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Bristol brewer goes for gold at international competition
A Bristol-based brewery has won gold at an international beer competition for one of its flagship ales.
Lost and Grounded, based at Whitby Road in St Anne’s, impressed the judges at the European Beer Star competition in Germany with its Wanna Go To The Sun ale, seeing off some tough competition.
The evaluation took place during a two-day blind tasting event in Nuremberg in August, involving a panel of around 150 industry experts, ranging from master brewers and trade journalists to beer sommeliers and other industry specialists.
Some 2,200 beers competed across 74 categories, with judges ranking entries on a stringent criteria of aroma, appearance and taste. Gold, silver and bronze awards were then presented in each category.
Wanna Go To The Sun ale won a gold award at the European Beer Star competition held in Germany
Wanna Go To The Sun, which was rolled out to Waitrose in 2024, won in the International-Style Ale category, with judges heaping praise on the pale ale.
“Our beer competition has an excellent reputation worldwide and is highly regarded in the brewing industry,” said Kilian Kittl, managing director of the organiser, Private Brauereien Bayern.
“The European Beer Star is considered the toughest beer competition in the world among the participating breweries. Every year, our tasters confirm the high standard of the beers submitted. Often only nuances decide who goes home with a medal.”
The award was presented to the team from Lost and Grounded on Wednesday at the European Beer Star 2025 Award Ceremony in Munich, part of the Drinktec trade fair.
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Alex Troncoso, co-founder of Lost and Grounded, said: “We are extremely proud that our Wanna Go To The Sun Pale Ale was able to impress the expert panel of judges and win the gold medal.
“This success shows that we are at the very top worldwide when it comes to beer quality, and we are so proud of our entire team for gaining this recognition.”
Lost and Grounded, based at Whitby Road in St Anne’s, was founded in 2016 by Alex Troncoso and Annie Clements
Lost and Grounded, founded in 2016 by Alex Troncoso and Annie Clements, is best known for its Keller Pils and a wide range of Belgian-style ales.
All photos: Lost and Grounded
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