Edinburgh Beer Festival Award

People's Choice Award Win (Scotsman, 24th June 2005)

A NEW Edinburgh-based real ale brewer has collaborated with industry giant Belhaven to scoop the People's Choice award at one of the nation's largest annual beer festivals.

Edinburgh Pale Ale (EPA), the flagship launch product from the Edinburgh Brewing Company, captured the coveted "Beer of the Festival" award during last week's Scottish Traditional Beer Festival, which was backed by the Campaign for Real Ale.

The three-day event at Edinburgh's Assembly Rooms saw EPA, the brainchild of drinks industry gurus Russell Sharp and Alastair Mowat, receive overwhelming support from thousands of beer enthusiasts.

The Edinburgh Brewing Company has teamed up with Belhaven in a joint collaboration to brew, sell and distribute EPA.

EPA creator Russell Sharp says: "Alastair and I and the entire Belhaven product team are delighted with the award and want to thank everyone for their support. EPA is a unique reflection of the beer style that made Edinburgh a brewing capital.

"Its stunning contemporary flavour epitomises the very best of small batch brewing, where quality and flavour are never compromised.

"We are working to make sure that EPA will be available as soon as possible, with a tranche of pubs in Edinburgh set to receive their first deliveries shortly."