2013 Norfolk Champion Beer of the Year revealed

The Norwich & Norfolk Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) are delighted to announce the category winners, as well as the overall winner of draught Beer of the Year for 2013, which is the result of Norfolk branch’s Tasting Panel scores throughout the year.

The Panel has met over 71 sessions in the past year at various pubs and tasted 49 beers from 16 of Norfolk’s 30+ breweries.

The best beers in the eight categories were won by five Norfolk breweries with two awards each for the Fat Cat Brewery, taking best Golden beer (Hell Cat) and Speciality beer (Honey Ale), Woodforde’s took the honours for Old Ale/Strong Mild (Norfolk Nog) and Best Bitter

(Kett’s Rebellion) and Grain Brewery won the Strong Bitter (IPA) and Porter (with Porter). Humpty Dumpty won the Bitter category with Little Sharpie and Winter’s won with their Mild.

The overall champion is announced as Grain Brewery’s Porter, for the second year in succession, and the third in a row for the brewery from Alburgh, Harleston, because Grain’s Best Bitter was the champion in 2011.

Grain’s IPA won last year’s Norfolk Real Ale in a Bottle competition as well. The 5.2% Porter is described as an old-style porter; smooth and creamy, with the flavour of dark berries.

Alan Edwards, the Tasting Panel chair, said: “The continued success of the Grain Brewery shows what can be done with a clear vision and attention to detail. Having their own pub, The Plough in St Benedict’s Street, Norwich, gives them a perfect place to showcase their beers.

"It is pleasing that all the winning beers are regularly available in Norfolk pubs. Too often champion beers cannot be found by a thirsty public and too many brewers concentrate on brewing good beer but do not pay as much attention to making it freely available. Quality is as important as choice, and this is where a good landlord can make all the difference”.

The awards will be presented at the Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA’s Beer Festival trade session in October.

The full results are as follows:

Overall Champion – GRAIN BREWERY PORTER

Category winners:
Mild – WINTER’S BREWERY MILD
Bitter – HUMPTY DUMPTY LITTLE SHARPIE
Best Bitter – WOODFORDE’S KETT’S REBELLION
Strong Bitter – GRAIN BREWERY IPA
Golden Ale – FAT CAT BREWERY HELL CAT
Speciality Beer – FAT CAT BREWERY HONEY CAT
Old Ale/Strong Mild – WOODFORDE’S NORFOLK NOG
Porter – GRAIN BREWERY PORTER