The winners were revealed on 24th January at The Cottage pub on Silver Road, Norwich, at the presentation evening attended by many branch members, along with numerous representatives of the local breweries.
The Beers of the Festival awards for the 2012 Norwich Beer Festival were also presented during the evening.
Alan Edwards, the Tasting Panel chair, said “We tasted a ride range of ales, proving that Norfolk brewers can live with the best. The variety of styles had something for everyone and all were well presented.
"Bottle conditioned beers are the next best thing to cask conditioned beers and offer a real alternative for home consumption. There was real competition in all categories and the winning beers are well worth seeking out.”
The overall winner in the blind tastings was Grain Brewery’s IPA. The 6.5% traditional Indian Pale Ale is described as ‘Amber coloured with a rich fruity aroma; a complex mix of flavours finds malt mixing with a dark marmalade background enhanced by hoppy overtones.’
The overall runner-up was Beeston’s Brewery’s named The Squirrels Nuts. The 3.5% Mild described as ‘A bouquet of roast coffee grains and cherries introduces this fulsome red brown ale; a well balanced blend of malt, roast and caramel is given contrast by a gentle hazelnut hoppiness.’
Alan continued “Grain Brewery, one of our smaller breweries, can consider themselves worthy Champions. It took a lot of hard tasting before the winners emerged. N&N CAMRA hope to run the competition again in 2013 and hope that more of the county’s brewers will enter.”
FULL RESULTS
Champion Beer and Strong Bitter winner: Grain Brewery - IPA
Runner Up and Mild winner: Beeston Brewery - The Squirrels Nuts
Speciality Ale winner: Why Not Brewery - Norfolk Honey Ale
Stout and Porter winner: Norfolk Square Brewery - Winklepicker
Bitter winner: Humpty Dumpty Brewery - Humpty Dumpty Ale
Barley Wine winner: Woodfordes - Headcracker
