FOUNDER of the Freeminer Brewery, Don Burgess, has been asked to help judge the 2014 World Beer Cup in Denver, USA, a competition that has been dubbed: 'The most prestigious beer competition in the world.'

The global competition is held every two years, and last year attracted entries from 799 breweries, from 54 countries and 45 USA states, who between them nominated a total of 3,921 beers in 95 beer-style categories. The 2012 field produced 284 winners of gold, silver or bronze medals.

Don told the Review: "After running Freeminer for 21 years it is good to see that my beers and brewing skills are still rated!

"Judging at the festival is a great experience, meeting judges from all over the world and exchanging ideas and knowledge. Brewing is a vocation where you never stop learning or developing your skills - and this is one of the greatest knowledge transfer opportunities on the international brewing calendar. The location also happens to be one of the best beer drinking cities in the U.S. – the 'mile high' city of Denver."

He added: "The American beer scene is exciting with lots of new innovation to see every time I visit. I am looking forward to seeing old friends and making some new ones over a glass or three of beer..." The competition is held in April.

Don has recently been collaborating with American super-brewers Sam Adams, who brew in Boston, Massechusetts, and earlier this year also made a beer for Wetherspoons, in collaboration with Lodewijk Swinkels from La Trappe brewery – to create a brew for their own Beer Festival.

Freeminer Brewery was set up in the Forest in 1992 by Don, and his Deep Shaft Stout was an early success – with wins at the Great British Beer Festival in the 'Champion Bottled Beer' category. Freeminer was also one of the first UK breweries to make an alcoholic ginger beer, Shakemantle, which won in the Champion Speciality Beer of Britain section.

Don has also developed Fair Trade beers for the Co-op, and his Gold Miner remains one of their best-sellers. He is currently Technical Director of the Society of Independent Brewers, which represents over 1,000 breweries and micro breweries in the UK.