Brews & Eats
Arkell's beers scoop a raft of awards at Taste of the West event

Arkell’s Kingsdown Beer has been named champion beer for the SECOND year in a row in the 2017 Taste of the West Awards.

The announcement was made at a ceremony held in the Great Hall at Exeter University on Thursday 14 September. And Arkell’s Moonlight, Hoperation and Desi Biyar beers won gold awards, with Bee’s Organic and Wiltshire Gold winning silver. “We were absolutely stunned at the result,” said Alex Arkell, Arkell’s Head Brewer, who was at the ceremony. “Especially since, with the growth of craft beer and more breweries entering hundreds of beers, we were up against stiff competition. To win Champion Beer once is more than fantastic. To win it twice in two years, and to have every one of our beers as award-winners, is the most massive achievement for everyone in the brewery.” The Awards, now in their 24th year, celebrate the best food and drink across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire and are a benchmark for excellence across the region. Kingsdown came into existence in the 1960s and Arkells has brewed it regularly ever since, using the original recipe. The ceremony was attended by more than 400 people, with representatives from award winning producers, hospitality establishments, retailers, top chefs, food writers and others involved with and supporting the industry.  With a lunch menu using Taste of the West Award-winning products from across the region, the event was a celebration of the quality of food and drink in the South West and the passion of those who produce, serve or sell it. Alex added: “It proves that the investment we’ve made in the brewery, the brewhouse and in supporting our landlords in looking after all our beers is worthwhile. As we come up to our 175th anniversary of the brewery in 2018, we’re still producing beer that Swindon and Wiltshire can be proud of.” At over 170 years’ old, Arkell’s Brewery is one of the few traditional family breweries left in the UK. The brewery was established as an offshoot to the family farm near Swindon when Brunel was building his Great Western Railway. Arkell’s beers quenched the thirst of workers in the hot locomotive works. Swindon’s historic railway works closed in the 1980s, but Arkell’s Brewery is thriving.The Arkell’s work at the brewery alongside generations of local families, brewing real ale and looking after over 100 pubs across Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Hampshire. Arkell’s ales include Award-winning beers such as Wiltshire Gold, 3Bs, Kingsdown and Bees Organic. The brewery also brews an award-winning Czech style lager: 1843. Special ales are brewed regularly, and head brewer, Alex Arkell, keeps the art of craft ale alive, offering drinkers new tastes and flavours.