Moray’s position as a growing centre of excellence in craft brewing has been underlined by yet another award for one of the region’s speciality beer producers.
The Forres-based Speyside Craft Brewery was one of the stars of the Grampian Food Forum Innovation awards held last night for the 25th year. The Brewery emerged as winners in the Best Young Business category.
Speyside Craft Brewery was set up in 2012 by former Forres Academy pupil and chemistry graduate Seb Jones.
Seb had chosen a career in craft brewing after years of watching his father creating home-brew beer in his garage – and believed that he could improve on the product. The first two beers soon followed – Moray IPA and Randolph’s Leap lager, with both proving highly popular when launched at the Mosset Tavern in Forres.
Awards have followed on a regular basis since, as has the depth and quality of the product being produced by the company.
More than 230 food and drink industry guest were present for the award dinner at the Ardoe House Hotel and Spa in Aberdeen, where Colin McLean from Scotmid Co-operative Foods was presenting the awards.
Mr McLean said: “The north east is proving again it is at the forefront of developing some unique and sustainable food-related businesses.”
Other awards included the Crab Range from Buckie firm Associated Seafoods as the most successful product of the year, while Baxters Food Group in Fochabers took the Skills Development Scotland award for investment in skills development.