Harvest Pale named Camra Beer of Britain

Camra has announced Castle Rock brewery’s Harvest Pale as the Champion Beer of Britain at the British Beer Festival at Earls Court.​

The Nottingham brewer’s real ale was named the supreme champion over a number of finalists from eight categories, including Bitter, Best Bitter, Strong Bitter, Golden Ale, Mild, Winter Beer, Bottled Beer and Speciality.

Roger Protz, of the Final judging panel, said: “Against intense competition from other brilliant beers, Castle Rock Harvest Pale stood out and was the unanimous choice of all the judges for its great blend of tangy hop and juicy malt. A wonderfully refreshing and complex beer.”

Chris Holmes, commercial director at Castle Rock brewery, said that although the business had secured ‘dozens’ of award over the last six years, most of the acclaim had to be attributed to their new brewer Adrian Redgrave.

“The last 18 months we’ve been brewing at capacity because of the success and popularity of Harvest Pale, which has led to the opening of a new brew house in two weeks time which will treble our capacity,” he said.

The Silver award this year went to Timothy Taylor brewery’s Landlord ale, while the Bronze was awarded to Surrey Hills brewery’s Hammer Mild.

To see a video demonstration from Shepherd Neame's head brewer David Holmes about how to brew real ale, click here.​​

The overall winners of the Champion Beer of Britain contest are:​

Champions:​
Gold - Castle Rock, Harvest Pale (3.8 per cent ABV, Nottingham, Notts)
Silver - Timothy Taylor, Landlord (4.3 per cent ABV, Keighley, West Yorkshire)
Bronze - Surrey Hills, Hammer Mild (3.8 per cent ABV, Guildford, Surrey)
 
Mild:​
Gold - Surrey Hills, Hammer Mild (3.8 per cent ABV, Guildford, Surrey)
Silver - Greene King, XX Mild (3 per cent ABV, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk)
Joint Bronze - Golcar, Dark Mild (3.4 per cent ABV, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire)
Joint Bronze - Nottingham, Rock Ale Mild (3.8 per cent ABV, Nottingham, Notts)
 
Bitters:​
Gold - RCH, PG Steam (3.9 per cent ABV, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset)
Silver - Moor, Revival (3.8 per cent ABV, Pitney, Somerset)
Joint Bronze - Orkney, Raven (3.8 per cent ABV, Stromness, Orkney)
Joint Bronze - Purple Moose, Snowdonia Ale (3.6 per cent ABV, Portmadog, Gwynedd)
 
Best Bitters:​
Gold - Timothy Taylor, Landlord (4.3 per cent ABV, Keighley, West Yorkshire)
Silver - St Austell, Tribute (4.2 per cent ABV, St Austell, Cornwall)
Joint Bronze - Evan Evans, Cwrw (4.2 per cent ABV, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire)
Joint Bronze - Great Oakley, Gobble (4.5 per cent ABV, Great Oakley, Northamptonshire)
 
Golden Ales:​
Gold - Castle Rock, Harvest Pale (3.8 per cent ABV, Nottingham, Notts)
Silver - Marble, Manchester Bitter (4.2 per cent, Manchester, Gtr Manchester)
Bronze - St Austell, Proper Job (4.5 per cent ABV, St Austell, Cornwall)
 
Strong Bitters:​
Gold - Thornbridge, Jaipur IPA (5.9 per cent ABV, Bakewell, Derbyshire)
Silver - Fuller’s, Gales HSB (4.8 per cent ABV, Chiswick, Gtr London)
Bronze - Beckstones, Rev Rob (4.6 per cent ABV, Millom, Cumbria)
 
Speciality Beers:​
Gold - Amber, Chocolate Orange Stout (4 per cent ABV, Ripley, Derbyshire)
Silver - O’Hanlon’s, Port Stout (4.8 per cent ABV, Whimple, Devon)
Bronze - Breconshire, Ysbrid y Ddraig (6.5 per cent ABV, Brecon, Powys)
 
Winter Beer:​ 
Elland, 1872 Porter (6.5 per cent ABV, Elland, West Yorkshire)
 
Bottled Beer:​
Gold - St Austell, Admiral’s Ale (5 per cent ABV, St Austell, Cornwall)
Silver - Pitfield, 1850 London Porter (5 per cent ABV, Epping, Essex)
Bronze - Great Oakley, Delapre Dark (4.6 per cent ABV, Great Oakley, Northamptonshire)