Champion Beer of Britain

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Pump clip for the Champion Beer of Britain winner in 2004, Kelham Island Pale Rider
Rosette on the pump clip for Mighty Oak Oscar Wilde at the 2011 Great British Beer Festival, announcing it as the Supreme Champion for that year

The Champion Beer of Britain (also known as CBOB) is an award presented by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), at its annual Great British Beer Festival in early August.

Qualification and judging[edit]

Beers can qualify for the Champion Beer of Britain in three ways:

  • CAMRA tasting panels judge the beers in their geographic area of the UK. The recommendations of these panels are put forward to six regional panels, with the winners of these qualifying for the finals in August.
  • Votes from CAMRA members via a form in What's Brewing, the CAMRA newsletter.
  • Winning one of the 150 Beer Of The Festival awards from CAMRA beer festivals held throughout the year

Nominated beers are then grouped into categories and go through several rounds of blind tasting at the Great British Beer Festival (GBBF). Category winners are then re-judged to determine the supreme champion — the Supreme Champion Beer of Britain.

Up until 2015, the Supreme Champion was to be announced at the GBBF. In 2016, however, the announcement was made at a special Champion Beer of Britain Awards Dinner held in the evening of 9 August (the first day of that year's festival) at the Kensington Olympia Hilton Hotel on the first day of the festival. The change was made to raise the profile of the competition.[1][2] After an outcry from members the process of announcing the winning beers during the trade day afternoon at GBBF was quickly reinstated.

The judges of the competition usually include professional brewers, beer writers, and respected beer enthusiasts.[3] The focus of the judging is whether the judges actually enjoy the beer, as opposed to the American approach of judging a beer's technical merits.[3]

While the award is prestigious, winning has sometimes caused problems for smaller breweries who have been unable to meet the demand for their champion beers caused by the newfound fame and publicity.[3]

Categories[edit]

Beers can be split into categories depending on their style or strength, from 2023 the categories were changed:

Category name changes[edit]

Pump clip for Crouch Vale Brewers Gold at the 2008 Great British Beer Festival, advertising it was the Supreme Champion in both 2005 and 2006.

The Old Ales & Barley Wines category has been renamed over the years. The award was first presented in 1991. In 1992 the category was split into two - Old Ales and Barley Wines. The new Old Ales category was renamed in 1993 to Old Ales & Strong Milds, changed again to Old Ales & Strong Ales in 1994, finally reverting to Old Ales & Strong Milds in 1996.

The Strong Ale category was changed in 1991 to Strong Bitter, with the Strong Milds joining the Old Ales category.

Winter Ales Festival[edit]

A winter ales festival has been held since 1991, the winner, since 1996, being named the Champion Winter Beer of Britain

Since 1996 the Old Ales & Strong Milds, Barley Wines and Porters & Stouts have been judged as part of the Champion Winter Beer Of Britain awards at the National Winter Ales Festival. In 2023 Speciality beers also moved to the Winter ales festival.

Results[edit]

Key
  • Blue background indicates beers that were named Supreme Champion after winning in their category.

Supreme Champion category[edit]

From 1990 onwards Gold, Silver and Bronze awards were made instead of just having an overall winner.

Year Gold Silver Bronze
1978 Thwaites Best Mild (Lancashire)
Fuller's, ESB (London)
n/a n/a
1979 Fuller's, London Pride (London) n/a n/a
1980 Thwaites, Best Mild (Lancashire) n/a n/a
1981 Fuller's, ESB (London) n/a n/a
1982 Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) n/a n/a
1983 Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) n/a n/a
1984 No event was held this year
1985 Fuller's, ESB (London) n/a n/a
1986 Batemans, XXXB (Lincolnshire) n/a n/a
1987 Pitfield, Dark Star (Greater London) n/a n/a
1988 Ringwood, Old Thumper (Hampshire) n/a n/a
1989 Fuller's, Chiswick Bitter (London) n/a n/a
1990 Ind Coope, Burton Ale (Staffordshire) Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) Robinsons, Old Tom (Manchester)
1991 Mauldons, Black Adder (Suffolk) Fuller's, ESB (London) Brains, Dark (Cardiff)
1992 Woodforde's, Norfolk Nog (Norfolk) Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) Batemans, Salem Porter (Lincolnshire)
1993 Adnams, Extra (Suffolk) Timothy Taylor, Best Bitter (West Yorkshire) Woodforde's, Headcracker (Norfolk)
1994 Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) Coach House, Blunderbuss (Cheshire) Woodforde's, Headcracker (Norfolk)
1995 Cottage, Norman's Conquest (Somerset) Harvey's, Porter (Sussex) Hadrian, Centurion (Newcastle)
1996 Woodforde's, Wherry Best Bitter (Norfolk) Cheriton, Digger's Gold (Hampshire) Butterknowle, Banner Bitter (County Durham)
1997 Mordue, Workie Ticket (Tyne & Wear) Batemans, Dark Mild (Lincolnshire) Hobsons, Best Bitter (Shropshire)
1998 Coniston, Bluebird Bitter (Cumbria) Mordue, Radgie Gadgie (Tyne & Wear) Moorhouse's, Black Cat (Lancashire)
1999 Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) Oakham, JHB (Jeffrey Hudson Bitter) (Cambridgeshire) Caledonian, Deuchars IPA (Edinburgh)
2000 Moorhouse's, Black Cat (Lancashire) Hogs Back, TEA (Surrey) York Brewery, Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkshire)
2001 Oakham, Jeffrey Hudson Bitter (Cambridgeshire) Hop Back, Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) Brains, Dark (Cardiff)
2002 Caledonian, Deuchars IPA (Edinburgh) RCH, East Street Cream (Somerset) Triple fff, Moondance (Hampshire)
2003 Harviestoun, Bitter & Twisted (Clackmannanshire) Brains, Dark (Cardiff) Bazens, Black Pig (Manchester)
2004 Kelham Island, Pale Rider (Sheffield) Greene King, IPA (Suffolk) Hampshire, Ironside (Hampshire)
2005 Crouch Vale, Brewers Gold (Essex) Grainstore, Rutland Panther (Rutland) Woodforde's, Wherry (Norfolk)
2006 Crouch Vale, Brewers Gold (Essex) Harvey's, Sussex Best Bitter (Sussex) Triple fff, Moondance (Hampshire)
2007 Hobsons, Mild (Shropshire) Mighty Oak, Maldon Gold (Essex) Green Jack, Ripper (Suffolk)
2008 Triple fff, Alton's Pride (Hampshire)[4] Beckstones, Black Dog Freddy (Cumbria) Wickwar, Station Porter (Gloucestershire)
2009 Rudgate, Ruby Mild (North Yorkshire) Oakham, Attila (Cambridgeshire) West Berkshire, Dr Hexter's Healer (Berkshire)
2010 Castle Rock, Harvest Pale (Nottinghamshire) Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) Surrey Hills, Hammer Mild (Surrey)
2011 Mighty Oak, Oscar Wilde (Essex) Marble, Chocolate (Manchester) Salopian, Shropshire Gold (Shropshire)
2012 Coniston, No.9 Barley Wine (Cumbria) Green Jack, Trawlerboys Best Bitter (Suffolk) Dark Star, American Pale Ale (Sussex)
2013 Elland, 1872 Porter (West Yorkshire) Buntingford, Twitchell (Hertfordshire) Fyne Ales, Jarl (Argyll & Bute)
2014 Timothy Taylor, Boltmaker (West Yorkshire) Oakham, Citra (Cambridgeshire) Salopian, Darwin's Origin (Shropshire)
2015 Tiny Rebel, Cwtch (Newport) Kelburn, Jaguar (East Renfrewshire) Dancing Duck, Dark Drake (Derby)
2016 Binghams, Vanilla Stout (Berkshire) Old Dairy, Snow Top (Kent) Tring, Death or Glory (Hertfordshire)
2017 Church End, Goats Milk (Warwickshire) Bishop Nick, Ridley's Rite (Essex) Tiny Rebel, Cwtch (Newport)
2018 Siren Craft, Broken Dream Breakfast Stout (Berkshire) Green Jack, Ripper (Suffolk) Mordue, Workie Ticket (Tyne & Wear)
2019 Surrey Hills, Shere Drop (Surrey) [5] Grey Trees, Afghan Pale (Rhondda Cynon Taf) Oakham, Citra (Cambridgeshire)
2020 Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022 Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2023 Elland, 1872 Porter (West Yorkshire) [6] Greene King, Abbot Ale (Suffolk) Salopian, Darwin's Origin (Shropshire)
Source: Champion Beer of Britain Results

Mild category[edit]

Year Gold Silver Bronze
1978 Thwaites, Best Mild (Lancashire) n/a n/a
1979 Hanson's, Mild Thwaites, Mild (Lancashire) n/a
1980 Thwaites, Best Mild (Lancashire) Courage, Heavy Banks's, Mild
1981 Banks's Mild Tetley's Mild Thwaites Best Mild (Lancashire)
1982 Tetley's Mild Thwaites Mild (Lancashire) West Riding Mild
1983 Ansells, Mild Banks's, Mild Highgate, Mild
1984 No event was held this year
1985 Ansells Mild Hook Norton Mild Adnams Mild
1986 Thwaites Best Mild (Lancashire) Highgate Mild Hook Norton Mild
1987 Ansells Mild Thwaites Best Mild (Lancashire) Timothy Taylor Golden Best (West Yorkshire)
1988 Batemans Mild M&B Highgate Mild Timothy Taylor Best (West Yorkshire)
1989 Timothy Taylor Golden Best Courage Bitter Ale Batemans Mild
1990 Harvey's Pale Ale Batemans Mild Timothy Taylor Golden Best (West Yorkshire)
1991 Brains Dark Gales XXXD (Horndean) Guernsey LBA
1992 Timothy Taylor Golden Best (West Yorkshire) King & Barnes Sussex Mild Brains Dark
1993 Woodforde's Mardlers Mild Adnams Mild n/a
1994 Hoskins & Oldfield Mild Coachhouse Gunpowder Strong Mild Highgate Dark
1995 Ridley Mild Hoskins & Oldfield Mild Cains Mild (Liverpool)
1996 Tomlinsons Heritage Mild Batemans Dark Mild Harvey's Sussex XX Mild
1997 Batemans Dark Mild Cains Dark Mild (Liverpool) Coach House Gunpowder Strong Mild
1998 Moorhouse's Black Cat Mild Elgood's Black Dog Mild (Cambridgeshire) Harvey's Sussex XX Mild
1999 Batemans Dark Mild Elgood's Black Dog Mild (Cambridgeshire) Cains Dark Mild (Liverpool);
St Austell XXXX (Cornwall)
2000 Moorhouse's, Black Cat (Lancashire) Batemans Dark Brains Dark
2001 Brains Dark Moorhouse's Black Cat Boat Brewery Man in a Boat
2002 Triple fff Pressed Rat & Warthog (Hampshire) Boat Brewery Man in a Boat Moorhouse's Black Cat
2003 Lidstones Rowley Mild Brains Dark Bazens Black Pig Mild
2004 Lees GB Mild (Manchester) Brains Dark Hardys & Hansons Kimberley Mild
2005 Grainstore Rutland Panther Brains Dark Elgood's Black Dog (Cambridgeshire)
2006 Mighty Oak, Oscar Wilde (Essex) Elgood's Black Dog (Cambridgeshire) Grainstore Rutland Panther
2007 Hobsons, Mild (Shropshire) Nottingham Rock Mild Brain's Dark
2008 Beckstones, Black Dog Freddy (Cumbria) Rudgate, Ruby Mild (York) Rhymney, Dark (Merthyr Tydfil)
2009 Rudgate, Ruby Mild (North Yorkshire) Bank Top, Dark Mild (Lancashire) Highland, Dark Munro (Orkney)
2010 Surrey Hills Hammer Mild Greene King XX Mild (Suffolk) Golcar Dark Mild;
Nottingham Rock Ale Mild
2011 Mighty Oak, Oscar Wilde (Essex) Rudgate, Ruby Mild Coastal, Merry Maidens
2012 Rudgate, Ruby Mild (North Yorkshire) Hobsons, Hobsons Mild (Shropshire) Son of Sid, Muckcart Mild (Bedfordshire)
2013 Great Orme, Welsh Black (Conwy) Cotswold Spring, Old Sodbury Mild (Gloucestershire) Fernandes, Malt Shovel Mild (West Yorkshire)
2014 Bank Top, Dark Mild Branscombe Vale, Mild Castle Rock, Black Gold
2015 Williams Bros, Black Rudgate, Ruby Mild Great Orme, Welsh Black
2016 Williams Bros, Black Mighty Oak, Oscar Wilde (Essex) Acorn, Darkness
2017 Rudgate, Ruby Mild (North Yorkshire) West Berkshire, Maggs' Magnificent Mild Winter's, Mild (Norfolk)
2018 Greene King, XX Mild (Suffolk) Rhymney, Dark (Gwent) East London Brewery, Orchid (Greater London)
2019 Church End, Grave Digger's Ale (Warwickshire) [5] Fernandes, Malt Shovel Mild (West Yorkshire) West Berkshire, Maggs' Mild (Berkshire)
2020 Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2023 Harvey's, Dark Mild (East Sussex) Bank Top, Dark Mild (Greater Manchester) Church End, Grave Digger's Ale (Warwickshire)
Source: Champion Beer of Britain Results

Session Bitter category[edit]

Year Gold Silver Bronze
1978 Ridleys Bitter n/a n/a
1979 Fuller's London Pride (London) Wadworth 6X Sam Smiths Old Brewery Bitter
1980 Exmoor Ale Archers Bitter Young's Bitter
1981 West Riding Tyke Shepherd Neame n/a
1982 Clarke's Wakefield West Riding Bitter Tetley's Bitter
1983 Burton Bridge Bitter Shepherd Neame Bitter Young's Bitter
1984 No event was held this year
1985 Gales BBB (Horndean) Brakspear Bitter Burton Bridge Bitter
1986 Brakspear PA Young's Bitter Gales BBB (Horndean)
1987 King & Barnes Sussex Thwaites Bitter (Lancashire) Young's Bitter
1988 Tetley's Bitter King & Barnes Sussex Hook Norton Bitter
1989 Fuller's, Chiswick Bitter (London) Butcombe Bitter Golden Hill Exmoor Ale
1990 Adnams Bitter Young's Bitter Butcombe Bitter
1991 Cain's Traditional Bitter Stones Best Bitter Young's Bitter
1992 Ridley's IPA Butterknowle Bitter Plassey Bitter
1993 Timothy Taylor Best Bitter (West Yorkshire) Caledonian R&D Deuchars IPA n/a
1994 Everards Beacon Caledonian R&D Deuchars IPA Judge's Barrister Best
1995 Cheriton Pots Ale Everards Beacon Oakham JHB (Cambridgeshire)
1996 Woodforde's, Wherry (Norfolk) Caledonian R&D Deauchers IPA Butcombe Bitter
Big Lamp Bitter
1997 Hobsons Best Bitter Ruddles Best Bitter Goddards Special
Hydes Bitter (Bronze)
1998 Coniston, Bluebird Bitter (Cumbria) Oakham JHB (Cambridgeshire) Dent Aviator
Itchen Valley Godfathers
1999 Oakham JHB (Cambridgeshire) Caledonian Deuchars IPA Goddards special
Woodforde's Wherry
2000 Bullmastiff Gold & Brakspear Bitter n/a Oakham JHB (Cambridgeshire)
Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted (Clackmannanshire)
2001 Oakham, JHB (Cambridgeshire) Adnams Bitter Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted (Clackmannanshire)
Barge and Barrel Bargee
2002 Caledonian, Deuchars IPA (Edinburgh) Rudgate Viking RCH Hewish IPA
Oakham JHB (Cambridgeshire)
2003 Harviestoun, Bitter & Twisted (Clackmannanshire) Daleside Bitter (Yorkshire) Triple fff Alton Pride (Hampshire)
Caledonian Deuchars IPA
2004 Greene King IPA (Suffolk) Oakham JHB (Cambridgeshire) Triple fff Alton Pride (Hampshire)
Whim Hartington Bitter
2005 Woodforde's Wherry Best Bitter Holdens Black Copuntry Bitter RCH PG Steam
Belvoir Star
2006 Elgood's Cambridge Bitter (Cambridgeshire) Acorn Brewery Barnsley Bitter Sharp's Doom Bar
Woodforde Wherry
2007 Castle Rock Harvest Pale Twickenham Crane Sundancer Surrey Hills Ranmore Ale;
Fyne Piper's Gold
2008 Triple fff, Alton's Pride (Hampshire) Lees, Bitter (Manchester) Jarrow, Rivet Catcher (Tyne & Wear);
Surrey Hills, Ranmore Ale (Surrey)
2009 Surrey Hills, Ranmore Ale (Surrey) Butcombe, Bitter (Avon) Humpty Dumpty, Little Sharpie (Norfolk);
Triple fff, Alton's Pride (Hampshire)
2010 RCH PG Steam Moor Revival Orkney Raven
Purple Moose Snowdonia Ale
2011 Salopian, Shropshire Gold Teignworthy, Reel Ale Triple fff, Altons Pride (Hampshire)
Potton, Shannon IPA
2012 Purple Moose, Snowdonia Ale (Gwynedd) Tintagel, Castle Gold (Cornwall) Flowerpots, Bitter (Hampshire)
Fuller's, Gales Seafarers Ale (London)
Salopian, Shropshire Gold (Shropshire)
2013 Buntingford, Twitchell (Hertfordshire) Moor, Revival (Somerset) Surrey Hills, Ranmore Ale (Surrey)
Buttcombe Bitter (Somerset)
2014 Timothy Taylor, Boltmaker (West Yorkshire) Mighty Oak, Captain Bob Flowerpots, Flowerpots Bitter
Sambrook's Wandle Ale (London)
2015 Pheasantry, Best Bitter Acorn, Barnsley Bitter Purple Moose, Madog's Ale
Timothy Taylor, Boltmaker (West Yorkshire)
2016 Timothy Taylor, Boltmaker Tiny Rebel (Newport), Hank Hawkshead, Bitter
Salopian, Shropshire Gold
2017 Church End, Goats Milk (Warwickshire) Bishop Nick, Ridley's Rite (Essex) Triple fff, Alton's Pride (Hampshire)
2018 Orkney, Red MacGregor (Northern Isles) Mighty Oak, Captain Bob (Essex) Bank Top, Flat Cap (Greater Manchester)
Acorn, Barnsley Bitter (South Yorkshire)
2019 Dancing Duck, Ay Up (Derbyshire) [5] Rhymney, Hobby Horse (Gwent) Wolf, Edith Cavell (Norfolk)
Ulverston, Laughing Gravy (Cumbria)
2020 Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2023 Salopian Brewery, Darwin's Origin[7] Timothy Taylor, Landlord The Mighty Oak Brewing Company, Captain Bob
Source: Champion Beer of Britain Results

Premium (Best) Bitter category[edit]

Year Gold Silver Bronze
1988 Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) Wadworth 6X Fuller's London Pride (London)
1989 Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) Batham Bitter Marston's Pedigree (Burton upon Trent)
1990 Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) Fuller's London Pride (London) Wadworth 6X
1991 Batham Best Bitter Marston's Pedigree Bitter (Burton upon Trent) Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire)
1992 Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) Butterknowle Concilliation Ale Exe Valley Dob's Bitter
1993 Adnams, Extra (Suffolk) Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) n/a
1994 Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) Fuller's London Pride (London) Concertina Band Club KW Special Pride
1995 Fuller's London Pride (London) Hogs Back TEA (Surrey)
Otter Ale
n/a
1996 Butterknowle Banner Bitter Camerons Strongarm Brains SA
Plassey Bitter
1997 Mordue, Workie Ticket (Tyne & Wear) Cottage Golden Ale Whitbread Castle Eden
Concertina Bengal Tiger
1998 RCH Pitchfork Adnams Extra Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire)
Fuller's London Pride (London)
1999 Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) Harvey's Armada Ale Jennings Cocker Hoop
Tomos Watkin OSB
2000 Hogs Back TEA (Surrey) York Yorkshire Terrier Bitter Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire)
Houston St Peter's Well
2001 RCH Pitchfork Woodforde's Nelson's Revenge Goddards Special
Hog's Back TEA
2002 Triple fff Moondance (Hampshire) Crouch Vale Brewers Gold Orkney Red McGregor
Fuller's London Pride (London)
2003 Crouch Vale Brewers Gold West Berkshire Full Circle Slaters Supreme
Roosters Hooligan
2004 Hampshire Ironside Hook Norton Generation Nottingham Extra Pale Ale
Woodfordes Nelson's Revenge
2005 Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter Mighty Oak Burntwood Bitter Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire)
Olde Swan Entire
2006 Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter Triple fff Moon Dance (Hampshire) Kelburn Red Smiddy
Surrey Hills Shere Drop
2007 Purple Moose Glaslyn Ale George Wright Pipe Dream Fuller's London Pride (London);
Nethergate Suffolk County;
Station House Buzzin'
2008 Skinner's, Betty Stogs (Cornwall) Highland, Scapa Special (Orkney) Cairngorm, Nessies Monster Mash (Highlands);
Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire)
2009 Southport, Golden Sands (Merseyside) Buntingford, Britannia (Hertfordshire) Evan Evans, Cwrw (Carmarthenshire);
Thornbridge, Lord Marples (Derbyshire);
Vale, VPA (Buckinghamshire)
2010 Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) St Austell Tribute (Cornwall) Evan Evans Cwrw
Great Oakley Gobble
2011 Houston, Peter's Well Country life, Golden Pig Castle Rock, Preservation
Bollington, Best Bitter
2012 Green Jack, Trawlerboys Best Bitter (Suffolk) Salopian, Hop Twister (Shropshire) Oakwell, Senior Bitter (South Yorkshire)
Milton, Pegasus (Cambridgeshire)
2013 Mordue, Workie Ticket (North Shields) Surrey Hills, Shere Drop (Surrey) Purple Moose, Glaslyn (Gwynedd)
Woodforde's, Nelsons Revenge (Norfolk)
2014 Salopian, Darwin's Origin Red Willow, Directionless Purity, Mad Goose
Langton, Inclined Plain Bitter
2015 Tiny Rebel, Cwtch (Newport) Highland, Scapa Special Barngates, Tag Lag
Salopian, Darwin's Origin
2016 Surrey Hills, Shere Drop Salopian, Darwin's Origin Colchester, Colchester No.1
Tiny Rebel, Cwtch (Newport)
2017 Tiny Rebel, Cwtch (Newport) Blackedge, Pike (Greater Manchester) Surrey Hills, Shere Drop (Surrey)
West Berkshire, Good Old Boy
2018 Mordue, Workie Ticket (Tyne & Wear) Bishop Nick, 1555 (Essex) St Austell, Tribute (Cornwall)
Salopian, Darwin's Origin (Shropshire)
2019 Surrey Hills, Shere Drop (Surrey) [5] Green Jack, Trawler Boys (Suffolk) Castle Rock, Preservation (Nottingham)
Salopian, Darwin's Origin (Shropshire)
2020 Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2023 Greene King, Abbot Ale [7] Glamorgan Brewing, Jemima's Pitchfork Batemans, XXXB
Source: Champion Beer of Britain Results

IPAs category[edit]

Year Gold Silver Bronze
2023 Bragdy Twt Lol, Diablo Dragons [7] Loch Lomond Brewery, Bravehop Thornbridge Brewery, Jaipur

Session Pale, Blond and Golden Ales category[edit]

Year Gold Silver Bronze
2023 Swannay Brewery, Island Hopping [7] Oakham Ales, Inferno Salopian Brewery, Oracle

Premium Pale, Blond and Golden Ales category[edit]

Year Gold Silver Bronze
2023 Baker's Dozen Brewing Co., Electric Landlady [7] Blackedge Brewing Co., Kiwi St Austell Brewery, Proper Job

Bottle-conditioned Beers category[edit]

Year Gold Silver Bronze
1991 Bass Worthington's White Shield Guinness Original Stout Eldridge Pope Thomas Hardy Ale
1992 Gales Prize Old Ale (Horndean) Eldridge Pope Thomas Hardy Ale Bass Worthington's White Shield
1993 Eldridge Pope's Thomas Hardy Ale Courage Imperial Russian Stout n/a
1994 Courage Imperial Russian Stout King & Barnes Festive Shepherd Neame Spitfire
1995 King & Barnes Festive Gales Prize Old Ale (Horndean) Bass Worthington's White Shield
1996 Marston's Oyster Stout (Burton upon Trent) Worthington's White Shield Courage Russian Imperial Stout
1997 Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) King & Barnes Festive Fuller's 1845 (London)
1998 Fuller's 1845 (London) Burton Bridge Empire Pale Ale Hampshire Brewery Pride of Romsey
1999 Young's Special London Ale Salopian Entire Butt Hampshire Pride of Romsey
2000 King & Barnes Worthington's White Shield Hampshire Pride of Romsey King & Barnes Festival
2001 RCH Ale Mary Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) Fuller's 1845 (London)
2002 Fuller's 1845 (London) Brakspear Live Organic Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire)
2003 O'Hanlons Original Port Stout Fuller's 1845 (London) RCH Old Slug Porter
2004 Titanic Stout Young's Special London Ale Yates' Isle of Wight Special
2005 Durham Evensong Young's Special London Ale Titanic Stout
2006 Worthington's White Shield Silver Greene King Hen's Tooth (Suffolk) Titanic Stout (Staffordshire)
2007 O'Hanlon's Port Stout Titanic Stout;
Wye Valley Dorothy Goodbody's Wholesome Stout
Wapping Baltic Gold
2008 Wye Valley, Dorothy Goodbody's Wholesome Stout Fuller's, 1845 (London) Wells and Young's, Special London Ale (Bedfordshire)
2009 Titanic, Stout (Staffordshire) Great Gable, Yewbarrow (Cumbria) White Shield Brewery, White Shield (Burton-on-Trent)
2010 St Austell, Admiral's Ale (Cornwall) Pitfield, 1850 London Porter (Essex) Great Oakley, Delapre Dark (Northamptonshire)
2011 St Austell, Proper Job (Cornwall) Molson Coors, Worthington's White Shield;
Brown Cow, Captain Oates Dark Oat Mild
n/a
2012 Stewart, Embra (Midlothian) Great Gable, Yewbarrow (Cumbria) Molson Coors, Worthington's White Shield (Staffordshire)
2013 Molson Coors, Worthington's White Shield (Staffordshire) St Austell, Proper Job (Cornwall) Harvey's, Imperial Extra Double Stout (East Sussex)
2014 Marble, Chocolate Marble (Manchester) St Austell, Proper Job (Cornwall) Spire, Prince Igor Imperial Russian Stout (Derbyshire)
2015 Harvey's, Imperial Extra Double Stout (Lewes, East Sussex) Fyne Ales, Superior India Pale Ale (Achadunan, Cairndow) Mordue, India Pale Ale (North Shields, Tyne & Wear)
2016 Stringers, Mutiny (Cumbria) Flipside, Russian Rouble (Nottinghamshire) Crouch Vale, Yakima Gold (Essex)
2017 St Austell, BIG Job (Cornwall) Fuller's, Vintage Ale 2017 (London) Oakham, Green Devil IPA (Peterborough)
2018 Fuller's, 1845 (London) Durham, Temptation Imperial (County Durham) St Austell, BIG Job (Cornwall)
2019 Thornbridge, Saint Petersburg Imperial Russian Stout (Derbyshire) St Austell, Proper Job (Cornwall) St Austell, BIG Job (Cornwall)
2020 Hogs Back, A Over T (Surrey) Durham, Temptation Imperial (County Durham) Harvey's, Imperial Extra Double Stout (East Sussex)
2021 Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022 Harvey's Brewery, Imperial Double Extra Stout[8] Hobsons Brewery, Dhustone Stout Runaway Brewery, Runaway IPA
2023 Green Jack Brewing, Baltic Trader [9] Hobsons Brewery, Dhustone Stout Five Kingdoms Brewery, McGregor's Mild
Source: Champion Bottled Beer of Britain Results

Defunct award categories[edit]

Strong Ale category (1979–1991)[edit]

Year Gold Silver Bronze
1978 Fuller's, ESB (London) n/a n/a
1979 Fuller's, ESB (London) Theakston Old Peculier Greene King Abbot Ale (Suffolk)
1980 Young's Special Gales HSB (Horndean) Fuller's ESB (London)
1981 Fuller's, ESB (London) Gales HSB (Horndean) Theakston Old Peculier
1982 Marston's Owd Roger Lees Moonraker (Manchester) Theakston Old Peculier
1983 Fuller's ESB (London) Gales HSB;
Theakston Old Peculier
n/a
1984 No event was held this year
1985 Fuller's, ESB (London) Gales HSB (Horndean);
Theakston Old Peculier
n/a
1986 Theakston Old Peculier Ringwood Old Thumper Marstons Owd Rodger
1987 Fuller's ESB (London) Theakston Old Peculier Robinsons Old Tom
1988 Ringwood Old Thumper Fuller's ESB (London) Gibbs Mew Bishop's Tipple
1989 Theakston Old Peculier Batemans Victory Ale Fuller's ESB (London)
1990 Robinsons Old Tom Ringwood Old Thumper Fuller's ESB (London)
1991 Category closed
Source: Champion Beer of Britain Results

New Brewery category (1985–1991)[edit]

Year Gold Silver Bronze
1985 Old Mill Mauldons Ringwood
1986 Pitfield, Dark Star (Greater London) Old Mill Bullion Banks & Taylor SOS
1987 Pitfield, Dark Star (Greater London) Old Mill Bullion Banks & Taylor SOS
1988 Banks & Taylor SOS Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Woodforde's Wherry
1989 Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) Whitby's Own Force Nine Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild
1990 Woodforde's Wherry Best Bitter West Coast Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Yates' Premium
1991 Category closed
Source: Champion Beer of Britain Results

Premium Bitter category (1982–1991)[edit]

Year Gold Silver Bronze
1982 Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) Marston's Pedigree (Burton upon Trent) West Riding Tyke Bitter
1983 Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) Young's Special Marston's Pedigree (Burton upon Trent)
1984 No event was held this year
1985 Young's Special Marston's Pedigree (Burton upon Trent) Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire)
1986 Batemans, XXXB (Lincolnshire) Fuller's London Pride (London) Timothy Taylor (West Yorkshire)
1987 Category closed
Source: Champion Beer of Britain Results

Special Bitter category (1987–1991)[edit]

Year Gold Silver Bronze
1987 Batemans, XXXB (Lincolnshire) Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) Young's, Special (London)
1988 Batemans, XXXB (Lincolnshire) Young's, Special (London) Holdens, HSB (West Midlands)
1989 Batemans, XXXB (Lincolnshire) Moorhouse's, Pendle Witches Brew (Lancashire) Young's, Special (London)
1990 Ind Coope, Burton Ale (Staffordshire) Greene King, Abbot Ale (Suffolk) Adnams, Broadside (Suffolk)
1991 Category closed
Source: Champion Beer of Britain Results

Golden Ale category (2005–2019)[edit]

Year Gold Silver Bronze
2005 Crouch Vale Brewers Gold (Essex) Jarrow Rivet Catcher Oakham JHB (Cambridgeshire)
2006 Crouch Vale Brewers Gold (Essex) Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) Holdens Golden Glow
2007 Mighty Oak Maldon Gold Oakleaf Hole Hearted Otley O1
2008 Otley, O1 (Mid Glamorgan) Loddon, Ferryman's Gold (Oxfordshire) Skinner's, Cornish Knocker Ale (Cornwall)
2009 Dark Star, American Pale Ale (West Sussex) Adnams, Explorer (Suffolk) St Austell, Proper Job (Cornwall)
2010 Castle Rock, Harvest Pale (Nottinghamshire) Marble Manchester Bitter St Austell Proper Job (Cornwall)
2011 Cumbrian Legendary Ales, Loweswater Gold Salamander, Golden Salamander Holdens, Golden Glow
2012 Dark Star, American Pale Ale (Horsham, West Sussex) Cumbrian Legendary Ales, Langdale (Hawkshead, Cumbria) Hobsons, Town Crier (Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire)
2013 Beeston, On the huh (Norfolk) Marble, Dobber (Greater Manchester) Castle Rock Brewery, Screech Owl (Nottingham)
2014 Oakham Ales, Citra (Cambridgeshire) Hawkshead, Cumbrian Five Hop Salopian Brewery, Hop Twister
2015 Kelburn, Jaguar Adnams, Explorer Blue Monkey, Infinity
2016 Golden Triangle, Mosaic City Grey Trees Independent Craft Brewery, Diggers Gold Marble, Lagonda IPA
2017 Blue Monkey, Infinity (Nottinghamshire) Fyne Ales, Jarl (Argyll and Bute) Ludlow, Gold (Shropshire)
2018 Salopian Brewery, Oracle (Shropshire) Salopian Brewery, Hop Twister (Shropshire) Abbeydale, Moonshine (South Yorkshire)
Windsor & Eton, Knight of the Garter (Berkshire)
2019 Oakham Ales, Citra (Cambridgeshire) [5] Five Points, Pale (Greater London) Vocation, Heart & Soul (West Yorkshire)
Big Lamp, Prince Bishop Ale (Tyne & Wear)
2020 Category closed
Source: Champion Beer of Britain Results

Strong Bitter category (1991–2019)[edit]

Successor to the Strong Ale category. Strong Milds were transferred to the Old Ales category.

Year Gold Silver Bronze
1991 Fuller's ESB (London) Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) Hardys & Hansons Kimberley Classic
1992 Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) Harvey's Armada Ale Randall's Best Bitter
1993 Exe Valley Exeter Old Bitter Mauldons White Adder n/a
1994 Coach House Posthorn Moorhouse's Pendle Witches Brew n/a
1995 Hadrian Centurion Fuller's ESB (London) Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire)
1996 Cheriton Diggers Gold Bullmastiff Son of a Bitch Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire)
1997 Batemans XXXB Dent Kamikaze Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire)
1998 Mordue Radgie Gadgie Dent Kamikaze Cheriton Diggers Gold
1999 Ballard Nyewood Gold Durham White Bishop Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire)
2000 Cropton Monkman's Slaughter Gales HSB (Horndean) Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire)
2001 Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) Goachers Gold Star Ale Slater's Supreme
2002 RCH East Street Cream Fuller's ESB (London) Hogs Back Hop Garden Gold (Surrey)
2003 Adnams, Broadside RCH, East Street Cream Oakham, Bishops Farewell (Cambridgeshire)
2004 Kelham Island, Pale Rider (Sheffield) Mordue IPA Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire)
2005 Hanby Nutcracker Bullmastiff Son of a Bitch Fuller's ESB (London)
2006 York Centurion's Ghost Thornbridge Jaipur IPA Weetwood Oasthouse Gold
2007 York Centurion's Ghost Inveralmond Lia Fail Brain's SA Gold
2008 Thornbridge, Jaipur IPA (Derbyshire) Fuller's, ESB (London) Highland, Orkney Blast (Orkney)
2009 West Berkshire, Dr Hexter's Healer (Berkshire) Thornbridge, Kipling (Derbyshire) Grain, Tamarind IPA (Norfolk)
2010 Thornbridge Jaipur IPA Fuller's Gales HSB (London) Beckstones Rev Rob
2011 Moles, Moles Catcher Kinver, Half Centurion Adnams, Broadside
2012 Dark Star, Festival (Horsham, West Sussex) O'Hanlon's, Stormstay (Whimple, Devon) Highland, Orkney IPA (Swannay, Orkney)
2013 Beeston, On the huh (Norfolk) Marble, Dobber (Greater Manchester) Castle Rock, Screech Owl (Nottingham)
2014 Church End, Fallen Angel Blue Monkey, Ape Ale Loch Ness, HoppyNESS
2015 Dark Star, Revelation Salopian, Golden Thread Grain, India Pale Ale
2016 Heavy Industry, 77 Hawkshead, NZPA Adnams, Ghost Ship
2017 Grey Trees, Afghan Pale Ale (Rhondda Cynon Taff) Barngates, Red Bull Terrier (Cumbria) Salopian, Automaton (Shropshire)
2018 Fuller's (Dark Star), Revelation (West Sussex) Bay, Devon Dumpling (Devon) Kinver, Half Centurion (Staffordshire)
2019 Grey Trees, Afghan IPA (Rhondda Cynon Taff) [5] Irving, Iron Duke (Hampshire) Church End, Fallen Angel (Warwickshire)
2020 Category closed
Source: Champion Beer of Britain Results

Speciality Beer category (1996–2019)[edit]

Year Gold Silver Bronze
1996 Harviestoun Schiehallion (Clackmannanshire) Passageway St Arnold Brewery on Sea Spinnaker Buzz
1997 Harviestoun Schiehallion (Clackmannanshire) Passageway St Arnold Nethergate Umbel Magana
1998 Freeminer Shakemantle Ginger Ale Dark Horse Fallen Angel Daleside Morocco Ale (Yorkshire)
1999 Harviestoun Schiehallion (Clackmannanshire) Nethergate Umbel Magna Dark Star Zingibier
2000 Nethergate Umbel Ale Oakham White Dwarf (Cambridgeshire) Heather Ale Fraoch
2001 Oakham White Dwarf (Cambridgeshire) Harviestoun Schiehallion (Clackmannanshire) Cheriton Village Elder
2002 Oakham White Dwarf (Cambridgeshire) Harviestoun Schiehallion (Clackmannanshire) Nethergate Umbel Magna
2003 Cheriton Village Elder Daleside Morocco (Yorkshire) Oakham White Dwarf (Cambridgeshire)
2004 Cairngorm Tradewinds Harviestoun Schiehallion (Clackmannanshire) Titanic Iceberg
2005 Cairngorm Tradewinds Young's Waggledance Daleside Morocco (Yorkshire);
Ridleys Rumpus
2006 Cairngorm Tradewinds Wolf Straw Dog William Brothers Fraoch
2007 Nethergate Umbel Magna Little Valley Hebden Wheat St Peter's Grapefruit
2008 Otley, OGarden (Mid Glamorgan) Wentworth, Bumble Beer (South Yorkshire) Nethergate, Umbel Magna (Essex)
2009 Nethergate, Umbel Magna (Essex) Wentworth, Bumble Beer (South Yorkshire) Amber, Chocolate Orange Stout (Derbyshire)
2010 Amber Chocolate Orange Stout O'Hanlon's Port Stout Breconshire Ysbrid y Ddraig
2011 Oakleaf, I cant believe it's not bitter Amber, Chocolate Orange Stout Orkney, Atlas Wayfarer
2012 Dunham Massey, Chocolate Cherry Mild (Dunham Massey, Gtr Manchester) Little Valley, Hebden's Wheat (Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire) Nethergate, Umbel Magna (Pentlow, Essex)
2013 Nethergate, Umbel Magna (Suffolk) Saltaire, Triple Chocolate (West Yorkshire) Conwy, Honey Fayre (Conwy)
2014 Saltaire, Triple Chocoholic Offbeat, Way Out Wheat Peak Ales, Chatsworth Gold
2015 Titanic, Plum Porter Kissingate, Black Cherry Mild;
Saltaire, Triple Chocolate
Hanlons, Port Stout
2016 Binghams, Vanilla Stout (Berkshire) Saltaire, Triple Chocoholic Titanic, Plum Porter
2017 Saltaire, Triple Chocoholic (West Yorkshire) Blackedge, Black Port Porter (Greater Manchester) Cromarty, Red Rocker (Highland)
2018 Colchester, Brazilian Coffee & Vanilla Porter (Essex) Cromarty, Red Rocker (Highlands & Western Isles) Derventio, Cleopatra (Derbyshire)
2019 Binghams, Vanilla Stout (Berkshire) [5] Blue Monkey, Chocolate Guerilla (Nottinghamshire) Colchester, Brazilian Coffee & Vanilla Porter (Essex)
2020 Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2023 Category moved to Winter Festival
Source: Champion Beer of Britain Results

References[edit]

  1. ^ Robinson, Nicholas (10 August 2016). "Champion Beer of Britain 2016 Binghams Vanilla Stout". Morning Advertiser.
  2. ^ "A speciality beer has won CAMRA's Supreme Champion Beer of Britain for the first time". gbbf.org.uk. 9 August 2016. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Oliver, Garrett (2011). Oxford Companion to Beer. Oxford University Press. pp. 209, 506. ISBN 9780195367133.
  4. ^ [1] Archived August 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Champion Beer of Britain 2019 Winners". 7 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Elland's 1872 Porter once again named 'Champion Beer of Britain'". 2 August 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Elland's 1872 Porter crowned the Champion Beer of Britain". 1 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Champion Bottled Beer of Britain historic winners" (PDF). Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Baltic Trader by Green Jack Brewing is crowned the Champion Bottled Beer of Britain". 1 August 2023.