STAFF at a Tynedale brewery are raising a glass in celebration after one of their ales was recognised at a regional awards ceremony.

The Society of Independent Brewers’ (SIBA) North-East awards took place in York last month.

Steel Rig Porter, brewed at The Twice Brewed Brewhouse on Hadrian’s Wall, was nominated in the best British dark beer category (4.5 per cent to 6.4 per cent), and judges chose the 4.9 per cent porter as the silver award winner.

The beer is described as a rich, full-bodied, eight malt porter, and is made with 100 per cent British ingredients. It boasts an aroma of dried fruit and molasses and is backed by a complex malt character and dark chocolate finish.

It’s one of several beers produced at the microbrewery, which has been in business since 2017.

The brewery, which is located at the popular Twice Brewed Inn, produces ales that draw their names from Hadrian’s Wall and the surroundings, and pay tribute to the location that has been a brewery site for more than 500 years.

Beers including Vindolanda Excavation and Ale Caesar have proved popular with locals at the inn, much to the delight of brewer Red Kellie.

It marks the continuation of a successful year for Red, who set up her own microbrewery in April – Elsdon’s First and Last Brewery.

Red, who helped Twice Brewed owner Reuben Straker set up the brewery, said: “We’re really delighted to have been given the silver in the SIBA North-East awards.

“As a team, we work extremely hard, and only use the finest ingredients to make sure all of our ales are of a high standard, so to have that recognised by the industry is a real honour.

“We hope everyone will raise a glass of Steel Rigg in the Twice Brewed Inn to celebrate.”

SIBA was established in 1980 to protect the interests of the growing number of independent breweries in the UK, and now represents around 830 breweries.