GLASGOW'S own Gareth Young is raising a glass after his home-brewed beer was named the best in Britain.

After a record number of entries to the National Homebrewing Awards, judges chose Gareth's 5.6 per cent Belgian-style Saison as the winner.

The Glasgow University philosophy tutor won £5,000 and the chance to bring his beer to the commercial market with Dark Star Brewing Co.

Gareth said: "I hardly believe I've won. The quality and variety of beer being made by home brewers in the UK right now is astonishing, so I'm absolutely delighted to have my Saison picked as the winner from so many excellent beers.

"I still haven't decided what I'm going to do with the money, but I'll probably get myself some space-age home-brewing equipment and a purple fur coat.

"I'm also super excited to brew at Dark Star, which has been a favourite brewery of mine for years."

His creation has a "pale amber colour, with a slight haze and a white head".

Gareth described the flavour as having "the aroma of apricot, pineapple, orange sherbet and Parma Violets with a light, spritzy carbonation and a dry, gentle finish."

Craft Beer Co. MD, Martin Hayes, said: "The inspiration behind these awards was two-fold: to recognise excellent home brewers and to maybe help one of them take the next step to brewing commercially.

"I was blown away by the standard of entries to the competition, as were the judges who comprised of our very own Tom Cadden, leading beer writer, Pete Brown and representatives from Magic Rock, Beavertown Brewery and Dark Star Brewing Co."

Magic Rock's Richard Burhouse, added: "The quality of entrants was excellent, there was a lot of creativity on show and only a small percentage were poorly executed.

"The best of the beers were genuinely great beers that I'd have been happy if we'd have produced. On this evidence the UK home-brewing scene is in really good health."