Bullhouse Brewery named Overall Champions at inaugural Indie Beer Awards Northern Ireland

Bullhouse Brewery in Belfast have etched their name in the record books at the inaugural Indie Beer Awards Northern Ireland, taking home the Overall Champion Gold with their 'Merc Bro' hazy IPA.

The competition saw independent breweries from across Northern Ireland fight it out in a broad range of keg categories, from lager and pale ales, to speciality, sour and wild ales. One of Northern Ireland's only cask breweries 'Rough Brothers Brewing' were also highly rated by judges, taking home a coveted Gold for their Oatmeal Stout and a Silver for their Golden Ale.

The awards are organised by the Society of Independent Brewers & Associates and are judged by expert beer judges, beer sommeliers, and master brewers to international beer judging standards. Bullhouse's 'Merc Bro' beer won the IPA style category before going on to win the Overall Champions judging where all category winners are judged head to head. The beer itself is a 'New England' style IPA, brewed with American Mosaic, Simcoe and Citra hops for flavours of juicy tropical fruit and citrus. Collecting the Overall Champion Award on behalf of his team was William Mayne of Bullhouse Brew Co;

"We are delighted that the judges enjoyed Merc Bro as much as we enjoy making it! Huge thanks to SIBA for helping to facilitate the first ever Indie Beer NI competition. Events like this are essential for showcasing the amazing beer being produced by the small but tenacious breweries in Northern Ireland to a wider audience.

The guy's at the brewery work really really hard and they really deserve it, they work so hard every day and so to take this award home and be able to say that they've achieved everything we could ever ask of them and more is just brilliant."

The awards took place ahead of the Bullhouse Brew Co 10th Anniversary Beer Festival which showcased independent breweries from across Northern Ireland. Winners from the inaugural awards will now go forwards to the UK finals in Liverpool early next year. Presenting the awards was Awards Director Anneli Baxter;

"It was superb to see the quality of beer being produced right now by indie brewers in Northern Ireland and for them to now have a chancve to go up against winners from across the UK at the finals in Liverpool next year. Huge congratulations to Bullhouse, Rough Brothers, and all of this year's winners in what was a hugely succesful first Indie Beer Awards."

Judged across a broad range of beer styles, the other Gold winners at thew awards were Boundary Brew Co for Session Lager and Pale Ale, Orneau Brew Co for Premium Lager, Out of Office in the Belgian & Continental Style Beer and Speciality & Flavoured categories, Modest Beer in Session Pale, Mourne Mountains Brewery for Sour & Wild Ale, and Beer Hut for the Double, Triple & Imperial IPA category.

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

For more information:

SIBA Press Office

Fishergreen, Ripon, HG4 1NL, UK

neil.walker@siba.co.uk

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