Camra names 2010 'Best Beer in Britain'

Nottingham brewery Castle Rock's beer Harvest Pale has won the title of "Best Beer in Britain" at the Great British Beer Festival in Earl's Court, London, organised by the Capmaign for Real Ale (Camra).

Harvest Pale, which has an abv of 3.8%, beat finalists in seven other categories to be named the "Supreme Champion" in the competition.

Roger Protz, of the final judging panel, said: "Against intense competition from eight other brilliant beers, Castle Rock Harvest Pale stood out and was the unanimous choice of all the judges for its great blend of tangy hop and juicy malt. A wonderfully refreshing and complex beer."

Chris Holmes, Castle Rock brewery commercial director, on hearing the results, said: "We've won dozens of awards over the past five to six years, but the best moments have been since our new brewer, Adrian Redgrove, who started four years ago, began producing high-quality, consistent beer. The past 18 months we've been brewing at capacity because of the success and popularity of Harvest Pale, which has led to the opening of a new brew house in two weeks' time, which will treble our capacity."

Silver went to Timothy Taylor's Landlord, while the bronze award went to Surrey Hills' Hammer Mild.

Complete list of winners

Overall winners
Champion Beer of Britain 2010 - Castle Rock, Harvest Pale (3.8% abv, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire)
Silver - Timothy Taylor, Landlord (4.3% abv, Keighley, West Yorkshire)
Bronze - Surrey Hills, Hammer Mild (3.8% abv, Guildford, Surrey)

Mild category
Gold - Surrey Hills, Hammer Mild (3.8% abv, Guildford, Surrey)
Silver - Greene King, XX Mild (3% abv, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk)
Joint Bronze - Golcar, Dark Mild (3.4% abv, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire)
Joint Bronze - Nottingham, Rock Ale Mild (3.8% abv, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire)

Bitters
Gold - RCH, PG Steam (3.9% abv, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset)
Silver - Moor, Revival (3.8% abv, Pitney, Somerset)
Joint Bronze - Orkney, Raven (3.8% abv, Stromness, Orkney)
Joint Bronze - Purple Moose, Snowdonia Ale (3.6% abv, Portmadog, Gwynedd)

Best Bitters
Gold - Timothy Taylor, Landlord (4.3% abv, Keighley, West Yorkshire)
Silver - St Austell, Tribute (4.2% abv, St Austell, Cornwall)
Joint Bronze - Evan Evans, Cwrw (4.2% abv, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire)
Joint Bronze - Great Oakley, Gobble (4.5% abv, Great Oakley, Northamptonshire)

Golden Ales
Gold - Castle Rock, Harvest Pale (3.8% abv, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire)
Silver - Marble, Manchester Bitter (4.2%, Manchester, Gtr Manchester)
Bronze - St Austell, Proper Job (4.5% abv, St Austell, Cornwall)

Strong Bitters
Gold - Thornbridge, Jaipur IPA (5.9% abv, Bakewell, Derbyshire)
Silver - Fuller's, Gales HSB (4.8% abv, Chiswick, Gtr London
Bronze - Beckstones, Rev Rob (4.6% abv, Millom, Cumbria)

Speciality Beers
Gold - Amber, Chocolate Orange Stout (4% abv, Ripley, Derbyshire)
Silver - O'Hanlon's, Port Stout (4.8% abv, Whimple, Devon)
Bronze - Breconshire, Ysbrid y Ddraig (6.5% abv, Brecon, Powys)

Champion Winter Beer of Britain (announced in January 2010) - Elland, 1872 Porter (6.5% abv, Elland, West Yorkshire)

Champion Bottled Beer of Britain 2010 - sponsored by Travelodge
Gold - St Austell, Admiral's Ale (5% abv, St Austell, Cornwall)
Silver - Pitfield, 1850 London Porter (5% abv, Epping, Essex)
Bronze - Great Oakley, Delapre Dark (4.6% abv, Great Oakley, Northamptonshire)

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By Neil Gerrard

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