It is the second time the brewery has scooped the top award – the first time was in 2010.
The winning beer is 6.5% ABV and is described in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide 2013 as a creamy, full flavoured porter, with rich liquorice flavours and more than hint of hint of chocolate.
Elland Brewery owner Martin Ogley said: “I am gobsmacked, as I never expected this. There are so many great beers at the festival that it is remarkable for the judges to choose us again.
“1872 Porter is our most award winning beer and I will now have to be ready to brew more of it.”
Nik Antona, CAMRA director, added: “Porters should not be regarded as endangered beers, they are beers for today’s discerning drinkers. And on a cold day, 1872 Porter is a perfect winter warming beer.
“Elland Brewery 1872 Porter is a fine example of a modern day interpretation of one of this country’s classic beer styles. It’s gorgeous, drinkable, likeable and is highly recommended.”
CAMRA’s National Winter Ales Festival opened its doors to the public on Wednesday.
The national event, which is hosted in the Sheridan Suite in Manchester, will showcase from its nine bars more than 300 real ales, ciders, perries and foreign beers.
A wide range of beer styles will be available including those winter favourites – porters, stouts, old ales and barley wines.
Free half-pint
Punch Taverns, which is one of the events sponsors, is offering visitors a free half-pint at participating pubs when they pick up a voting form.
The pub company is supporting the Consumer Choice Award, where visitors can vote for the best beer, cider and perry at the festival. Voting forms will be handed out on arrival at the festival.
A voucher attached at the bottom of the form will entitle festival-goers a free half-pint when they purchase a half-pint at any of the five participating Punch pubs across Manchester and the surrounding areas up until Sunday 10 February.
Punch has provided those pubs with a POS kit, including posters to display outside the pub, so customers can easily recognise where their vouchers can be redeemed.