Bristol brewery Butcombe’s first low-alcohol beer has been named as one of the best in the world for a second time.
Goram IPA Zero, which first went on sale just under two years ago, won a gold medal in the inaugural World Alcohol-Free Awards. 
The first international drinks competition exclusively focusing on products with alcohol levels of 0.5% ABV or below, the awards attracted hundreds of alcohol-free products, including wines, spirits and beers, from across the globe.
Goram IPA Zero was one of nine beers to win Gold. Its success in the awards comes eight months after it claimed both Gold and Country Winner titles in the No/Low IPA category at the prestigious World Beer Awards.
It also triumphed at the SIBA (The Society of Independent Brewers) Bottle and Can Beer Independent Beer Awards for the South West, where it landed Gold in the no/low alcohol beer category within a few months of its launch.
Wrington-based Butcombe, which has been making beer since 1978 and is now part of Channel Islands-based Liberation Group, describes Goram IPA Zero as an easy-to-drink and refreshing ale made with a punchy blend of English, US and New Zealand hops which balance stone fruit, citrus and bitter notes.
The brewery’s first foray into the rapidly growing no and low-alcohol drinks market, the beer mirrors its original recipe for its Goram IPA, named after Bristol’s legendary giant. 
Goram IPA Zero faced stiff competition at the World Alcohol-Free Awards’ blind tasting sessions, with 400-plus entries from 20 countries judged by 28 eminent non-alcoholic specialist tasters from Europe, the US and the UK.
Liberation Group MD, brewing & distribution, Marc McGuigan said: “2023 has been a great year already for our Goram IPA Zero with yet another trophy for the cabinet.
“Our brewing team consistently innovate and adapt, ensuring we have products that appeal to modern tastes and lifestyles that are authentic and taste great.”
The World Alcohol-Free Awards were established last year by former Michelin-starred drinks buyer and non-alcoholic specialist Chrissie Parkinson and respected drinks writer Chris Losh.
Chris said: “The buy-in from the trade around the world has been incredible with the sheer number and variety of products being entered far exceeding our expectations for this first year of competition.”
Judges’ tasting notes for described it as “Deep gold and very bright with a caramel malty aroma”.
They added: “On the palate, it opens out further with assertive bitter hop flavours and a medium body. Perfect for pie and mash, cheese or a Sunday roast, this is an authentic substitute for a classic British bitter.”
Butcombe owns around 60 pubs – many of them gastropubs or inns with accommodation – in an area stretching from Bristol to the South, South West and the West Midlands.
In Bristol it owns The Cottage Inn at Baltic Wharf, The Ostrich on Lower Guinea Street and The Whitmore Tap on Whiteladies Road, which it converted two years ago to become Butcombe’s first taproom and named after Simon Whitmore, who died in 2012.
Its range of beers also include Butcombe Original – first brewed in 1978 and now one of the UK’s top 10 cask ales – Underfall Lager, Rarebreed Pale Ale and Golden Ale.
