(For full list of category winning beers please see bottom of this release)
National Winter Ales Festival, Sheridan Suite, Manchester (M40 8EA)
23- 26 January 2013, www.nwaf.org.uk
Issued 23rd January 2013, For immediate use
Elland Brewery, 1872 Porter, at 6.5 per cent ABV, has today been crowned CAMRA’s Supreme Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2013 by a panel of judges at the National Winter Ales Festival in Manchester, which begins today (January 23rd) at the city’s Sheridan Suite.
The West Yorkshire brewery first scooped the country’s top winter beer award in 2010.
The winning beer is described in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide 2013 as a creamy, full flavoured porter, with rich liquorice flavours and more than hint of hint of chocolate.
Nik Antona, CAMRA Director, praised the outstanding quality of the champion. He said: “Porters should not be regarded as endangered beers, they are beers for today’s discerning drinkers. And on a cold day, 1872 Porter is a perfect winter warming beer.
“Elland Brewery 1872 Porter is a fine example of a modern day interpretation of one of this country’s classic beer styles. It’s gorgeous, drinkable, likeable and is highly recommended.”
Elland Brewery owner Martin Ogley said he was shocked to win the award again. “I am gobsmacked, as I never expected this. There are so many great beers at the festival that it is remarkable for the judges to choose us again.
“1872 Porter is our most award winning beer and I will now have to be ready to brew more of it.”
Also in the Overall awards, Silver went to Bartrams Brewery’s (Suffolk) Comrade Bill Bartram’s EAISS (Egalitarian Anti-Imperialist Soviet Stout) while the Bronze medal went to Kelburn Brewing’s (East Renfrewshire, Scotland) Dark Moor.
A panel of beer writers, members of the licensed trade and CAMRA members judged the competition at the Sheridan Suite, Manchester.
Drinkers at the National Winter Ales Festival will now be able to sample the winning brews, as well as a formidable selection of beers from more than 100 breweries, including a range of ciders and perries.
Reigning supreme at the Winter Ales Festival today, Elland Brewery 1872 Porter as well as the Overall finalists, will now enter into the final of the Champion Beer of Britain competition at the Great British Beer Festival, Olympia, London, 13-17 August.
END
For more information
Tim Hampson (National Winter Ales Festival Press Officer) – 07768 614283
CAMRA Press Office – 01727 798443
Elland Brewery – Martin Ogley 01422 377677
More CAMRA info – www.camra.org.uk
Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2013 – Winners List:
OVERALL RESULT
Gold- Elland Brewery (West Yorkshire), 1872 Porter
Silver- Bartrams Brewery (Suffolk), Comrade Bill Bartram’s EAISS (Egalitarian Anti-Imperialist Soviet Stout)
Bronze – Kelburn Brewing (East Renfrewshire), Dark Moor
Old Ales and Strong Milds category
Gold- Kelburn Brewing (East Renfrewshire), Dark Moor
Silver- Jennings (Cumbria), Sneck Lifter
Bronze-Purple Moose (Gwynedd), Dark Side of the Moose
Porters category
Gold- Elland Brewery (West Yorkshire), 1872 Porter
Silver-Blythe Brewery (Staffordshire), Johnson’s
Bronze-Derby Brewery (Derbyshire), Penny’s Porter
Stouts category
Gold- Bartrams Brewery (Suffolk), Comrade Bill Bartram’s EAISS (Egalitarian Anti-Imperialist Soviet Stout)
Silver – Marble Beers (Greater Manchester), Stouter Stout
Bronze – Hop Back Brewery (Wiltshire), Entire Stout
Barley Wines category
Gold- Hogs Back Brewery (Surrey), A Over T (Aromas Over Tongham)
Silver-Heart of Wales Brewing (Powys), High as a Kite
Bronze- Kinver Brewery (Staffordshire), Over The Edge
Winter beer styles:
Porter – A dark, slightly sweetish but hoppy ale made with roasted barley; the successor of ‘entire’ and predecessor of stout. Porter originated in London around 1730, and by the end of the 18th century was probably the most popular beer in England.
Stout – One of the classic types of ale, a successor in fashion to ‘porter’. Usually a very dark, heavy, well-hopped bitter ale, with a dry palate, thick creamy, and a good grainy taste
Old Ale – Now virtually synonymous with ‘winter ale’. Most ‘old ales’ are produced and sold for a limited time in the year, usually between November and the end of February. Usually a rich, dark, high-gravity draught ale of considerable body.
Barley Wine – A strong, rich and sweetish ale, usually over 1060 OG, dark in colour, with high condition and a high hop rate.
Festival Opening Times and Prices
Wednesday 23 January:
2.30pm to 5pm – Trade Session (Invitation Only)
5pm to 10.30pm – £2 (£1 Concession)
CAMRA members free on Wednesday
Thursday 24 January:
12 noon to 10.30pm – £2 (£1 Concession)
CAMRA Members free on Thursday
Friday 25 January:
12 noon to 4.30pm – £3 (Price includes attendance past 4.30pm)
4.30pm to 10.30pm – £5
Saturday 26January:
12 noon to 10.30pm – £5
On Saturday there is a fancy dress option with the theme Beer Angels.
Concessions apply to students, pensioners and members of the armed forces (suitable ID will be requested)
CAMRA members £1 off Full Prices (except Thursday which is free for CAMRA members)
Other highlights – Robinsons celebrate their 175 Anniversary in 2013 and featured on its Brewery bar will be Frederic’s 175. Thwaites is sending Lancaster Bomber to support the 70th anniversary of the Dam Buster’s air raid during WWII.
Getting to the Festival: First Bus Services are offering a special concessionary fare of £2 to the festival on First Bus Services – ask the driver.
Festival charity: The festival charity is After Adoption. http://www.