A BISHOPS Lydeard brewery where customers are drinking its beer as fast as they can make it has scooped its latest award.

The popularity of Quantock Brewery's beers has reached such a level the company needs a bigger brewery to keep up with demand.

The Broadgauge Business Park-based company scooped the top accolade in the beer keg competition at the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) South West Independent Awards in Newton Abbot last night (Thursday, April 21).

Its 'We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat' brew - described as a modern 6.3 per cent New England-style hazy IPA - was a nod to Quantock's success.

Collecting the award, brewer James Higgins said: "The name for this beer comes from the fact we really needed a bigger brewery to keep up with demand, and it’s beers like this that are the reason for that.

"We can’t make them quick enough right now and to win the biggest regional beer award going and have the chance to go through to the nationals is just amazing.”

Commenting on why the top tipple went down well with the judges, James added: "It’s majorly hop-forward and everything you want from a New England IPA, big tropical fruit and citrus but also silky smooth – we’re absolutely over the moon to have won."

Cheddar Ales also took home a top award, winning the overall champion of the cask beer category for its Piney Sleight, a four per cent session IPA with aromas of pine and citrus.

Cheddar's brewing apprentice Joel Hancock said: "It’s just amazing to win against so many fantastic breweries and the quality of the beers and judging at this event was the best I have ever seen, so I know how hard it is to walk away with the overall gold.

"It’s a beer that just resonates so well with our customers too, loads of hop flavour and aromatic, but also really drinkable and a good session strength."

SIBA competitions chairman Buster Grant said: "I would like to say a huge congratulations to all of this year’s winners and in particular Quantock and Cheddar Ales, who really were the best of the best, not only being named best-in-class in their category but then going on to become overall champions.

"Very well done and good luck in the national finals in Liverpool next year."