West Wales brewer Evan-Evans has scooped a top prize at the International Brewing awards 2011.
At the award ceremony in the Guildhall in the City of London, the Evan-Evans Cwrw brand was voted the Bronze Medal in Class 2 the Best Bitter category (cask ale 3.9-4.3 ABV).
The competition attracts entrants from all over the world.
Judging is carried out over two days, by 30 different Judges, all senior brewers in the industry. This year the head of judging was Bill Taylor, Chief Brewer of Lion Nathan, in Australia.
Evan-Evans was one of only three prize winners from Wales out of 80 contestants from around the world.
Simon Buckley, Evan-Evans Director, said:
“This is a tremendous accolade to be voted a Bronze medal winner in this the world’s oldest brewing competition. Cwrw is now identified as being one of the world’s top Best Bitters, and is certainly the very best beer of its type in Wales.
“To win a major prize on the international brewing stage gives us true recognition for the dedication of our young brewers and the whole team at the brewery in Llandeilo. This is a major award, and is a fine start to our celebrations as a family of 245 years of brewing in Wales.
“I am extremely proud of the team’s achievements, and now see Cwrw as a brand that could quite easily become the National Drink of Wales.”
Evan-Evans this year starts off the celebrations of 245 years of family brewing with the launch of a new Heritage Brand which will come to market in May of this year.
Two other Welsh brewers won awards at the event – Purple Moose, Porthmadog, bronze for dark beer 3.8-4.7 ABV, and SA Brain, Cardiff, bronze for cask ale 4.4-4.8 ABV.
Photograph: Simon Buckley receiving the award for Cwrw from chairman of the judges Bill Taylor
