A West Yorkshire brewery has taken CAMRA’s Winter Beer of Britain crown for the fourth time.

Elland brewery’s 1872 Porter, a 6.5 per cent deep ruby brew, took the gold award following more than a year of tasting panels and regional heats. The competition returned for the first time since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Judge Christine Cryne called it: “A jet black, strong porter with alcohol, green apples and chocolate on the nose.”

"The porter is citrus, sweet milk chocolate on a smooth full flavoured palette, complex but easy drinking. The fruitiness fades to a roasted dryness where the sweet chocolate lingers and spiciness builds.”

Elland’s Scott Hutchinson said: “As a tiny independent cask brewery, the support of CAMRA and its members is utterly invaluable to us. Like everyone else, Elland brewery has had to weather some storms in the past couple of years. Lockdown tried to end us, the current economic climate is rocking the boat, the UK pub trade is taking a hammering, cask is always under threat, but we firmly believe that cask is king and quality will always shine.”

Silver went to Robinsons Old Tom (8.5 per cent) and bronze to Dancing Duck’s Dark Drake (4.5 per cent).

CAMRA’s national director responsible for the competition Laura Emson said: “Congratulations to Elland on its win, this was a highly competitive final round. We’re so happy to be back at the Great British Beer Festival Winter, and I want to thank the volunteers and judges who have made the festival and the Champion Winter Beer of Britain possible. Congratulations again to Elland brewery and all our category winners.”