Duration Brewing’s Bet the Farm, a 4.5 per cent ABV pale ale, has been crowned Champion Bottled Beer of Norfolk. 

West Norfolk-based Duration is a modern farmhouse brewery set up in 2019 in a 16-century stone barn. The judges were unanimous in their praise for the beer, describing it as “complex and balanced with hop, herbs and spices, giving it a lambic feel”. 

Competition organiser Alan Edwards said: “Real ale can be sold on many different forms, bottled being one of the most flexible. 

“It is ideal for pubs and clubs that do not wish to offer, or cannot support, cask ale in sufficient amounts to ensure good quality.

“Having bottle-conditioned beers on offer will encourage real ale drinkers to visit and try the bottled beers on offer.

“It is an increasingly important part of many brewers’ portfolio and very popular with home consumers. 

“The competition is designed to highlight and publicise the many such beers produced by our local brewers with the judges’ comments being very encouraging.”

Organised by CAMRA’s Norfolk branches, the competition was open to all the county’s breweries producing bottle-conditioned beers. Just shy of 80 entries, across 11 categories, were received from 18 breweries.

Who won what

Overall

Winner: Duration - Bet the Farm 

Runner up: Fengate - Imperial Extra Double Stout 

Third: Mr Winter's - Quantum Gold 

Mild

Winner: Boudicca - One for the Woad 

Session Bitter

Winner: Elmtree - Best Bitter 

Runner up: Tindall - Best Bitter

Premium Bitter

Winner: Elmtree - Scary Tree 

IPA

Winner: Elmtree - Top of the Hop 

Runner up: Grain - Lignum Vitae

Session Pale Blonde & Golden Ale

Winner: Mr Winter's - Quantum Gold  

Runner up: S&P - First Light

Third: Birdhouse - American IPA

Premium Pale Blonde & Golden Ale

Winner: Duration - Bet the Farm 

Runner up: Elmtree - Golden Pale

Third: Humpty Dumpty - Big Sharpie 

Red, Brown, Old & Strong Mild

Winner: Elmtree - Nightlight Mild

Runner up: Birdhouse - Norfolk Brown Ale

Third: Humpty Dumpty - Firebox

Session Stout & Porter

Winner: Boudicca - Spiral Stout 

Runner up: Panther - Black Panther                                               

Third: Tindall - Caramel Stout                                              

Strong Stout & Porter

Winner: Fengate - Imperial Extra Double Stout               

Runner up: Duration - Tracing Time                                                    

Third: Tindall - Belgian Schwartz                                       

Barley Wine & Strong Ale

Winner: Fengate - Yardarm                               

Speciality Ale

Winner: Poppyland - Sweet Chestnut Ale                                    

Runner up: Fengate - Bean Buzz Coffee Porter                         

Third: Birdhouse - Chilli Ale