Brighton brew in running to be named best in the world

Brighton Bier’s Downtown Charlie Brown won the best experimental beer in the UK title at the World Beer Awards.

The makers scooped two gold medals and a bronze at the competition which received more than 1,500 entries from around the globe.

Company bosses say the awards will raise the global profile of the company as they prepare for their first international export later this year.

Brewery founder Stephen Whitehurst said the brewery would look to expand its operation in order to meet demand.

He added: “We were competing with some of the biggest and most-recognised brewers in the industry including Brewdog and Beavertown and to show that we are at their level is going to help with spreading our name further afield.

“We’re lucky because Brighton is already a recognisable brand, it has a global appeal because of the mods and the rockers.

“I think the market for craft beers will keep growing and growing, if you look at the States for example.

“I think the market will become more competitive and then pubs and wholesalers will become more discerning in what they buy.”

The brewery began life in 2012 in the Hand in Hand brewpub in Upper St James's Street before moving to a new brewery with 7,500-litre per week production in Roedean Road.

Their beers are now widely available around the city, including at their own pub The Brighton Beer Dispensary in Dean Street, and are now spreading around the country including as far away as Scotland.

Mr Whitehurst said the company was now preparing for its first exports to Japan and Italy in time for the autumn and joked that their World Beer Award haul placed them 39th in the Rio Olympics medal table.

He added: “We would have already sent some beer to Japan but we are having trouble keeping up with demand.

“We will definitely look at expanding the brewery, whether at the current site or a new site, we need to look at the best way of doing that."