Timothy Taylor's Boltmaker is Champion Beer of Britain 2014

Timothy Taylor's Boltmaker has been crowned the Champion Beer of Britain at the Great British Beer Festival.

The bitter was announced as the winner by Iron Maiden frontman, Bruce Dickinson, on the opening day of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)’s festival.

Oakham Ales' Citra took silver while Salopian’s Darwin's Origin was awarded bronze.

Announcing the result Dickinson backed CAMRA’s calls for greater planning protection for pubs.

He also criticised companies turning pubs into “places where people can just be hooligans”.

He added: “They take all the furniture out and you can just do lots of stupid shots of Vodka Red Bull or whatever. I’m really old-fashioned and traditional about things. I like a pub where you can get a really nice pint of beer and where you don’t have to shout over some awful music that’s been inflicted on you.”

Tiomthy Taylor head brewer Peter Eells said: “I’m speechless. We work very hard to produce great beers and we really believe this is the best beer we can brew – so to have it acknowledged in such an important competition is absolutely fantastic.”

Managing director Charles Dent added: We’re absolutely delighted. It’s our favourite, it’s the brewers favourite, it’s the beer that you drink if you’re drinking with us and it’s named after one of our favourite pubs – The Boltmakers.”

The full list of winners were:

Overall winners

Gold: Timothy Taylor - Boltmaker

Silver: Oakham Ales - Citra

Bronze: Salopian - Darwin’s Origin

Dark and Light Milds

Bronze: Castle Rock – Black Gold

Silver: Branscombe Vale – Mild

Gold: Bank Top – Dark Mild

Bitters

Joint bronze: Sambrooks – Wandle Ale AND Flowerpots – Flowerpots Bitter

Silver: Mighty Oak – Captain Bob

Gold: Timothy Taylor – Boltmaker

Best Bitters

Joint bronze: Langton – Inclined Plane Bitter AND Purity – Mad Goose

Silver: RedWillow – Directionless

Gold: Salopian – Darwin’s Origin

Golden Ales

Bronze: Salopian – Hop Twister

Silver: Hawkshead – Cumbrian Five Hop

Gold: Oakham – Citra

Strong Bitters

Bronze: Loch Ness – HoppyNESS

Silver: Blue Monkey – Ape Ale

Gold: Church End –Fallen Angel

Speciality Beers

Bronze: Peak Ales – Chatsworth Gold

Silver: Offbeat – Way Out Wheat

Gold: Saltaire – Triple Chocaholic

Real Ale in a Bottle

Bronze: Spire – Prince Igor IRS

Silver: St Austell – Proper Job

Gold: Marble – Chocolate Marble