GBBF: Champion Beer of Britain winner will increase production but not outsource

Yesterday the 6.5% ABV Elland 1872 Porter beat off stiff competition to win the champion beer of Britain award at the festival.

Elland director Dickie Bird said: “It means we will have to make more 1872 Porter probably, to the detriment of some of our other regular beers possibly. But we will not be outsourcing – it won’t happen.

“Porters and stouts are good at winning winter beer competitions but to a win a summer one, as this is, on a national scale and when you’re up against such a huge range of milds and bitters is absolutely staggering. I still can’t believe it.”

'Gobsmacked'​

Michael Wynnyczuk, head brewer at the West Yorkshire based brewery, added that he was “utterly gobsmacked” and will work hard to deal with a rise in demand.

“I will just work and work and work! I’m so happy – I can’t believe it.”

The beer won the competition after a blind tasting conducted by leading beer experts and judges. It was also the winner of the 2013 Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) winter Beer of Britain competition.

Judging panel chair Roger Protz said choosing the champion beer of Britain is always a “tremendous challenge” and this year the range was “very good”.

“There was golden ale, bitter, best bitter, and out of nowhere this dark porter wins,” he said.

“It is the first time a porter has won the award. It tasted chocolatey and of roast coffee, with a lovely hop character, very complex but, even though it’s a dark beer, very refreshing.  A lot of people think dark beers can’t be refreshing, especially porters, but that is a refreshing beer.”

The GBBF, run by CAMRA, is taking place at Olympia, London this week.