{"id":4870,"date":"2024-09-24T16:32:21","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T16:32:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/?p=4870"},"modified":"2024-09-24T16:37:39","modified_gmt":"2024-09-24T16:37:39","slug":"champion-beer-of-london-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/2024\/09\/24\/champion-beer-of-london-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Champion Beer of London"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CAMRA\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the last few years the competition has been held at the Ealing Beer Festival which is now CAMRA\u2019s largest cask beer festival in London. Over 30 beers were tasted \u2018blind\u2019 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scoring was close but the overall winner was Anspach & Hobday\u2019s The IPA (6% ABV), a fruity hoppy gold coloured beer (IPA category). Paul Anspach was delighted, \u201cIt was one of the first beers we brewed and we kept it in our range. We are really pleased it has got this recognition.\u201d Close behind was Fuller\u2019s ESB (5.5% ABV) from the Premium Bitters category. Guy Stewart, Fuller\u2019s brewing manager said, \u201cI am thrilled to receive these awards on behalf of the hard working and dedicated team at the brewery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Receiving awards is always nice but CAMRA awards are special as I know how passionate they are about good beer.\u201d In third place was Sambrook\u2019s from Wandsworth with their Powerhouse Porter (4.9% ABV) (Session Porters & Stouts category). Founder Duncan Sambrook said, \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other category winners were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n