Nominations opening soon for CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain competition
Nominations will be opening on Thursday 12 September for CAMRA members to vote in the Champion Beer of Britain 2026 award. Once nominations close in November, regional heats will take place across the country before the final judging and announcement in 2026.
All beer judging adheres to a vigilant blind tasting process. Last year, Elland Brewery’s 1872 Porter was crowned overall winner, and previous winners include Surrey Hills’ Shere Drop and Siren’s Broken Dream Breakfast Stout.
Winning the prestigious title is the ultimate honour for UK breweries and has helped many brewers gain both national and international acclaim. Beer lovers will have until midnight on 4 November to make their submission on CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain platform and can choose up to five beers across each of the categories. This initial vote is exclusive to CAMRA members.
The beer style categories for Champion Beer of Britian are:
- Milds: up to and including 4%
- Session Bitters: up to and including 4.3%
- Premium Bitters: 4.4% – 6.4%
- Session Pale, Blond and Golden Ales: up to and including 4.3%
- Premium Pale, Blond and Golden Ales: 4.4% – 6.4%
- British & New World IPAs: 5.5% and above
- Brown and Red Ales, Old Ales and Strong Milds: up to 6.4%
- Session Stouts and Porters: up to and including 4.9%
- Strong Stouts and Porters including Imperial Stouts and Baltic Porters: 5.0% and above
- Barley Wines and Strong Ales: 6.5% and above
- Speciality Beers – differently produced
- Speciality Beers – flavoured