Brewing gold awarded to Manchester firm Holts
- Published
A Manchester-based brewery has beaten entries from Belgium and Germany to win a major brewing award for its lager.
Holts was awarded gold at the Brewing Industry International Awards for its Crystal brew, beating Fosters, Carling and other industry leaders.
The 125-year-old awards, held in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, attract entries from across the world.
Chief executive Richard Kershaw said the win proved "taste and quality are more important than advertising".
The awards are judged by working brewers.
Dark beer
The Crystal lager took gold after a blind tasting by judges in the international keg lager 2.9 to 4.7 abv category.
Mr Kershaw, who is the great-great grandson of the brewery's founder, Joseph Holt, said: "To win a gold medal is a fantastic achievement."
The company also won bronze awards in the dark beer category for its Black draught beer and Sixex bottled beer.
The medals meant the company became only one of five breweries globally to be awarded three or more medals for its beers at the event.
Holts was not the only Manchester brewer to win medals at the awards, which were held on Friday 11 February.
Moss Side-based Hydes was awarded bronze in the same category as Holts' gold for its Kaltlager brand.