OKELLS won the gold medal for the best flavoured porter in Europe for its Okells Aile in August.

It was the latest success for the smoked Celtic porter which is brewed at the Kewaigue-based brewery by head brewer Dr Mike Cowbourne.

The same beer won the accolade of the World's Best Smoked Beer at the World Beer Awards in both 2008 and 2007.

In his blog for Okells Mike said: "Smoked beers are a strange thing you tend to love them or hate them.

"Aile took months to develop because getting the smoked aroma and taste just right is very very difficult, too much and it tastes like mouthwash or TCP, too little and it disappears under the chocolatey, liquoricey tastes and aromas from the dark malts.

"I did more trial brews of Aile then any other beer I have developed. 

"We attended a beer exhibition in Copenhagen at which there was a stand for British beers and we took Aile along in bottled and draught form.

"I was asked by one woman whether I was the brewer from Okells, when I replied that I was she started to compliment us on the Aile and said it was as good as any German Rauchbier, she then divulged she was the brewmaster at a German Brewery famed for its Rauchbiers. That says it all I guess."

And for the real beer experts, here are the tasting notes for Okells Aile: "Rich and dark with smokey aromas of liquorice and coffee brewed with a blend of pale, crystal, black and chocolate malts. Initially sweet and full bodied the silky smooth liquorice on the palate gives way to dry hop bitter finals."