Hampshire brewer wins Champion Beer of Britain

Hampshire’s Alton’s Pride has been named Champion Beer of Britain 2008 at the Great British Beer Festival.

The beer, described by the Campaign for Real Ale as a “clean-tasting, golden brown beer, full-bodied for its strength with an aroma of floral hops,” is brewed by Triple FFF Brewery.

Judge Roger Protz, editor of Camra’s Good Beer Guide, said: “A magnificent victory for a craft brewery that opened in 1997 with a five barrel plant and has just opened a new brewhouse with a 50 barrel kit.

“It has grown due to consumer demand for its rich and complex beer and proves that the future for real ale in Britain is assured.”

Graham Trott, head brewer of Triple FFF Brewery said: “We are over the moon and delighted to put Alton as a brewery back on the map. I would like to thank everyone who is connected with the brewery and we look forward to more people enjoying our winning beer.”

The Silver award went to Black Dog Freddy from Beckstones in Cumbria while the Bronze award went to Station Porter from the Wickar Brewery in Gloucestershire.

The Great British Beer Festival, organised by Camra, is currently taking place at London’s Earls Court.

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By Christopher Walton

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