Champion Beer of Britain
CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain competition sees a selection and judging process over almost a year, with initial county categories selected by an online vote open to all CAMRA members followed by a programme of judging in their categories at various beer festivals around the country until the finalists are judged by a blind tasting panel at the Great British Beer Festival with the winner crowned at the trade session, which was this year on Tuesday 12th August.
Amongst breweries near us there were a couple of honourable mentions with Peak Ales’ Chatsworth Gold getting a bronze in the speciality category and Spire Brewery’s Prince Igor Imperial Russian Stout getting a bronze in the real ale in a bottle category.
The overall winner, just pipping Oakham Citra to the post was a classic Yorkshire bitter – Timothy Taylor Boltmaker.
Timothy Taylor isn’t exactly one of the more fashionable breweries in the ‘craft beer revolution’ being stubbornly and proudly traditional, however there is no denying their commitment to quality beer.
Nik Antona, Champion Beer of Britain Director, spoke in praise of today’s winner. He said: “It is fantastic to announce Timothy Taylor’s Boltmaker as the Champion Beer of Britain 2014. This full flavoured bitter is a modern classic that is as impressive today as the day it was first brewed. ”
Head Brewer Peter Eells said, “I’m speechless. We work very hard to produce great beers and we really believe this is the best beer we can brew – so to have it acknowledged in such an important competition is absolutely fantastic.”
Managing Director Charles Dent added, “We’re absolutely delighted. It’s our favourite, it’s the brewers favourite, it’s the beer that you drink if you’re drinking with us and it’s named after one of our favourites pubs – The Boltmakers.”
The full results by category:
Overall winners-
Gold – Timothy Taylors, Boltmaker
Silver – Oakham, Citra
Bronze – Salopian, Darwin’s Origin
Mild category-
Gold – Bank Top, Dark Mild
Silver – Branscombe Vale, Mild
Bronze – Castle Rock, Black Gold
Bitters category-
Gold – Timothy Taylor, Boltmaker
Silver – Mighty Oak, Captain Bob
Joint Bronze – Flowerpots, Flowerpots Bitter & Sambrook’s Wandle Ale
Best Bitters-
Gold – Salopian, Darwin’s Origin
Silver – Red Willow, Directionless
Joint Bronze – Purity, Mad Goose & Langton, Inclined plain bitter
Golden Ales-
Gold – Oakham, Citra
Silver – Hawkshead, Cumbrian Five Hop
Bronze – Salopian, Hop Twister
Strong Bitters-
Gold – Church End, Fallen Angel
Silver – Blue Monkey, Ape Ale
Bronze –Loch Ness, HoppyNESS
Speciality Beers-
Gold – Saltaire, Triple Chocoholic
Silver – Offbeat, Way Out Wheat
Bronze – Peak Ales, Chatsworth Gold
Champion Winter Beer of Britain (from category winners announced in January 2014)-
Cairngorm, Black Gold (Stouts Category)
Dunham Massey, Dunham Porter (Porter Category)
Exe Valley, Winter Glow (Old Ales & Strong Milds)
Kinver, Over the Edge (Barley Wines & Strong Old Ales)
Champion Bottled Beer of Britain winners
(Sponsored by Beer Hawk)
Gold – Marble, Chocolate Marble
Silver – St Austell, Proper Job
Bronze – Spire, Prince Igor Imperial Russian Stout