Tuesday 7 April 2015

Champion Bottled Beer of Norfolk 2015 results

The Panther Brewery of Reepham is purring with delight after their Black Panther Stout was named CAMRA’s Best Bottled Beer in Norfolk 2015.

The comments from the tasters included “A full, slightly smoky aroma”, “Complex, with a roast and cherry liquor character”, “Mellow and smooth”.

Competition organiser Alan Edwards explained: “The panel had to taste 44 entries from 10 of Norfolk’s many breweries. To gain the top award shows a well-crafted beer produced with care.

"The panellists were pleased with the variety of beers on offer; everyone found more than one beer to match their own style choice. This was the fourth year of the competition and again we were well served by our Norfolk breweries”.

The Panther Brewery also took the top award in the Golden Ale section. When being told the good news, Martin James from Panther Brewery said: "We are delighted to have won the awards as we have worked very hard at the oldest working brewery site in Norfolk to produce delicious ales that have Bite".

In the overall category, the Silver award was taken by Why Not Brewery with Chocolate Nutter and the Bronze was awarded to Humpty Dumpty Brewery's Red Mill.

For the first time the West Norfolk branch of CAMRA hosted one of the rounds as the organisers look to take the competition to members throughout the county.

Six breweries were award winners and a presentation evening will take place at the Leopard pub, Bull Close Road, Norwich on Monday 13th April at 8.00pm and it is open to all.

Real Ale In A Bottle (RAIB) is one of the cornerstones of CAMRA’s campaign to widen the market for our local breweries. Many of the beers are sold in local supermarkets, at Farmers Markets or direct from the brewery. Alan Edwards explained: "If you can’t get to the pub, then bring the beer to yourself!"

A full list of results, along with the contact details of the winning breweries, are below.

OVERALL WINNER CATEGORY
GOLD: PANTHER BREWERY - BLACK PANTHER
SILVER: WHY NOT BREWERY - CHOCOLATE NUTTER
BRONZE: HUMPTY DUMPTY BREWERY - RED MILL

MILD, BROWN & OLD ALE CATEGORY
GOLD: WHY NOT BREWERY - CHOCOLATE NUTTER
SILVER: ELMTREE BREWERY - NIGHTLIGHT MILD

BITTER CATEGORY
GOLD: HUMPTY DUMPTY BREWERY - RED MILL
SILVER: WINTERS BREWERY - CLOUDBURST
BRONZE: ELMTREE BREWERY - NORFOLK’S 80/-

STRONG BITTER CATEGORY
GOLD: WINTERS BREWERY - STORM FORCE
SILVER: ELMTREE BREWERY - GAMBRINOSITY
BRONZE: YETMANS BREWERY – GREEN

GOLDEN ALE CATEGORY
GOLD: PANTHER BREWERY - GOLD
SILVER: WHY NOT BREWERY - HARE OF THE DOG
BRONZE: WINTERS BREWERY – GOLDEN

SPECIALITY CATEGORY
GOLD: WHY NOT BREWERY - NORFOLK HONEY
SILVER: POPPYLAND BREWERY - ON THE EDGE

STOUT AND PORTER CATEGORY
GOLD PANTHER BREWERY - BLACK PANTHER
SILVER: WINTERS BREWERY – GENIUS

UNIQUE CATEGORY
GOLD: POPPYLAND BREWERY - DAYS OF EMPIRE