St Austell Brewery and its 2016 acquisition Bath Ales have been awarded a total of five medals at the International Brewing Awards.

Established in 1886, it is the oldest brewing competition in the world and widely thought of as the Oscars of the beer industry.

It was a record haul for the independently-owned brewery, which also took home its first gold medal for its Black Square Russian Imperial Stout – first brewed in collaboration with Moscow's New Riga's Brewery.

Winners of the competition, which attracted entries from more than 200 breweries and cider mills from around the world, were chosen by an international panel of 50 judges.

More than 1,000 beers and ciders from 50 countries were submitted for judging, which took place over an intensive three-day period.

Judging categories ranged from ultra-low ABV beers to high-strength styles, showcasing the versatility and variety found in modern-day brewing.

As well as taking home gold for Black Square, St Austell Brewery was awarded silver for Bad Habit Abbey Tripel and bronze for Mena Dhu stout and Double IPA, Big Job.

Lansdown West Coast IPA, one of Bath Ales’ latest brews, was awarded a silver medal. The brewer’s flagship amber ale, Gem, previously took home a gold in 2014.

Roger Ryman, Brewing Director at St Austell Brewery and Bath Ales, said: “We’re delighted, and very proud, to win a gold medal at this year’s International Brewing Awards – something which has been a personal goal of mine since joining St Austell Brewery twenty years ago.

He continues: “Not only do these five medals reflect our standing in the international world of brewing, they are also the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication by our brewing teams in Bath and Cornwall.”

Georgina Young, current Head Brewer at Fuller, Smith & Turner, has recently been announced as the new Head Brewer for St Austell Brewery’s Bath Ales operation. Overseeing all aspects of the brewing and packaging of Bath Ales brands, she will be based at Hare Brewery – the new state-of-the-art brewery which opened its doors in 2018.

For a full list of award winners visit: www.brewingawards.org/awards/2019.

For more information about St Austell Brewery or Bath Ales, visit staustellbrewery.co.uk or bathales.com.