Liverpool-based Big Bog wins SIBA regional award

Its Gold-winning beer ‘Peat Bog Porter’ wowed judges with “superb balance and drinkability for such a full-flavoured dark beer”. The Overall Silver award winner was Hophurst Brewery APA and Bronze went to Coach House Brewing Hundpowder Mild – all of which went into the final judging having won best in their category.

Really surprised

Rich Midgley, who forms 50% of the two-man team at Big Bog said: “[I’m] really surprised to win, there’s only two of us that brew and we’re really proud of this beer. It's really subtle and drinkable with a good dry finish. We like it and we’re just pleased that the judges did too.”

The awards took place ahead of the Bolton Beer Festival at the University of Bolton Stadium on Friday 14 October and continued during the weekend.

The SIBA Independent Beer Awards are run by and for brewers and are judged by fellow brewers from elsewhere in the UK, as well other representatives from the industry and expert beer judges – making these the much coveted ‘brewers’ choice’ awards in the North West.

Onwards to the final

Winners of the North West Independent Beer Awards will now go on to the National Finals at the BeerX UK event in Liverpool, March 2022.

Hosting the awards on behalf of SIBA was Buster Grant, chair of SIBA’s Competitions Committee. He said: “The quality of beers at the awards this year were really top-draw and we gave out more Gold medals than ever before, so to be named overall champion is a huge, huge achievement. Very well done to Big Bog and, of course, all of our other winners. Also thank you to Bolton Beer Festival which, as ever, put on a superb event.”