Overall Champion of the Cask in the 2026 “Indie Beer Awards” was Almasty Brewery in Newcastle with their 6% ‘Believe’ New England style IPA, Lakes Brew Co in Kendall won Overall Champion in Keg with their decadent 8.4% “Don’t Make Me Run” Imperial Stout, and Baker’s Dozen in Stamford won Overall Champion in the bottle / can competition with their bright and refreshing 3.2% “Agua Fresca Sour”.
Judged by brewers and industry experts and organised by the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) at their flagship BeerX UK event in Liverpool, the Indie Beer Awards 2026 run across a huge range of beer style categories including pale ale, IPA, stout and lager. As the UK’s best beer in a bottle or can Baker’s Dozen will now get automatic entry into the World Beer Cup in America, judged against the best beers from around the Globe.
The Indie Beer Awards are the UK National finals and in order to earn a place at the competition brewers must first win Gold at their regional competition – making these Overall Champions very much the ‘best of the best’ when it comes to independent beer. Finalists from Scotland the North East, North West, Midlands & West, East of England, Wales, South East, and South West all fought it out to take home the top spots.
The Indie Beer Awards 2026 took place at the UK’s biggest beer and brewing trade event BeerX, held at Exhibition Centre Liverpool. This year was the event’s biggest ever, attracting a record 3,700 Delegates to a packed conference of talks, seminars, tasting sessions, and of course the beer awards which name the very best of the best in the independent beer industry.
The full list of winners: can be viewed here
