The SIBA bar, which was visited by thousands of real ale drinkers, featured seven beers that were either class winners or runners-up in this year’s SIBA national beer competition. The bar was manned, among others, by thirteen brewers and executives from the winning companies.

The beers on sale were Howard Town Brewery’s Wren’s Nest (SIBA National Supreme Champion and champion best bitter), Hophead (bitter) and Rutterkin (premium bitter) both from Brewsters, Crazy Days (strong ale) and Beijing Black (mild), both from Potbelly Brewery, O’Hanlons Port Stout (porter and strong mild) and Milton Brewery’s Mammon (speciality beer).

The Champion Beer of Britain awards were announced by Good Beer Guide editor Roger Protz after the festival had been opened by Conservative MP Sir Nicholas Winterton, a veteran supporter of traditional draught beer and pubs.

The overall championship and all seven gold medals for individual beer styles awarded at the CAMRA-organised event at London’s Earls Court went to SIBA breweries.
The overall title of Champion Beer of Britain went to Hobson’s Mild, brewed at Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire, which also took gold in the section for mild ales.

The other six sections judged at the festival were won by Harvest Pale from Castle Rock Brewery, Nottingham (bitter); Glaslyn Ale brewed by Purple Moose in Porthmadog, north Wales (best bitter); Maldon Gold produced by the Mighty Oak Brewing Company at Maldon, Essex (golden ale); Centurion’s Ghost from the York Brewery (strong bitter); the coriander-flavoured Umbel Magna from Nethergate Brewery in Pentlow, Suffolk (speciality beers); and Port Stout from O’Hanlon’s Brewing Company at Whimple, Devon (real ale in a bottle).

All but three of the silver and bronze medals in the competition were also won by SIBA members.

A Busy Trade Day for SIBA

The SIBA Bar

A Busy Howard Town Serving PotBelly Brewery

Raising the Flags For SIBA

The SIBA Winners

“No Pictures Please!”