CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain competition is like the Oscars of the cask beer world. The beers to be considered in each of the twelve beer style categories are nominated by CAMRA members and CAMRA’s Tasting Panels. There are nine geographical judging regions and the six to eight beers with the most scores in each style category from each region are judged locally; that makes 72 judging panels in total. The winners from each regional panel then go forward to be judged at national level. This process means that, inevitably, not every great beer manages to get even as far as the regional judges. It was for this reason that we set up the Champion Beer of London competition so as to allow a greater number of London beers to be judged and to have a chance to gain recognition.
For the last few years the competition has been held at the Ealing Beer Festival which is now CAMRA’s largest cask beer festival in London. Over 30 beers were tasted ‘blind’ by 30 judges, working in several panels, who determined the winners in each of the different style categories. The winning beers were then assessed by a further panel of six judges who selected the top three beers. They had a difficult job, comparing beers as widely different as stouts and brown and red ales to bitters, pale ales, golden ales and blonds.
The scoring was close but the overall winner was Anspach & Hobday’s The IPA (6% ABV), a fruity hoppy gold coloured beer (IPA category). Paul Anspach was delighted, “It was one of the first beers we brewed and we kept it in our range. We are really pleased it has got this recognition.” Close behind was Fuller’s ESB (5.5% ABV) from the Premium Bitters category. Guy Stewart, Fuller’s brewing manager said, “I am thrilled to receive these awards on behalf of the hard working and dedicated team at the brewery.
Receiving awards is always nice but CAMRA awards are special as I know how passionate they are about good beer.” In third place was Sambrook’s from Wandsworth with their Powerhouse Porter (4.9% ABV) (Session Porters & Stouts category). Founder Duncan Sambrook said, “We really appreciate CAMRA’s Ealing Beer Festival running this competition to promote London cask beer. We are always delighted when our beer is recognised and appreciated and to pick up overall Bronze is a tribute to the skills and dedication of our brewing team.”
The other category winners were:
- Session Bitters: Anspach & Hobday – The Ordinary Bitter (3.7% ABV);
- Speciality: Portobello – Market Porter (4.6% ABV);
- Session Pale, Blond and Golden Ales: Wimbledon Brewery – SW19 (4% ABV);
- Premium Pale, Blond and Golden Ales: Five Points Brewing – Pale (4.4% ABV);
- Brown & Red Ales, Old Ales and Strong Milds: Southwark Brewery – Routemaster Red (3.8% ABV);
- Strong Porters & Stouts Category: East London Brewing – Quadrant Stout (5.5% ABV).
You can find the full list of beers judged on the Champion Beer of London page on the regional website.
If you would like to have an influence on which beers are judged in the Champion beer of Britain competition for 2025, then please take a few minutes to vote and have your say via https://tinyurl.com/CBOB-voting.
Voting is open until 2 November.
Christine Cryne
Presentations
As is customary, every winner was awarded a certificate. In some cases the opportunity was taken to present some other certificates as well, such as Champion Beer of Britain regional awards. The presentations were mostly made at the respective breweries. Here are some photos:
First photo: Christine (right) presented the overall winner’s award to Anspach & Hobday and Regional Director Ellie Eames is in there somewhere!
Second photo: brewery liaison officer Charles Owens (fifth from left) presented Fuller’s brewing team with a number of certificates. Guy Stewart is in the middle.
Third photo: Duncan Sambrook (with certificate) and his brewing team plus some supporters…
Fourth photo: Brewery liaison officer Martin Butler presents the certificate for Wimbledon Brewery to their brewer, Billy Ampatzis.
