One of Devon’s leading family run businesses has been chosen by The Good Pub Guide as its 2013 ‘Brewery of the Year.’
Otter Brewery near Honiton in East Devon was honoured in the guide’s annual awards alongside a ‘Dining Pub of the Year’ for each county.
The guide, underpinned by personal recommendations from thousands of loyal readers, has become a national institution and a bible for pub goers. The 2013 edition features 4,700 pubs including 252 new entries. Editors Alisdair Aird and Fiona Stapley have this year put particular emphasis on acknowledging pubs that go the ‘extra mile’ for customers during tough economic times.
In awarding the ‘Brewery of the Year’ accolade to Otter the Guide’s editors commented:
“There is a rich variety of beers brewed in the UK, from one-man operations through regional favourites to international giants. It was over 20 years ago down in Devon that we first came across a nicely named new beer called Otter – and can still remember that first taste. With a well balanced range of several varieties, all brewed using water from their own spring, the Otter Brewery is now one of the West Country’s most successful breweries.”
Patrick McCaig, the son of Mary Ann and David who started the business in 1990 and Otter’s Marketing Manager added:
As a brewery we pride ourselves on our beer and service to our customers. As a company we do our best to support the on trade, as it is our most important route to market for cask ale. We believe pubs should be an essential part of community, so to be recognised in this field gives us tremendous pleasure and endorses how we really want to help keep pubs alive and kicking.”
The award caps an extremely busy summer for the brewery where the Otter beers have been spotted at a number of prestigious events.
ENDS: 06/09/12
Notes to Editors:
Established by David and Mary Ann McCaig in 1990, Otter Brewery now employs 30 people from the local community and supplies cask conditioned beer to pubs, restaurants and retail operations across Southern England.
The range includes Otter Ale, Otter Bitter, Otter Amber, Otter Bright, Otter Head (named the ‘South West’s Best Speciality’ and winner of three gold stars at the Great Taste Awards), a limited run of Otter Claus each Christmas and several seasonal specials including Otter Mild, Witch Otter and Poppy Otter.