A winning year: awards celebrate 175 years of brewing at St Austell Brewery

We’re delighted to be celebrating a series of award wins that recognise the quality, care and craft behind our beers, made even more special as we mark our 175th year of brewing.

At the regional Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) Beer Competition, held during MaltingsFest in Newton Abbot earlier this month, Big Job (7.2% ABV) was awarded gold in the cask IPA over 5.5% ABV category.

Big Job is the amped up sibling of our flagship IPA Proper Job, jammed with hops and packed full of tropical grapefruit and juicy blackcurrant flavour. The win sees Big Job progress to the national finals next March, where it will compete against the very best beers from across the UK. Gaining gold in our 175th year is a brilliant milestone and a fitting tribute to the decades of brewing knowledge and expertise that continue to shape our beers today.

There was further success on the day for Mena Dhu (4.5% ABV), which picked up a bronze award in the keg stout & porter (6.4% ABV and under) category.

Organised by SIBA South West, MaltingsFest brought together hundreds of cask ales, keg beers, lagers and ciders from independent breweries across the region and is well known for its strong focus on championing independent brewing,

Proper Job 0.5%, our first low-alcohol IPA, was also awarded a bronze medal at the World Alcohol Free Awards 2026, adding to its growing list of accolades. This year’s bronze remains a fantastic achievement, particularly given the scale of the competition. Nearly 600 drinks from more than 30 countries were entered, with Proper Job 0.5% named among just 16 beers to receive a bronze award.

Together, these awards represent a proud moment for the brewery in this landmark anniversary year, highlighting how 175 years of brewing heritage, experience and innovation continue to influence the beers we brew today. From bold, hop‑forward IPAs to carefully crafted alcohol‑free beer, it’s a testament to the people, passion and knowledge that have defined St Austell Brewery for generations.