The success of Horsham district’s microbreweries continues as WJ King and Lower Beeding’s Kissingate announced new accolades this week.
Based in Foundry Lane, WJ King won gold in the Great Taste 2012 Awards for its three beers, Horsham Best, Red River and Brighton Blonde.
Ian Burgess, head brewer at WJ King, said: “This means a lot to us here at WJ King.
“It is the first time that we have entered any of our beers into these awards and are thrilled to have won gold stars for Horsham Best and Red River, two of the old favourites that have been with us for over ten years and for Brighton Blonde, the latest beer to be added to our cabinet of some of the finest real ales in Sussex.”
Meanwhile Kissingate, a relative newcomer run by husband and wife team Gary and Bunny Lucas in Lower Beeding, had its Six Crows Stout and Mary’s Ruby Mild nominated for the CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain, and will see its Black Cherry Mild on tap at CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival in London this weekend.
Mr Lucas said: “That really is something, and we really are chuffed because there are well over a thousand breweries in the UK and out of all those breweries we were picked.”
Starting in 2009 in Crawley, where the couple still live, Kissingate supplies more than 70 pubs in Sussex, Kent and Surrey.
He added: “Microbrewing has started a revolution with people going around seeking rare beers.”
Meanwhile Dark Star, based in Partridge Green, scooped two golds and a bronze in the Champion Beer of Britain Awards for its Festival and American Pale Ale.