Bank Top Brewery wins gold medal for Dark Mild beer

Bank Top has won the Gold medal for its Dark Mild beer in the 3.9 per cent to 4.3 per cent Cask Ale bracket at the International Brewing & Cider Awards 2024. 

This is the third time that the brewery, which is based on Ashworth Lane in Astley Bridge, has won a medal at the awards. 

Owner, David Sweeney, dedicated the accolade to his brewers. 

He said: "It is a well established beer with good pedigree, it won Gold in 2015 at the same awards, it has been Champion Dark Mild of Great Britain voted for by Camra and won Silver in the Mild category for Camra in 2023 - it is a beer that just keeps giving. 

Dave, centre left, with fellow gold winners (L-R), Christine Walter, Paddy Johnson and Phil Parkinson (Image: International Brewing and Cider Awards)

"It is a category of beer that is quite often forgotten about, but it wins the hearts of those that drink it. 

"I couldn't be prouder of the team at the brewery with the success, because I am just recovering from hip replacement, but the team under the guidance of my son Benjamin are replicating success after success. 

"The pride and depth of quality we have in our brewing team, I am so proud of the team, it is such a good one. It was difficult coming out of Covid, but it's good to finally see a bit of positivity come our way." 

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He added: "We refer to those medals as Copper Kettles, and I always said I would like to have won three before I finish brewing, we won a silver for Palomino Rising a few years ago, so three medals is such a distinction. 

"And the category of brewers there, to see brewers from Japan, Australia, America and continental Europe, whoever it be there from Carlsberg to small brewers.  

The brewery won the 3.9-4.3 per cent Cask Ale category for its Dark Mild beer (Image: Public)
"To see small brewers, for example Windsor and Eton down in Eton, and ourselves, compete on the largest of scales with the biggest of brewers is a testament to the quality of English brewing and beer, we punch above our weight." 

The event was for the first time held in Manchester, between March 19 and 21. 

Dave said: "It was brilliant. It has always been held at Burton upon Trent, which is the capital of brewing. 

"I thought the venue was fantastic, the work that has been done to host this event, it was just fantastic. 

"We have got to grow the venue and people's mindsets that North West is the right place to host such a colossal event."