Nick Stafford, MD of Hambleton Ales with the winning Taylor’s Tipple

Yorkshire brewer Hambleton Ales has scooped the top prize in the 2009 Sainsbury’s Beer Competition, for its Taylor’s Tipple. The beer will now be listed for a minimum of six months in Sainsbury’s stores nationwide.

Taylor’s Tipple is a 4.5% ABV chestnut-coloured ale with citrus aromas. It triumphed through the preliminary judging of 115 beers from around the country entered into the competition in April and became one of 15 finalists listed in over 400 Sainsbury’s stores during August and September. Taylor’s Tipple achieved the top rate of sale – with one other winner – and took the top prize.

Nick Stafford, MD of Hambleton Ales, said, “We’re delighted that Sainsbury’s shoppers across the country have voted with their purses for Taylor’s Tipple and look forward to selling it to more customers over the coming months.”

Taylor’s Tipple was originally created by Hambleton head brewer Peter Wesley as a special cask ale for autumn and then bottled for the Sainsbury’s competition. Stafford adds, “It turned out to be even better in bottle than in cask, thanks to the extra maturation time that enhanced its marvellous blend of bitterness, full body and uplifting citrus aroma. Our challenge now is to source the wonderful American Amarillo hops used in it.”

 Hambleton Ales is based in Melmberby, near Thirsk.  north Yorkshire. Since its foundation in 1991, the brewery has won a number of Awards including the first ever CAMRA Champion Winter Beer of Britain in 1997, for its Nightmare Stout.  Their GFA (Gluten Free Ale) was the first ever commercially brewed British ale for the growing market of coeliacs. Now distributed nationally while its sister,GFL (Gluten Free Lager), has gained recognition through distribution to Europe, North America and Australia.