Two young Welsh brewers have brought home the top brewing honours at the International Brewing awards, otherwise known as the brewing industry Oscars.
Voted top organic brewers in the world, for their Evan-Evans Organic Gold, James Buckley and Sajan Muthanna were identified as two of the top brewers at the International Brewing Awards 2013.
Bill Taylor, Head of the International Judging panel, said:
There were almost 1,000 beers in the competition from all over the world and to win a medal is to be recognised as being at the pinnacle of brewing excellence.
This is a competition judged by brewers from all over the world and provides a platform for top brewers to showcase their brewing excellence and skills.
James Buckley, 24, and Sajan Muthanna, 26, are brewers at Evan-Evans Brewery, in Llandeilo, South Wales.
James is the seventh generation of Waless oldest brewing family, the Buckley family, who have brewed in Wales since 1767.
Sajan Muthanna, a native of Bangalore, joined Evan-Evans having graduated from the international brewing and distilling university, Herriot Watt in Edinburgh.
Simon Buckley, chief Executive of Evan-Evans, said:
Those that doubt that the brewing and pub industry has a future should look at these two young men, who so early in their brewing careers have achieved the ultimate achievement of a gold medal at the Brewing Oscars.
This is a very proud moment for us as a brewery, a family, and for Wales.
With beers entered from brewers all over the world, this is an incredible achievement for James and Sajan. The gold medal was won through hard work, dedication and attention to detail. The beer was an example of the very best of British brewing.
James Buckley said:
It is a great honour to win this award and we go home to Wales with a sense of great achievement, pride, and a gold medal to share with our team back at the brewery.
This award was a team effort. Organic Gold is a new style of beer brewed using the finest organic raw materials. We are now proud to say it is the finest organic beer in the world.
Evan-Evans is a specialist brewer, based in Llandeilo. The company has a group of award-winning pubs. The Buckley family have brewed beer in Wales since 1767 and are one of the oldest brewing families in the UK, still brewing.
www.evanevansbrewery.com