Curious Brewery Strikes Double Gold at London Beer Competition

Kent-based Curious Brewery has walked away with two Double Gold medals at the seventh London Beer Competition, renowned for showcasing the very best in brewing.

The brewery’s premium beer, Curious Brew, was awarded 96 points for both International Lager of the Year and Beer of the Year UK in the International Lager category, earning it a Double Gold medal.

This was the seventh year of the London Beer Competition, organised by Beverage Trade Network, which continues to set the benchmark for consumer-centric judging in the global beer industry. Its mission is to select beers that not only taste exceptional, but also offer great value for money and outstanding shelf appeal.

“We are thrilled that Curious Brewery was awarded not one, but two Double Gold medals at the London Beer Competition 2026, beating off strong competition from some of the very best breweries around the world. Winning these accolades signals to customers that Curious Brew meets the highest quality and commercial standards globally,” explains Richard Mather, CEO at Sunrise Beverages, the independent UK brewing group that owns Curious Brewery.

“Double Gold is the highest possible honour awarded by judges, demonstrating that Curious Brew is considered ‘Best-in-Class’ for outstanding quality, which we are very proud of,” adds Richard.

All the beers entered were judged on three critical criteria: Quality, Value and Packaging. Each entry was blind-tasted to assess its craftsmanship and character, and awarded quality scores. Judges then reviewed the beer’s retail price to evaluate its value. Finally, the packaging was revealed to determine each beer’s market appeal and branding effectiveness. This evaluation ensures that beers are not just great to taste, but also positioned for success with consumers and trade buyers.

Judges noted that Curious Brew was ‘golden and bright with citrus, floral and herbal aromas’. The tasting notes said: ‘This light-bodied beer balances bready malt with pine and grassy hops, finishing clean, crisp, and pleasantly dry with lingering bitterness’.

“Winning a medal here means your beer performs across taste, value and shelf appeal, making it a strong contender in both domestic and international markets,” said Sid Patel, CEO of the London Beer Competition.

Entries were evaluated by a highly respected panel of international judges, including brewers, beer sommeliers, bar managers and procurement specialists from the UK on-trade. Acclaimed individuals included beer sommelier Cheryl Cade, head brewer at Ramsbury Brewery Harry Meadows, bar owner Roberto Ross, and beer sommelier Lolly Watkins.