Suffolk and Essex beer makers are celebrating success at a regional beer awards.

East Anglian Daily Times: From left, Alan Pateman, head brewer at Elgoods, Guy Sheppard, SIBA competitions committee chairman, Belinda Sutton, managing director at Elgoods, and Nigel Elgood, chairman at Elgoods Picture: DOUGLAS BARCLAYFrom left, Alan Pateman, head brewer at Elgoods, Guy Sheppard, SIBA competitions committee chairman, Belinda Sutton, managing director at Elgoods, and Nigel Elgood, chairman at Elgoods Picture: DOUGLAS BARCLAY (Image: SIBA)

Earl Soham Brewery at Debenham shared the overall top spot with Elgoods Brewery in Cambridgeshire at the 2018 Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) East Independent Beer Awards, which took place in Wisbech in September. They took home the overall gold in the ‘cask’ and ‘bottled & canned’ beer competitions respectively.

Earl Soham’s Albert Ale also scooped the Cask British Bitter (up to 4.4%) title. Lager maker Calvors, based at Coddenham, near Ipswich, said it was “thrilled” after scooping three titles - Premium Lager, Session Lager and Session IPA. Director Alec Williamson said it was a “significant acknowledgement” to his team. Green-Jack Brewing Co in Lowestoft scooped gold in the Cask British Dark Beers category for its Lurcher beer, and Long Melford-based Nethergate Brewery’s Old Growler scooped the Bottle/Can British Dark Beers title.

Leigh on Sea Brewery, at Southend-on-Sea, took gold in the Cask Session IPA category for its Legra Pale, and Wibblers Brewery (Farms) Ltd at Southminster scooped the Bottle/Can Speciality Mid to Dark Beers award.

SIBA competitions committee Cchair Guy Sheppard, who presented the awards, said: “The SIBA East Independent Beer Awards judge the very best cask, bottled and canned beers from the region and the overall winners can be considered the very best of the best in terms of independent craft beers from the area. The winners will now go on to the National finals in Liverpool next year and I wish them all the best of luck, with particular praise due to our overall Champions Earl Soham and Elgoods.”