The team at Leicestershire’s Round Corner Brewing have every reason to enjoy a celebratory pint, after they earned six awards at this year’s World Beer Awards.
The brewery, which launched at Melton Mowbray Livestock Market in 2018, emerged as one of the UK’s top three performing breweries in the World Beer Awards.
The competition saw expert panelists involved in a blind judging process with more than 2,200 competing beers from more than 50 countries.
Traditionally, all tastings are held in person, with judges gathering across the globe. However, this year, instead of bringing the judges to the beers, the beers were brought to the judges. Black-wrapped and sent across the Europe, Asia, Canada and Brazil, judges tasted the beers at home and connected for each session over Zoom.
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Round Corner won a gold medal for Hopping Spree – its signature 6.6% ABV West Coast IPA, which also won gold in the 2019 European Beer Challenge.
Inspired by the legendary rabble-rousing adventures of the Marquis of Waterford (the phrase “paint the town red” is inspired by a particularly rowdy night in Melton Mowbray), this thirst-quencher is described by Round Corner as “a riot of hoppy goodness that is fast becoming one of the most iconic and sought-after IPA’s in the UK.”
Round Corner’s 9.6% ABV Rum barrel aged Russian Imperial Stout Society for the Encouragement of Virtue was recognised as the United Kingdom’s best Imperial Stout.
(Image: Round Corner Brewing)
According to the brewery, this particular batch gains its unmistakable profile from Plantation Rum barrels in which it is aged. This win is even more noteworthy as judges were invited to sample the inaugural brew of this recipe.
The packaging design also impressed the judges, as Society for the Encouragement of Virtue was named World’s Best Label Design.
Round Corner also picked up three further design awards – gold for the whole Round Corner range, silver for Society for the Encouragement of Virtue and bronze for Hopping Spree.
The brewery was launched in December 2018 by life-long friends – internationally acclaimed brewer Colin Paige, and accomplished City director, Combie Cryan.
From their bespoke brewery in the heart of Melton Mowbray’s 1,000 year-old agricultural market, Round Corner aims to make premium products wholly in keeping with the celebrated gastronomy of the region, like Stilton and Melton Mowbray Pork Pies.
(Image: Round Corner Brewing)
Talking about the gold medal awarded to Society for the Encouragement of Virtue, brewer Scott Sharp-Heward said:
“This win makes us so proud. Decades of brewing knowledge went into crafting this amazing beer.”
Co-founder Combie said: “We have been mindful to weave as much of the amazing feeling and history of this place as we can into our products and we’re proud that it’s being noticed.”
Head brewer and co-founder Colin added: “Round Corner is a philosophy. It’s about innovation but rooted in true brewing artistry and a deep belief that real craft is about the relentless pursuit of perfection, not jumping on the fad bandwagon.”
