Real Ale lovers in the county are raising a glass to Audit Ale, an 8% Barley Wine brewed by Lacons of Great Yarmouth, that has been judged the top Real Ale in A Bottle (RAIB) brewed in Norfolk.
Described by the judges as having a ‘Smooth and malty character finely balanced by malt and berries’ the beer, one of Lacons Heritage Ales, triumphed in the annual competition organised by the Norfolk branches of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
Alan Edwards, Chair of the Norfolk Taste Panel explained, “The competition is organised to showcase the fine range of Norfolk brewed real ales that are available in bottles. These beers can be drunk at home or stocked in pubs shops and restaurants that may not always have cask ales. This is another way for us all to support our local brewers.”
Audit Ale is a multi-award-winning brew having won Champion Winter Beer of Britain at The Great British Beer Festival in 2019, CAMRA Overall Gold Champion Bottled Beer of Norfolk 2021 and most recently Champion Beer of Britain East Anglia: Barley Wine & Strong Ales Category.
Runner Up in the competition is Big Sharpie, a 5% Premium Pale Ale brewed by Reedham based Humpty Dumpty Brewery with Overall Third Place going to Bouchart X a fearsome 10% Strong Mild brewed by North Norfolk brewers Moon Gazer Ales.
The competition, open to all Norfolk brewers, attracted 77 entries from 15 breweries. All parts of Norfolk are represented in the list of winners. The Lynn Brewery from West Norfolk, one of the many new thriving microbreweries won three categories whilst North and South Norfolk are represented by Moon Gazer Ales of Hindringham and Elmtree from Snetterton.
CHAMPION BOTTLED BEER OF NORFOLK 2023
OVERALL
WINNER: Audit Ale; Lacons, Great Yarmouth
RUNNER UP: Big Sharpie; Humpty Dumpty, Reedham
THIRD: Bouchart X; Moon Gazer, Hindringham
CATEGORY WINNERS
MILDS
WINNER: Red Mount Mild; Lynn, King’s Lynn
SESSION BITTERS
WINNER: Lynn Ferry Bitter; Lynn, King’s Lynn
RUNNER UP: Best Bitter; Elmtree, Snetterton
PREMIUM BITTERS
WINNER: Snetterton Scary Tree; Elmtree, Snetterton
IPAs
WINNER: Top of the Hop; Elmtree, Snetterton
RUNNER UP: Highlight; Lacons, Great Yarmouth
SESSION PALE BLONDE & GOLDEN ALES
WINNER: Vancouver Blonde; Lynn, King’s Lynn
RUNNER UP: Evolutio; Mr Winter’s, Norwich
THIRD: Galaxy Dream; Tindall, Seething
PREMIUM PALE BLONDE & GOLDEN ALES
WINNER: Big Sharpie; Humpty Dumpty, Reedham
RUNNER UP: Golden Pale; Elmtree, Snetterton
RED ALES, BROWN ALES, OLD ALES & STRONG MILDS
WINNER: Bouchart X; Moon Gazer, Hindringham
RUNNER UP: Red Mill; Humpty Dumpty, Reedham
THIRD: Old Nog; Lacons, Great Yarmouth
SESSION STOUTS & PORTERS
WINNER: Three Threads Smoked Porter; Fengate, Marsham
RUNNER UP: Spiral Stout; Boudicca, Norwich
STRONG STOUTS & PORTERS
WINNER: Dark Amber; Birdhouse, Downham Market
RUNNER UP: Imperial Extra Double Stout; Fengate, Marsham
BARLEY WINES & STRONG ALES
WINNER: Audit Ale; Lacons, Great Yarmouth
RUNNER UP: Bob’s Tale;Moon Gazer, Hindringham
SPECIALITY BEERS
WINNER: Yarmouth Strong; Lacons, Great Yarmouth
RUNNER UP: Cherry Stout; Fengate, Marsham
THIRD: Vanilla Latte; Mr Winter’s, Norwich