The White Lion is our Cider Pub of the Year for 2015

For the fourth consecutive year, the members of the Norwich & Norfolk branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) have selected The White Lion pub, on Oak Street in Norwich, as the branch's Cider Pub of the Year.

Pubs within the branch providing the best real cider and perry have been nominated by members and the final voting took place at the recent branch AGM.

Although the White Lion has won the award since the Cider Pub of the Year was introduced in 2012, it is the first time that Landlord Alex Waters has received the Norwich & Norfolk branch’s title although he has worked there for a number of years.

Mr Water said after being given the good news: "We are thrilled to hear that The White Lion has been awarded the Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year. Since taking over from Ben and Becky Ackers in August 2014, we have continued to specialise in providing a diverse range of quality real ciders from all parts of the country, with an emphasis on Norfolk cider”.

He continued: "We sell ciders from Jonty's, Crone's, East Norfolk, Harleston, Burnard's, the Norfolk Cider Company and Whin Hill, as well as 10-15 ciders from the West Country, Wales, Essex and elsewhere. We also sell lots of good real ale and home cooked, locally sourced seasonal British food.

"We are passionate about what we do here and would like to thank the Norfolk and Norwich branch CAMRA members for voting for us and continuing to drink at The White Lion."

The White Lion now goes into a head-to-head with the West Norfolk branch’s winner, The Railway Tavern in Downham Market and also the Wortwell Bell which was Mid Anglia’s winner, with the overall Norfolk victor progressing to the Regional level of the competition.

Warren Wordsworth, the Norwich and Norfolk Branch Chairman said: “I would like to congratulate The White Lion for winning Norwich & Norfolk Branch’s Cider Pub of the Year for an impressive fourth year in a row.

"The White Lion is a great pub, which actually was closed for quite a number of years but reopened in September 2008, and now has an excellent choice of ciders and perries which has helped raise awareness of local producers and the variety of these traditional, natural drinks available at pubs. I wish The White Lion and Mr Waters luck in the future rounds of the competition”.

The White Lion will be presented with the award certificate in the near future.

Kett's Rebellion is top Norfolk beer of 2015

Woodforde’s Brewery's Kett's Rebellion has claimed the top prize in the Norwich and Norfolk Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) Taste Panel.

The trained tasters have sampled 44 different beers, hailing from 14 breweries all over Norfolk, and submitted a total of 2014 taste cards from the tastings held at various pubs over the last year.

Alan Edwards, Chair of the Tasting Panel, described the winning beer as having “decent depth of flavour, well balanced and malty on the palate with a lovely sweetness coming through. Subtle hops are there to provide contrast”.

He also said that: “it is pleasing that the awards cover a variety of our 30-plus Norfolk breweries. Our largest producer can be proud that two beers, including the flagship Wherry Best Bitter, took the top awards in their categories before scooping the overall top places.

In contrast, our smaller concerns are well represented by the Golden Triangle, Lacon’s and Grain breweries. We can rightly be proud of the number of the breweries and beers they produce. There is something for everyone in the brews they offer”.

Neil Bain of Woodforde’s Brewery said he was “absolutely delighted” upon hearing the news from Mr Edwards. The Woodbastwick based brewery, which is Norfolk’s largest, also claimed the Bitter award with its Wherry.

Great Yarmouth based Lacon’s Brewery’s Affinity won the Golden Ale category. The Speciality category was topped by Blonde Ash from Grain Brewery from Alburgh, South Norfolk and the Golden Triangle brewery from Barford took the Strong Bitter award with Hop Lobster.

Mr Edwards continued: “However, what is of concern is that these beers are not as widely available as either the brewers or CAMRA would like. With more breweries starting every year, continual pub closures and domination by pub chains, large and small, the opportunity for a brewer to sell their beer at a realistic price is increasingly restricted.

"The panel is charged with tasting as many local brews as possible. However only 14 breweries products were sampled as, despite visiting many local hostelries, many remained disappointingly elusive. Brewer and Llndlord need to work together to ensure their mutual survival in the face of the voracious national and international conglomerates.

"We at CAMRA are willing and able to continue to further our relationships with, and efforts in support of, our dynamic local industries.”

RESULTS
Best Bitter & Champion: Woodforde’s, Kett’s Rebellion
Bitter & runner up: Woodforde’s, Wherry
Strong Bitter & third place: Golden Triangle, Hop Lobster
Golden Ale: Lacon’s Brewery, Affinity
Speciality Beer: Grain Brewery, Blonde Ash
Porter & Stout: Grain Brewery, Porter

Champion Bottled Beer of Norfolk 2015 results

The Panther Brewery of Reepham is purring with delight after their Black Panther Stout was named CAMRA’s Best Bottled Beer in Norfolk 2015.

The comments from the tasters included “A full, slightly smoky aroma”, “Complex, with a roast and cherry liquor character”, “Mellow and smooth”.

Competition organiser Alan Edwards explained: “The panel had to taste 44 entries from 10 of Norfolk’s many breweries. To gain the top award shows a well-crafted beer produced with care.

"The panellists were pleased with the variety of beers on offer; everyone found more than one beer to match their own style choice. This was the fourth year of the competition and again we were well served by our Norfolk breweries”.

The Panther Brewery also took the top award in the Golden Ale section. When being told the good news, Martin James from Panther Brewery said: "We are delighted to have won the awards as we have worked very hard at the oldest working brewery site in Norfolk to produce delicious ales that have Bite".

In the overall category, the Silver award was taken by Why Not Brewery with Chocolate Nutter and the Bronze was awarded to Humpty Dumpty Brewery's Red Mill.

For the first time the West Norfolk branch of CAMRA hosted one of the rounds as the organisers look to take the competition to members throughout the county.

Six breweries were award winners and a presentation evening will take place at the Leopard pub, Bull Close Road, Norwich on Monday 13th April at 8.00pm and it is open to all.

Real Ale In A Bottle (RAIB) is one of the cornerstones of CAMRA’s campaign to widen the market for our local breweries. Many of the beers are sold in local supermarkets, at Farmers Markets or direct from the brewery. Alan Edwards explained: "If you can’t get to the pub, then bring the beer to yourself!"

A full list of results, along with the contact details of the winning breweries, are below.

OVERALL WINNER CATEGORY
GOLD: PANTHER BREWERY - BLACK PANTHER
SILVER: WHY NOT BREWERY - CHOCOLATE NUTTER
BRONZE: HUMPTY DUMPTY BREWERY - RED MILL

MILD, BROWN & OLD ALE CATEGORY
GOLD: WHY NOT BREWERY - CHOCOLATE NUTTER
SILVER: ELMTREE BREWERY - NIGHTLIGHT MILD

BITTER CATEGORY
GOLD: HUMPTY DUMPTY BREWERY - RED MILL
SILVER: WINTERS BREWERY - CLOUDBURST
BRONZE: ELMTREE BREWERY - NORFOLK’S 80/-

STRONG BITTER CATEGORY
GOLD: WINTERS BREWERY - STORM FORCE
SILVER: ELMTREE BREWERY - GAMBRINOSITY
BRONZE: YETMANS BREWERY – GREEN

GOLDEN ALE CATEGORY
GOLD: PANTHER BREWERY - GOLD
SILVER: WHY NOT BREWERY - HARE OF THE DOG
BRONZE: WINTERS BREWERY – GOLDEN

SPECIALITY CATEGORY
GOLD: WHY NOT BREWERY - NORFOLK HONEY
SILVER: POPPYLAND BREWERY - ON THE EDGE

STOUT AND PORTER CATEGORY
GOLD PANTHER BREWERY - BLACK PANTHER
SILVER: WINTERS BREWERY – GENIUS

UNIQUE CATEGORY
GOLD: POPPYLAND BREWERY - DAYS OF EMPIRE