EAST Anglian brewers and micro-brewers are raising a glass after their success in an award scheme.Some of the winners of ales judged to be the best will now go forward to the national finals of a regional competition run by the Society of Independent Brewers.

EAST Anglian brewers and micro-brewers are raising a glass after their success in an award scheme.

Some of the winners of ales judged to be the best will now go forward to the national finals of a regional competition run by the Society of Independent Brewers.

The Wolf Brewery at Besthorpe has achieved triple success with a gold and a silver as well as a silver in the overall champions section of the competition. It has delighted brewery general manager Wolfe Witham, who said that it was particularly good because the brewers were being judged by their peers.

“The success means a lot more when you are judged by other brewers,” he said.

Norfolk village micro-brewery Front Street, of Binham, struck gold with its Unity strong ale following its success at last year's EDP beer and food event.

Described as a classic style old ale,

the beer was awarded gold in the

strong beer category.

Brewer Steve Chroscicki, of the Front Street micro-brewery, is delighted at the accolade for his ale which is produced from malt grown in Norfolk. Mr Chroscicki, who runs the village Chequers pub with his wife, Alex, brews the ales himself using his own recipe.

Elgood's popular Black Dog mild was awarded gold and also achieved bronze for its Golden Newt bottled beer. The Wisbech-based Elgood's brewery sales manager, Paul Marshall, said he was delighted at the gold award. “The judges don't know what they are trying so ours was the best mild on the day. Black Dog has won more awards than any other of our beers,” he said.

Woodforde's Norfolk Ales, of Woodbastwick, won two silver awards with mild beer Mardlers and Norfolk Nog. Four of the winning breweries - Front Street Brewery, Elgoods, Besthorpe and Oakham (Peterborough) - will go forward to the national finals later this month at Hereford.