Oxfordshire brewery ‘delighted’ after winning major award

Alex Scott, the head brewer at Loose Cannon Brewery in Abingdon, said the award at the Midlands & West Indie Beer Awards 2026 reflected the “hard work, skill and commitment” of his team.

The microbrewery in Suffolk Way was handed the overall gold medal in the cask category for its ‘Cool Name to Follow’, a strong golden IPA with aromas and flavours of citrus and resinous pine. 

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Mr Scott said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have been awarded overall cask champion at the Indie Beer Awards with our 8.0 per cent Double IPA, Cool Name to Follow.

“To also see the same beer take gold in both the bottle & can and keg categories, along with bronze in the overall bottle & can championship, makes the achievement even more special.”

He added: “What makes this particularly meaningful is the standard of the competition.

Alex, Gav and Lou of Loose Cannon Brewery celebrate their win (Image: Loose Cannon Brewery)

“There were so many highly regarded breweries involved, all producing exceptional beer, and that level of quality really highlights just how strong and exciting the independent beer scene is right now”

The Society of Independent Brewers and Associates organised the awards and at the ceremony, held at the Ludlow Spring Festival (May 8-10) the chief executive Andy Slee congratulated Loose Cannon.

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He said: “To win this you have to first win your style category and then go on to be named the best against all other style winners.

“Well done to them and to all of this year’s winners!”

Losse Cannon Brewery opened in 2010 and since then has brewed more than 60 different beers, including Abingdon Bridge which is often served in pubs across Oxfordshire.