Independent brewer Innis & Gunn, Scotland’s most awarded craft beer, raised a glass on July 11th as they took home Gold and Bronze Medals for two of their brews in the U.S. Open Beer Championship, one of the largest and most renowned international beer competitions. Dominated by North American brewers, Innis & Gunn were the only Scottish brewer to win an award, and defined their category with two wins in Wood/Barrel Aged Dark Beer, beating domestic brews in the process. The awards achieved include:
Category:
Wood / Barrel Aged Dark Beer
Prizes:
Gold – Bourbon Cask Dark – Innis & Gunn – Scotland
Bronze – Innis & Gunn Rum Aged – Innis & Gunn – Scotland
Dougal Gunn Sharp, Master Brewer and Founder of Innis & Gunn said:
“We are immensely pleased to have won these awards for two of our most exciting brews. It was a highly competitive category and that makes these wins even sweeter. We feel these accolades vindicate our mission to push the boundaries of what beer can be. We also want to be seen as great ambassadors for Scottish innovation, what better way to do that than come first in an American beer championship.
Our Bourbon Cask Dark Ale was initially intended to be a limited edition, but it proved so popular that we’ll be adding it to our year-round core range in the near future.”
In April, Innis & Gunn announced the acquisition of The Inveralmond Brewery Limited, in Perth, Scotland. Innis & Gunn will embark on significant investment in the Perth facility to support its innovative brewing processes and continue its reputation for experimentation with ingredients and flavours.
The acquisition also allows Innis & Gunn to meet the growing demand for its beers, and the site offers room and flexibility for further expansion in the future as the company continues to grow.
Since its foundation in 2003, Innis & Gunn has become one of the UK’s most successful international craft beer businesses, with an annual turnover of £12 million in 2014 – up from £10.5 million in 2013. In 2014, Innis & Gunn sold over 20 million bottles of beer, making it the second biggest supplier of craft beer to the UK off-trade.
From its headquarters in Edinburgh and the new brewery in Perth, to be called The Innis & Gunn Inveralmond Brewery, the company will continue to expand its scale in the UK and abroad, where the business already successfully exports to over 20 countries.