Elland brewery’s 1872 Porter crowned ‘Champion Winter Beer of Britain’

Elland 1872 Porter has today been crowned CAMRA’s Supreme Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2015 by a panel of judges at the National Winter Ales Festival in Derby, which begins today (Wednesday).

It beat a host of other beers to scoop the accolade.

The winning 6.5% abv beer is described in CAMRA’s 2015 Good Beer Guide as a “creamy, full-flavoured porter with rich liquorice flavours and a hint of chocolate from the roasted malt. A soft but satisfying after taste of bittersweet roast and malt.”

Mike Hiscock, Elland Brewery Manager, said: “It’s absolutely fabulous to win the Champion Winter Beer of Britain, though we certainly weren’t expecting this, it is amazing to get the hat trick and win this award for the third time.

“We know it is independently judged so for it to keep coming out on top is testament to the depth of flavour and complexity that we get into the beer.

“This really is fantastic news.”

The Champion Winter Beer of Britain competition judges the best of the best in terms of classic winter warmers – from thick, rich, dark porters and stouts, to sweet and strong Barley Wines.

A panel of beer writers, members of the licensed trade and CAMRA members judged the competition.

Elland 1872 porter will now go forward to compete in the overall Champion Beer of Britain competition at the Great British Beer Festival this August.

Nik Antona, Champion Winter Beer of Britain Director, said: “Elland 1872 is a fantastic example of what a traditional porter should taste like and has been hugely popular for many years, particularly it seems with competition judges, who have named it Champion Winter Beer of Britain twice and overall Champion Beer of Britain once in the last three years – a huge achievement.”

Drinkers at the National Winter Ales Festival will now be able to sample the winning brews, as well as a selection of more than 450 real ales, plus draught ciders, perries and mead.