on the top cask award, taking the silver in the Overall Champion of the Cask Competition, as well as the gold award in the Premium Bitters & Pale Ales category, with both prizes awarded for the company’s Pale Ale. Swannay Brewery also took a bronze award for their Duke IPA, in the Cask Strong Bitters & Pale Ales category.

Swannay Brewery also took a bronze award for their Duke IPA, in the Cask Strong Bitters & Pale Ales category.

This year marked a record year for the awards as one brewery, Loch Lomond Brewery, took overall Gold in both the cask and small pack (bottle and can) competitions, for the first time in the competition’s history.