A stout created by the Vocation and Neon Raptor breweries has been voted Norwich’s beer of the festival.

Every October Norwich Beer Festival organisers invite visitors to vote for their favourite beer at the event and the results have just been revealed.

The overall winner was the collaboration Imperial Stout by Yorkshire’s Vocation and Nottingham’s Neon Raptor, closely followed by Peterborough-based Xtreme’s BlaX Forest Stout. Overall bronze had three beers scoring the same number of votes. The trio was Norwich’s Fengate with its Double India Pale Ale, Ely’s Three Blind Mice’s Duality V2 and Norfolk’s Old Chimneys Good King Henry.

Festival organiser Craig Harmer said: “This competition means a lot to the breweries so we would like to thank those who voted. The Norwich Beer Festival is the best opportunity locally to sample so many beers from local and national producers all under one roof or rather two and a marquee.

“We were delighted with the attendance at this year’s festival and were equally pleased by the continued support last year, after the pandemic lockdown. It is always heart-warming to see the popularity of the festival, now in its 44th year. Thanks also go to our amazing team of volunteers which ensures the festival runs smoothly, with improvements year on year.”

Category winners:

Barley Wines & Strong Ales

Gold: Bruha, XO

Brown, Red, Old Ales & Strong Milds

Gold: Lacons, Old Nogg

Silver: Moon Gazer, Bouchart

Bronze: Moon Gazer, Witch-Hare

IPAs

Joint Gold:

Fengate, Double India Pale Ale; Three Blind Mice, Duality V2

Bronze: Grain, Lignum Vitae

Milds

Gold: Elmtree, Professor

Silver: Elephant School, White Elephant

Bronze: Beeston, The Squirrels Nuts

Premium Bitters

Gold: Harrogate, Harrogate Best

Silver: Beccles Brew Co, Nelson’s Tree

Bronze: Clun, Citadel

Session Bitters

Joint Gold:

Mighty Oak, Bat Juice; Portobello, Star

Joint Bronze

Papworth, Crystal Ship; Three Blind Mice, Old Brown Mouse

Premium Goldens

Gold: Rudgate, Valkyrie

Silver: Wildcraft, Wild Un Bongo Mango

Bronze: Peerless, Knee Buckler

Session Goldens

Gold: Tindall, Galaxy Dream

Silver: Papworth, Fen Skater

Bronze Boudicca, Queen of Hops

Session Stouts and Porters

Gold: Xtreme, BlaX Forest Stout

Silver: Elephant School, My Milk Stout Brings all the Bulls to the Yard

Bronze: Wilde Child, Clique Fiesta Biscoff

Strong Stouts and Porters

Gold: Vocation & Neon Raptor breweries, Imperial Stout

Silver: Old Chimneys, Good King Henry

Bronze: Xtreme, Rhubarb X Custard

Speciality Beers Differently Produced

Gold: Moon Gazer, Full Caff Pale

Silver: Green Jack, Big Dog

Bronze: Opa Hay’s, Liquid Bread

Speciality Beers Differently Flavoured

Gold: Xtreme, Strawberry Xtreme

Silver: Brew York, Rhubarbra Streisand

Bronze: Mr Winter’s, Vanilla Latte