The head brewer at Brewhouse & Kitchen, Bedford has been awarded gold in the SIBA independent beer awards, for a charity beer he created to help veteran charities.
Richard Cook picked up the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) eastern region gold award in the keg premium bitters (4.5 to 6.4%) category for his beer ‘Bedford Veterans’.
The awards are designed to recognise the very best beer from UK independent brewers.
SIBA say the awards: “… are judged by fellow brewers and industry experts making these awards the “brewers’ choice” awards in the UK.”
The beer, ‘Bedford Veterans’, is a 4.5% amber ale, using Columbus, Simco, and Chinook hops, created and brewed by Richard, who has only been brewing on his own since June of last year.
‘Bedford Veterans’ was brewed as part of a charity event across all Brewhouse & Kitchen pubs.
Each brewer at each pub brewed their own beer and donated a percentage of the cost of a pint to charities that support former service men and women.
Richard, who is due to take his General Brewing Certificate later this year, said: “I feel very proud.
“I’ve only been brewing on my own since June, so for own recipe that I’ve created from scratch to be recognised by SIBA, against stiff competition, is amazing.
“It’s always nice to have awards like this on the C.V. but this is more about showing that we brew pour beer at Brewhouse & Kitchen, a place I’ve made my home and hope to be head brewer at for a long time yet.”
