Champion Beer of Britain announced! CAMRA toasts 'Best Beer in Britain' Great British Beer Festival Earls Court, London, August 3-7
Nottingham brewer crowned king of the Castle!
After a year of local tasting panels and regional heats leading up to the finals, CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is today proud to announce that Castle Rock (of Nottingham) brewery's Harvest Pale has been crowned the 'Best Beer' in Britain at the Great British Beer Festival, Earls Court, London.
Harvest Pale, which has an ABV of 3.8%, is described in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide 2010 as 'blonde and refreshing with distinctive citrus hop.'
The Nottingham brewed real ale was judged the Supreme Champion over a host of other finalists in 7 different beer categories (Bitters, Best Bitters, Strong Bitters, Golden Ales, Milds, Winter Beers*, and the Speciality class), including beers from both small microbrewers and large regional brewers.
Roger Protz, of the Final judging panel, praised today's winner. He said:
'Against intense competition from 8 other brilliant beers, Castle Rock Harvest Pale stood out and was the unanimous choice of all the judges for its great blend of tangy hop and juicy malt. A wonderfully refreshing and complex beer.'
A delighted Chris Holmes, Castle Rock brewery Chairman, on hearing the results, said:
'We've won dozens of awards over the past 5 to 6 years, but the best moments have been since our new brewer, Adrian Redgrove, who started 4 years ago, began producing high quality, consistent beer. The last 18 months we've been brewing at capacity because of the success and popularity of Harvest Pale, which has led to the opening of a new brew house in 2 weeks time which will treble our capacity.'
With Castle Rock brewery securing the Gold award for 2010, this year's Silver went to Timothy Taylor brewery's Landlord, whilst the Bronze award went to Surrey Hills brewery's Hammer Mild.
Complete List of winners:
Overall winners Champion Beer of Britain - Castle Rock, Harvest Pale (3.8% ABV, Nottingham, Notts)
Second - Timothy Taylor, Landlord (4.3% ABV, Keighley, West Yorkshire)
Third - Surrey Hills, Hammer Mild (3.8% ABV, Guildford, Surrey)
Mild category Gold- Surrey Hills, Hammer Mild (3.8% ABV, Guildford, Surrey)
Silver- Greene King, XX Mild (3% ABV, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk)
Joint Bronze- Golcar, Dark Mild (3.4% ABV, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire)
Joint Bronze- Nottingham, Rock Ale Mild (3.8% ABV, Nottingham, Notts)
Best Bitter category Gold- Timothy Taylor, Landlord (4.3% ABV, Keighley, West Yorkshire)
Silver- St Austell, Tribute (4.2% ABV, St Austell, Cornwall)
Joint Bronze- Evan Evans, Cwrw (4.2% ABV, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire)
Joint Bronze- Great Oakley, Gobble (4.5% ABV, Great Oakley, Northamptonshire)
Golden Ale category Gold- Castle Rock, Harvest Pale (3.8% ABV, Nottingham, Notts)
Silver- Marble, Manchester Bitter (4.2%, Manchester, Gtr Manchester)
Bronze- St Austell, Proper Job (4.5% ABV, St Austell, Cornwall)
Winter Beer of Britain winner (announced in January 2010)
Elland, 1872 Porter (6.5% ABV, Elland, West Yorkshire)
Bottled Beer of Britain winners (sponsored by Travelodge)
Gold- St Austell, Admiral's Ale (5% ABV, St Austell, Cornwall)
Silver- Pitfield, 1850 London Porter (5% ABV, Epping, Essex)
Bronze- Great Oakley, Delapre Dark (4.6% ABV, Great Oakley, Northamptonshire)
*The Winter Beer category was judged in January at the CAMRA National Winter Ales Festival, and the winner, Elland 1872 Porter, was thus submitted into today's final.
CAMRA has full ISDN facilities for interviews regarding today's announcement. For further information please telephone the Great British Beer Festival Press Office on 020 7244 3925.
For further information:
CAMRA Great British Beer Festival Press Office (3rd-7th August 2010), 020 7244 3925
Chris Holmes, Chairman, Castle Rock brewery, Nottingham, 0115 985 1615 or 07887 544746
Timothy Taylor brewery, Keighley, West Yorkshire, 01535 603139
Surrey Hills brewery, Guildford, Surrey, 01483 212812
Jon Howard, CAMRA press officer, 07939 425471
