Greene King in seventh heaven after World Beer Awards wins

Brewer Greene King is celebrating multiple wins at the World Beer Awards.

The Bury St Edmunds-based business secured seven awards at this year’s event including Country Winner and a Gold award in the Session IPA category with Prior Life which was launched earlier this year.

It is a tribute to the original master brewers, the Benedictine monks, and the drink’s low strength is a nod to the monks who would drink litres of ale daily, as it was safer than water at the time.

Prior Life was only one of two English beers to secure gold in the Session IPA category.

Level Head, another session IPA, secured bronze in the same category, meaning that Greene King scooped two of the eight awards that were given to the whole of England for Session IPAs.

Matt Starbuck, managing director for brewing and brands at Greene King, said: “We are thrilled to have received such impressive results for our beers this year with such a prestigious body.

“Greene King and Belhaven are passionate about making great beers and these results are a testament to our brewers and teams that work hard to create our portfolio.

“We are incredibly proud of our beers, and we continue to invest and develop in all areas providing consumers with a wide range of quality styles and flavours to enjoy.”

Following the brand’s success at the Great Taste Awards, Old Speckled Hen secured a further two silver awards for the flagship beer itself and also Old Crafty Hen.

Old Speckled Hen, which became part of Greene King 25 years ago, has gone on to introduce numerous new styles of beer into its portfolio.

These have included two new beers this year - Old Session Hen and Old Midnight Hen.

Belhaven Brewery, which has been part of Greene King since 2005, also scooped two awards this year with bronzes for Belhaven Best and Belhaven Black.

Belhaven has been brewing beer for more than 300 years and is Scotland’s oldest working brewery.