Dunham Porter at 5.2% ABV, brewed by Dunham Massey Brewery (Altrincham, Greater Manchester), has been crowned CAMRA’s Supreme Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2014 by a panel of judges at the National Winter Ales Festival in Derby.
The winning beer is described as a classic old-style English porter; creamy, full-bodied and packed with flavour. It is the second year a porter has won the overall Champion Winter Beer of Britain.
Dunham Massey owner John Costello, had this to say on the win:
“We’re made up! We are a relatively new brewery who love making traditional styles like porters, milds and stouts, and I thought our porter would do well but I can’t believe we’ve won overall Champion – I’m over the moon. The CAMRA [Champion Winter Beer of Britain] awards mean everything to us. It’s the highest accolade a dark beer can earn.”
A panel of beer writers, members of the licensed trade and CAMRA members judged the competition. Nik Antona, Champion Winter Beer of Britain Director had this to say on the importance of the competition:
“The Winter Beer of Britain competition has been given even greater significance in recent years, with the last two winners going on to win the Overall Champion Beer of Britain held at the Great British Beer Festival in the summer. Proving these once lesser-known styles are perfect for drinking all year round!“
CAMRA information: www.camra.org.uk and www.nwaf.org.uk
Dunham Massey Brewery: www.dunhammasseybrewing.co.uk
National Champion Winter Beer of Britain Winners
Overall Champion
Dunham Massey – Dunham Porter (Greater Manchester)
Silver
Cairngorm – Black Gold (Highlands, Scotland)
Bronze
Exe Valley – Winter Glow (Devon)
Category Winners:
Barley wine
- Gold: Kinver Brewery – Over the Edge (Staffordshire)
- Silver: Moor – Old Freddy Walker (Somerset)
- Bronze (Joint): Green Jack – Ripple Tripel (Suffolk), Highland – Orkney Porter (Orkney)
Old Ale/Strong Milds
- Gold: Exe Valley – Winter Glow (Devon)
- Silver: Beowulf – Dark Raven (Staffordshire)
- Bronze: Grainstore – Rutland Beast (Rutland)
Stout
- Gold: Cairngorm – Black Gold (Highlands, Scotland)
- Silver: Ascot Ales – Anastasia’s Exile Stout (Surrey)
- Bronze: Marble – Stouter Stout (Greater Manchester)
Porter
- Gold: Dunham Massey – Dunham Porter (Greater Manchester)
- Silver: Ayr Brewery – Rabbie’s Porter (Ayrshire)
- Bronze: Bateman’s – Salem Porter (Lincolnshire)