Brewers Gold brewed by Crouch Vale of Essex was today judged to be the best beer in Britain for an incredible second consecutive year by a panel of brewers, beer writers and journalists at the Great British Beer Festival at Earls Court.
The beer is described in the 2006 edition of CAMRA's Good Beer Guide as: “Honey-toned golden ale, with grapefruit sharpness offset by suggestions of melon and pineapple.”
The Essex brewed beer was chosen as the overall winner from over fifty finalists in eight categories including beers from tiny micros to major regional brewers.
Roger Protz, one of the finalist judges and Editor of the Good Beer Guide said: “It’s a tremendous victory for a brewery committed to its cask beer and richly deserved for this marvelous hoppy and fruity beer.”
Colin Bocking, Managing Director of Crouch Vale brewery said, “I am speechless. It was enough of a surprise to have won Champion Beer of Britain in 2005, but to have been voted Britain’s best beer for a second year in a row is truly unbelievable.
“Thanks to all the people who have supported the brewery over the years, especially those that have enjoyed this remarkable beer. This great news could not have come at a better time for us as we are in the middle of expanding the brewery.”
The Silver award went to Harveys brewery in Sussex for their Sussex Best Bitter. The Bronze was awarded to Triple fff brewery in Hampshire for Moondance.
CATEGORY WINNERS
Milds
Gold Mighty Oak’s Oscar Wilde Mild (Essex)
Silver Elgood’s Black Dog (Cambridgeshire)
Bronze Grainstore Rutland Panther (Rutland)
Bitters
Gold Elgood’s Cambridge Bitter (Cambridgeshire)
Silver Acorn Barnsley Bitter (South Yorkshire)
Joint Bronze Sharp’s Doombar Bitter (Cornwall) & Woodforde’s Wherry (Norfolk)
Best Bitters
Gold Harveys Sussex Best Bitter (East Sussex)
Silver Triple fff Moon Dance (Hampshire)
Joint Bronze Kelburn, Red Smiddy (East Renfrewshire) & Surrey Hills Shere Drop (Surrey)
Strong Bitters
Gold York Brewery, Centurions Ghost Ale (Yorkshire)
Silver Thornbridge Jaipur IPA (Derbyshire)
Bronze Weetwood Oasthouse Gold (Cheshire)
Speciality Beers
Gold Cairngorm Trade Winds (Highlands)
Silver Wolf Straw Dog (Norfolk)
Bronze William Brothers Fraoch Heather Ale (Alloa)
Golden Ales
Gold Crouch Vale Brewers Gold (Essex)
Silver Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire)
Bronze Holden’s Golden Glow (West Midlands)
In CAMRA’s Good Bottled Beer Competition, sponsored by The Guardian Newspaper, the awards went to:
Gold: White Shield – White Shield Brewery (Staffordshire)
Silver: Hen’s Tooth – Greene King (Suffolk)
Bronze: Titanic Stout – Titanic (Staffordshire)
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