Elland Brewery’s 1872 Porter has been named Champion Winter Beer of Britain (CWBOB) by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) for the third time.
Accredited European Beer Consumers Union beer judge and chair of the CWBOB judging panel, Christine Cryne, called it “a jet black strong porter, with alcohol, green apples, and chocolate on the nose”.
She added: “The porter is citrus, sweet milk chocolate on a smooth full flavoured palate, complex but easy drinking. The fruitiness fades to a roasted dryness where the sweet chocolate lingers and spiciness builds.”
The overall silver award went to Robinsons‘ Old Tom (8.5% ABV), while Dancing Duck’s Dark Drake (4.5% ABV) picked up bronze.
Scott Hutchinson, of Elland Brewery, said: “Thank you so much to the judges, tasters, organisers, and everyone involved with the Great British Beer Festival Winter for judging our flagship 1872 Porter the Champion Winter Beer of Britain for the fourth time in our 20-year history! We’ll have to change the bottle labels again…
“As a tiny independent cask brewery, the support of CAMRA and its members is utterly invaluable to us. Steve, Joe, Rob, and Scott (for that is all of us) would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who continues to trust our commitment to quality traditional ales.
“Like everyone else, Elland Brewery has had to weather some storms in the past couple of years. Lockdown tried to end us, the current economic climate is rocking the boat, the UK pub trade is taking a hammering, cask is always under threat, but we firmly believe that cask is king and quality will always shine.”
The Champion Winter Beer of Britain competition marks the first day of the Great British Beer Festival Winter, which is running from until Saturday at Burton Town Hall, Burton upon Trent. It provides an opportunity to showcase the best traditional winter brews in the country, out of categories such as barley wines, strong old ales, and stouts.
Laura Emson, CAMRA’s national director responsible for the competition, says: “Congratulations to Elland on their win, this was a highly competitive final round.
“We’re so happy to be back at the Great British Beer Festival Winter, and I want to thank the volunteers and judges who have made the festival and the Champion Winter Beer of Britain possible.”
The festival also sees the launch of CAMRA’s Festival Code of Conduct, which aims to make CAMRA festivals a better place for everyone. Attendees, staff, and volunteers know where they can raise feedback or get assistance if they need it. The Festival Code of Conduct will then be rolled out to all CAMRA festivals.
Full list of winners
| Category | Winner | Silver | Bronze |
| Brown ales, red ales, old ales and strong milds | Brampton’s Mild | Sarah Hughes’ Dark Ruby | Great Corby’s, Fox Brown Ale |
| Session stouts and porters | Dancing Duck’s Dark Drake | Thurstons’ Milk Stout | Beowulf’s Dragon Smoke Stout |
| Strong stouts and porters | Elland’s 1872 Porter | Fixed Wheel’s Blackheath Stout | Ashover’s Milk Stout |
| Barley wines and strong ales | Robinsons’ Old Tom | Exmoor’s Beast | Darwin’s Extinction |
| Speciality, differently produced | Chapter’s Dead Man’s Fist | Black Hole’s Milky Way | Treens’ Smoulder |
| Speciality, flavoured | Marble’s Earl Grey IPA | Purple Moose’s Elderflower Ale | Siren Craft’s Broken Dream Breakfast Stout |
