Brewing News 5/8/11

Great British Beer Festival – We Have A Winner!

There’s one day left now to get yourself down to Earls Court in London for the 2011 Great British Beer Festival.  The competition to determine the supreme beer champion of 2011 has already been decided and the winner is ‘Oscar Wilde’, a beer brewed by the small Mighty Oak brewery in Maldon, Essex.

Mighty Oak has been around for 16 years or so and has been a previous winner at this event in other categories with its Burntwood Bitter and Maldon Gold.  Oscar Wilde marks the first time the brewery has won the big prize although it has won other national and regional awards.  The 3.7% Oscar Wilde is described by it’s brewers as:

“A wonderfully mellow, nutty, morish dark mild. Brewed using Maris Otter Pale, Crystal and Black malts and gently hopped with Challenger.”

Second place in the competition went to Marble Brewery’s ‘Chocolate’ brew and third was Shropshire Gold from the Salopian Brewery.  Check out the video below and relive the tension as the winner is announced:

Aside from the Champion Beer of Britain, there are eight other categories and you can check out the winners below – brewery followed by beer name:

Mild Category

1. Mighty Oak, Oscar Wilde
2. Rudgate, Ruby Mild
3. Coastal, Merry Maidens

Bitter Category

1. Salopian, Shropshire Gold
2. Teignworthy, Reel Ale
3. Joint bronze – Triple fff, Alton’s Pride and Potton, Shannon IPA

Best Bitter Category

1. Houston, Peter’s Well
2. Country Life, Golden Pig
3. Joint bronze – Castle Rock, Preservation and Bollington, Best Bitter and Blythe, Staffie

Golden Ale Category

1. Cumbrian Legendary Ales, Loweswater Gold
2. Salamander, Golden Salamander
3. Holden’s, Golden Glow

Strong Bitter Category

1. Moles, Mole Catcher
2. Kinver, Half Centurion
3. Adnams, Broadside

Speciality Beer Category

1. Oakleaf, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Bitter
2. Amber, Chocolate Orange Stout
3. Orkney, Atlas Wayfarer

Winter Beer of Britain

1. Dow’s Bridge, Praetorian Porter
2. Holden’s, Old Ale
3. Hop Back, Entire Stout
4. Marble, Chocolate

Bottled Beer of Britain

1. St Austell, Proper Job
2. Molson Coors, Worthington White Shield
3. Brown Cow, Captain Oates Dark Oat Mild