Four heats were held across the UK in April and May – in London, Glasgow, Leeds and Bristol – each yielded regional winners, who won an immediate listing locally, or a month-long in-store slot that is planned for around 300 stores nationally in September.
The regional shortlist in Scotland and Northern Ireland includes brews such as Barney’s Brew (Hilden Brewery) and Gonny No Brew That (William Brothers Brewing Co.).
In Northern England creative names for shortlisted beers include Swedish Blonde (Double Maxim Beer Company) and Infra Red (Hardknott UK) while Devon Dreamer (Hunters Brewery) and Serendipity (Bird’s Brewery) topped the tree in the West of England.
It was squeaky bum time in the East of England, but Reindeer Droppings (Ridgeway Brewing) and Black Pepper Ale (Batemans) could spice up the final come September.