Double silver for Otter Brewery

Silver anniversary celebrations continue for Otter Brewery with silver at the South West’s largest beer festival.

Otter Head has won Silver in the 'Strong Bitters & Pale Ales' class at SIBA's 23rd South West Beer Competition.

Brewed by Otter Brewery in the Blackdown Hills near Honiton, the beer was entered for judging as part of the 2015 beer festival – an event that takes place at Tuckers Maltings in Newton Abbot each year.

Otter Head is the strongest of the five core beers produced by the brewery, all of which are made using natural ingredients and their own spring water.

2015 marks Otter Brewery’s 25th year in business after David and Mary Ann McCaig established it in 1990.

This year there were 132 judges scoring each of the 266 cask beers before doors opened on Thursday evening for the public to try them.

The three-day event is the South West’s largest beer festival and is organised by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA). It is held is one England’s last remaining working malthouses where malt is still produced in the traditional way.

The award was presented by Philip Rush from AVS Wines & Beers to Patrick McCaig from Otter Brewery.

Patrick added: “This is great news for a great beer! Otter Head is a year round favourite with our drinkers and holds a special place in our hearts as brewers. It has a little form having previously won a top prize at the Great Taste Awards but it’s great to see one of our earliest beers still winning over new fans in this our 25th year as a regional family brewer.”