A farmhouse brewery in Sussex has been awarded best beer in the South East at prestigious Indie Beer Awards

Three Acre Brewery in Uckfield, Sussex taken home the Overall Champion Award at the Indie Beer Awards South East 2026 with their 'Bonfire Beer' – a dark, rich old ale.

The independent brewery started off as a homebrew project in a potting shed in East Sussex, before moving to their permanent home at Little Goldsmiths Farm, where they now brew the South East's finest cask beer. Their Gold Winning cask ale 'Bonfire Beer' is described by the brewery as “Dark, rich and warming. With earthy, biscuity flavours, a balanced sweetness and endless depth.”

The Indie Beer Awards were judged and presented at Windsor & Eton Brewery Taproom ahead of the Windsor Beer Festival, which ran over the weekend. The awards are judged by beer sommeliers, master brewers and other expert beer judges from across the industry. Organised by the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA), the Indie Beer Awards name the very best beer from independent breweries in competitions held across the UK.

Chair of SIBA Competitions Committee Anneli Baxter announced this year's winners;

“Massive congratulations to Three Acre, who won their category before going on to be named the very best of the best in our Overall Champions judging. The quality of the beer was truly superb and to win the competition with a rich, dark old ale on a hot sunny July day is no mean feat, and shows the star quality of the beer. A further well done to all of this year's winners, who will now go on to compete at the National Finals early next year.”

The Indie Beer Awards included a broad range of beer styles, from pale ales and IPAs to porters, stouts and speciality beer styles. Gold winners from the awards will now go forwards to the National Finals in Liverpool March 2027.

The full list of winners can be viewed via www.siba.co.uk/ibawinners.

Images:

Images of the awards judging and presentation

For more information:

Neil Walker, SIBA, Fishergreen, Ripon, HG4 1NL. Email: neil.walker@siba.co.uk

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