SA’s Prancing Pony Brewery wins world’s best beer at the 2016 International Beer Challenge in London
SA’s Prancing Pony Brewery has won world’s best beer at the International Beer Challenge in London for its India Red Ale, brewed at Totness.
PRANCING Pony head brewer Frank Samson had an inkling he was on a winner when he quit his job as a chief project engineer to design and build a unique small batch brewery.
But he didn’t know, less than four years later, he would win Supreme Champion Beer at this week’s International Beer Challenge (IBC) in London.
His world-beating India Red Ale (IRA) is brewed at Totness in the Adelaide Hills.
And it met with some of the toughest competition in the show’s history including lauded breweries such as Weihenstephan in Germany, Scotland’s Brewdog and Samuel Adams and Deschute in the US.
“We’re stoked,” Mr Samson said.
“There’ll be free beer for everyone who comes here tonight.”
IBC chairman Jeff Evans said the standard of entries from 30 countries was exceptional.
“On several rounds, I observed judges really struggling to find a winner because the level was so high,” he said. “I am certain we found a worthy Supreme Champion.”
Judges noted IRA’s beaut balance and bold but approachable flavours, “memorable enough to stand out in a field of very powerful, punchy beers”.
Prancing Pony CEO and Samson’s wife, Corinna Steeb said: “This has well and truly put SA craft brewing on the map.”
The Supreme Champion Beer must first win gold in a category, in this case Best Ale, before skipping away from all other category winners for the grand trophy.
“When we heard we’d won best in class, we were stoked,” Mr Samson said
“To find out we won best beer in the world knocked us out.
“In brewing we don’t really put the medals on our labels like winemakers do — we’re more about the feedback from judges. But I think we should put this medal on the bottle.”
Prancing Pony expanded from its Mt Barker industrial site last year to open a dining hall and commercial brewery in Totness, where visitors can watch the brewing of its six beers.
The brewery employs 20 locals, 16 of those in food and hospitality.
Samson emigrated to Australia from Germany 35 years ago.
He debuted in SA’s craft beer scene using his own flame-fired kettle design, giving beers a unique, subtle smoky edge to the caramelisation of the malts.
The couple’s brand name was inspired by a kicking mule neighbouring Samson’s original brew shed.
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