The Judges Judged
Yvette Storey, Lilian Greenwood MP, and Nottingham CAMRA members, Ray Kirby, Andy Ludlow and Alan Wood toast LocAle
Real ale drinkers, supping alongside fellow judges Lilian Greenwood MP, Robin Hood aka Tim Pollard, and Mark Dennison from BBC Radio Nottingham have chosen the winner in the first Nottingham CAMRA champion beer of Nottingham competition.
The event, hosted by Yvette Storey and her staff at Castle Rock’s Canalhouse pub, had 26 different real ales delivered from breweries based in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. After initial tasting and discussion, half a dozen went forward to the final judging panel where Ape Ale from Giltbrook-based Blue Monkey came out top.
What would the public think – would they agree with the experts? In a completely unofficial competition enjoyed by many of the hundreds attending the post-competition real ale festival which included all 26 competition beers plus an additional ten bought in specially, the number one place was held but, as Yvette says, there were some surprises.
“Russian Rouble from Flipside and Castle Rock’s Sweet Woodruff were among the most popular and among the first to go.” she says. “Others from Lincoln Green and Fullmash were also very popular.
“It was really nice to welcome all the brewers who turned up on the day to see how well they’d done and to check out the competition. I was particularly pleased to welcome White Dog Brewery as their entry was from their first ever brew. Needless to say, their Pale Grower was among the early empty casks as Nottingham drinkers gave it a try.”
Lilian Greenwood MP told Nottingham Post this was her first time as a beer taster, “It was real delight,” she said. “I do drink real ale because I like it and it’s interesting.”
