Judging for The British Bottlers’ Institute Competition for Ales, Lagers and Ciders has now been held and the full list of award winners is as follows:

BBI COMPETITION FOR ALES, LAGERS, AND CIDERS 2008

CLASS A – ALES 1.0 – 3.9%

GOLD………. Hook Norton Brewery. --Hooky Bitter
SILVER…….. Bicester Beer & Minerals/Oxfordshire Ales.--Triple Beer
DIPLOMA….. Greene King plc. --Greene King IPA

CLASS B – ALES 4.0 – 4.9%

GOLD.……… Bath Ales Ltd. --GEM
SILVER……... Hook Norton Brewery. --Old Hooky
SILVER……... Timothy Taylor & Co Ltd. --Havercake Ale
SILVER……... Bicester Beer & Minerals/Oxfordshire Ales. --Marshmellow
DIPLOMA….. Shepherd Neame Ltd.--Master Brew

CLASS C – ALES 5.0 – 5.9%

GOLD………. Greene King plc. --Old Bob
SILVER…….. Greene King plc. --Abbot Ale
SILVER…….. Hook Norton Brewery. --Haymaker
DIPLOMA.…. Hook Norton Brewery. --Twelve Days

CLASS D – ALES 6.0 – 7.4%

GOLD……….. Adnams plc. --Innovation
SILVER……... Shepherd Neame Ltd. --1698
DIPLOMA…... Adnams plc. --Broadside Strong Original
DIPLOMA…... Okell & Son Ltd.--O’Kells 1907

CLASS E – ALES 7.5% +

GOLD……….. Hogs Back Brewery. --Wobble in a Bottle
SILVER……... Harvey & Son (Lewes) Ltd. --Christmas Ale
DIPLOMA…... Harvey & Son (Lewes) Ltd. --Elizabethan Ale

CLASS G – LAGERS 4.5 -5.4%

GOLD………. The Robert Cain Brewery. --Cains Liverpool 2008
SILVER……... Shepherd Neame Ltd. --Kingfisher
DIPLOMA…... Harviestoun Brewery. --Schiehallion Lager Beer

CLASS J – CIDERS 4.5 – 5.4%

GOLD……….. Aspall. --Perronelle’s Blush
SILVER……... Ballydooly Cider Co. (New Zealand). --Kingston Cider
DIPLOMA…... The Gaymer Cider Company. --Pear Cider

CLASS K – CIDERS 5.5% +

SILVER……... Aspall. --Premier CRU
DIPLOMA…... The Gaymer Cider Company. --Somerset Medium Dry

CLASS L – PACKAGING – ALES, LAGERS and CIDERS

GOLD……….. Adnams plc. --Broadside
SILVER……... Shepherd Neame Ltd. --Early Bird, Whistable Bay, (Shepherd Neame Family)
DIPLOMA…... Okell & Son Ltd. --O’Kells 1907, Dr O’Kells IPA, O’Kells Aile (Okells family)

This competition is open to all UK and Foreign Producers, Bottlers and Canners of Ales, Lagers and Ciders. It has been held since 1961 and alternates annually between Alcoholic Beverages and Soft Drinks. The competition is judged by a panel of experts during an anonymous, independent blind tasting and only the names of winning competitors is published after the event.

Gold Medals and Certificates are awarded for the outstanding products in each class of the competition. Silver Medals and Certificates awarded to high attainers in each of the classes. Diplomas of excellence are awarded for other especially meritorious products in each class.

Medal and Certificate winners will be presented with their awards at the BBI Gala Awards Dinner to be held at The Vintners Livery Hall London on November 24th 2008.

Our congratulations are given to all winners of this year’s competition and our thanks are due to all the competition entrants.

Packaging Winners

Brian Gibbs