Rock-based Sharp’s Brewery has announced a number of successes at the coveted World Beer Awards 2020. The brewers of the UK’s number 1 cask ale*, Doom Bar were awarded an impressive six medals in the highly regarded international awards. These include the highest accolade of ‘World’s Best Pale Bitter’ in its ABV range for Sea Fury and ‘UK Best in Category’ for the brewery’s collaboration with Rick Stein, Chalky’s Bite. The team’s innovative new brew and the first scale 0.0% amber ale in the UK market, Doom Bar Zero was awarded silver which is a phenomenal success for such a young product.
The international and highly respected judging panel identified the best beers in each of the nine categories of the annual World Beer Awards. There were more than 2,200 beers from more than 50 countries entered into this year’s awards, and the judges blind tasted and scored the entries across three rounds of judging.
Traditionally, all tastings are held in person, with judges gathering across the globe. However, this year proved to be a challenge. Instead of bringing the judges to the beers, the beers were brought to the judges. Black-wrapped and sent across the Europe, Asia, Canada and Brazil, the judges tasted the beers at home and connected for each session over Zoom.
Other significant accolades in this year’s awards include a bronze medal for Sharp’s Wolf Rock and a further bronze medal for Offshore Pilsner, inspired by Cornwall’s passion for surfing.
Adrian Tierney-Jones, Chair of the World Beer Awards and overall beer connoisseur, said, “This year’s winners in the World Beer Awards demonstrate the verve and vitality of brewers and their wonderful beers around the globe. The category winners are to be congratulated on their successes, but I would also like to thank the judges in the UK, Germany, North America, Japan and Brazil for the dedication and professionalism they have shown especially during these challenging times.”
Sharp’s head brewer, Aaron McClure, shared his delight, “These awards really are the Champions League of brewing, and I’m delighted to announce that, yet again, we have been awarded some of the top medals including best in the world for Sea Fury. Most breweries only dream of winning this award and in our recent history we have won the ‘World’s Best’ accolade three times (also in 2019 for Camel Valley Pilsner and in 2013 for Offshore, then called Cornish Pilsner).
Aaron continues, “We were up against some very special beers from across the globe which makes us even more proud of these results. We were also delighted that our brand-new brew, Doom Bar Zero, achieved silver. This 0.0% beer has been two years in the making and for it to achieve this recognition in its first year is wonderful and testament to the hard work of our brewing team.”
Aaron continued: “These awards are an enormous achievement for Sharp’s, showing how well we are performing and that our brewing practices and procedures are world class. It really is thanks to the care and attention given by each and every member of the team and, while it is unfortunate that there wont be an actual award ceremony to attend this year, we are over the moon”.
Sharp’s Brewery has a tally of over 100 international brewing awards, which last year included twelve major international beer titles across a number of categories. This included an astonishing seven medals for its brands in the International Beer Challenge 2019 and five titles at the esteemed World Beer Awards 2019.
All of Sharp’s Brewery’s award-winning beers can be purchased from the brewery’s online shop and delivered anywhere in the mainland UK. To shop online, visit: https://www.sharpsbrewery.co.uk/sharps/shop