A new twist on a historic brewing technique is going down well with both beer lovers and festival judges.

Nine Tenths Below, an IPA (Indian Pale Ale), is the latest beer in the award winning Titanic Brewery fleet to win a prestigious Gold Medal, taking top honours at the Liverpool Beer Festival.

And the Titanic IPA has also proved a hit with Staffordshire drinkers with the first brew selling out within days of being released to pubs in the area.

"We are really pleased with the success of Nine Tenths Below," said Titanic Brewery Managing Director Keith Bott. "It has proved a hit with our customers - with the first brew of 40 barrels selling out in less than 10 days and the recognition at the Liverpool Festival is fantastic."

A second brew of Nine Tenths Below has now been dispatched to Titanic Brewery's five pubs in North and Mid Staffordshire and to pubs serving Titanic ales across the Midlands and North West.

IPA was first produced for export to the British Empire's colonies on the Indian sub-continent. It was brewed stronger than many fine ales for the domestic market as the higher alcohol content helped to sustain the beer during the long journey by ship to Asia.

The Campaign for Real Ale organised, Liverpool Beer Festival was held in the Lutyen's crypt at the city's Roman Catholic Cathedral.

The festival's programme describes Nine Tenths Below as "honey golden in colour with initial sweetness that rapidly fades as the powerful citrus hops take over. Clean and refreshing on top, but below lurks boldness and strength."

Titanic Brewery's fine ales have won many awards, with Titanic Stout scooping the Best Bottled Beer in Britain prize at the 2009 Great British Beer Festival.