It started as a homebrew hobby in the shed - now Nottingham brewery is scooping top awards

A Nottingham brewery has scooped a raft of top prizes at the SIBA Midlands Independent Beer Awards - just seven years after starting as a hobby in a garden shed. Liquid Light Brewing Company was the competition’s biggest winners, topping an impressive five categories, with three keg gold awards and two cask golds.

The Sneinton-based brewery will now go through to the national finals at BeerX in Liverpool in 2025. There they will take on gold award winners from SIBA competitions around the country - one of whom will be crowned SIBA Champion Beer of Britain.

Thom Stone, Liquid Light director and head brewer, began brewing on a nano kit in 2017, never imagining the past-time would become an award-winning career. He said: "These awards mean the world to us. To be recognised amongst some of the country's top independent breweries highlights the hard work everyone at Liquid Light puts in each week.

"I never thought that when I was homebrewing as a hobby in my shed in 2017 that this would be a possibility, and it gives everyone confidence to continue to strive to produce the best beers we can. We cannot wait until BeerX 2025”.

The Midlands heat, judged at the CAMRA Oxford Beer Festival, also saw Liquid Light pick up an impressive ten further awards across numerous categories. To top it off they were also named the Champion Keg for the Midlands region with their 9.3% Double IPA Entertain Us, beating stiff competition from powerhouses such as Rebellion Beer Co, Titanic Brewery, Castle Rock and Loose Cannon.

The brewery and tap room, based on Robin Hood Industrial Estate in Alfred Street South, produces modern craft beer in keg, cask and cans. Last month Liquid Light produced the strongest ever beer for Nottingham CAMRA Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival. Terror from the Sky, a 26% stout with a rich chocolatey flavour and roasty finish, made with chocolate malt and oats.