Key-keg beer wins Manchester Brewers Challenge
The inaugural Manchester Brewers’ Challenge was judged at Manchester Beer & Cider Festival on Wednesday 24th January. Brewers from across Greater Manchester were invited to nominate one beer each in whatever format they felt best presented their chosen beer. Beers were entered in all possible formats – cask, keg, key-keg, bottle and can.
Three rounds of judging panels made up of brewers, publicans, CAMRA tasting panel members and other industry experts whittled these down to a final six and then a final three.
1st: Alphabet Brewing Co Type A (key-keg format)
2nd: Wily Fox Karma Citra (bottle format)
3rd: Irwell Works Brewery Marshmallow Unicorn (cask format)
Alphabet’s Type A was a Double IPA weighing in at 7% ABV and described as an orangey juice bomb using Mosaic, Simcoe, Azacca and Rakau hops.
The other finalists were Donkeystone Javanilla, Hophurst Cosmati and Millstone Tiger Rut, all in cask format.