Stroud Brewery is celebrating winning not one but four Gold
Awards in the West and Wales regional section of the Society of Independent
Brewers (SIBA) annual beer competition – the equivalent of the Oscars in the
craft-brewing world.
The much-loved brewery has heralded the wins as proof that the taste and quality of its beers aren't compromised by its life-long use of organic ingredients and green brewing methods.
Greg Pilley, founder and managing director of Stroud Brewery, said: ‘From my very first thoughts about opening the modern brewery to revive Stroud’s brewing tradition, I wanted to show how it’s possible to mix running a successful business with being ethical and responsible to the planet, people and local communities.
‘At that time, this idea was virtually unheard of. The idea grew out of my five years in Africa researching the role of locally-brewed alcoholic drinks within communities, and also working at the Soil Association, the charity which certifies organic production.
‘There has been scepticism that products made sustainably could be as good as those made conventionally.
‘I’m heartened by how the sale of organic food and drink has been steadily going up for some time now and we’re absolutely delighted that so many of our beers have done so well in awards which judge just on taste.’
The SIBA Gold Awards have been awarded to Stroud Brewery's Budding in the cask pale ales category of 4.5 to 4.4 per cent ABV; Hop Drop in the bottled and canned pale ale of 4.5 to 5.5 per cent ABV category; Easy in the category of keg beers up to and including 4.4 per cent ABV; and LOL, its light organic lager, which received gold in the bottles and cans session lager up to 4.4 per cent category.
All four beers will now go forward to the national awards in March 2024, held at the sector's annual beer festival, BeerX.
