GBBF

Binghams Vanilla Stout crowned Champion Beer of Britain

By Nicholas Robinson

- Last updated on GMT

First time: a speciality beer won the top honour
First time: a speciality beer won the top honour

Related tags Beer Britain

Binghams Vanilla Stout is the first speciality beer to win Supreme Champion Beer of Britain at the Great British Beer Festival’s (GBBF) Champion Beer of Britain Awards.

The Berkshire brewery took home the prestigious accolade at organiser Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) first evening dinner ceremony held at the Hilton, Kensington, last night (9 July).

Formerly the award would have been announced at the GBBF event, which was held at Kensington’s Olympia this year. However, organisers said: “We wanted to make this a must-attend event and raise the profile of the competition.”

CAMRA added: “This risk is not something we have taken lightly and we’re up 60% [on attendees] from last year.”

The winning beer

The winning beer is a 5% ABV dark stout infused with vanilla and dark malts, creating a smooth and dark beer. It is one of 900 beers, ciders and perries on offer at the GBBF, which runs until this Saturday (13 July).

The brewer, which is a supporter of the Society of Independent Brewer's Assured Independent Craft Brewer's initiative, would look to capitalise on the win. 

Owner of the brewery Chris Bingham said: "This is absolutely massive for us, a huge leap and a big profile builder for us, a little brewer.

"Our Vanilla Stout appeals to so many different drinkers as it's just that little bit different, it's a beer that has the power to convert non beer drinkers and even a Chardonnay drinking friend of ours."

Kent-based Old Dairy brewery claimed the silver award for its 6% ABV old ale Snow Top, which also took the gold award at CAMRA’s National Winter Ale Festival last year. It has fruitcake and marmalade flavours.

Tring Brewery took the bronze award for its 7.2% ABV Death and Glory barley wine, which is brewed by appointment for the Queen’s Royal Lancers and is described as being rich and sweet, “with a complex nature”.

‘Wide range of beers’

CAMRA national director responsible for the Champion Beer of Britain competition Nik Antona said: “This year all the judges commented on how high quality all of the beers were in the final stages of the competition and what a wide range of styles and beers they had to try and choose between.

“Binghams Vanilla Stout is packed full of comforting flavours and I’m sure it will be a popular champion beer choice. It’s great to see a speciality beer win the award for the first time in the history of the competition and congratulations to the brewery.”

Last year’s winning beer, Cwtch, by Newport-based Tiny Rebel​, was awarded joint bronze in the Best Bitter category along with Colchester No.1 made by Colchester Brewery.

See the full list of results below.

Overall winners

Brewery

Beer

Award

Binghams

Vanilla Stout

Gold

Old Dairy

Snow Top

Silver

Tring

Death and Glory

Bronze

Category: Mild

Brewery

Beer

Award

Williams Bros

Williams Black

Gold

Mighty Oak

Oscar Wilde

Silver

Acorn

Darkness

Bronze

Category: Bitter

Brewery

Beer

Award

Timothy Taylor

Boltmaker

Gold

Tiny Rebel

Hank

Silver

Hawkshead

Bitter

Joint bronze

Salopian

Shropshire Gold

Joint bronze

Category: Best bitter

Brewery

Beer

Award

Surrey Hills

Shere Drop

Gold

Salopian

Darwin's Origin

Silver

Colchester

Colchester No.1

Joint bronze

Tiny Rebel

Cwtch

Joint bronze

Category: Strong bitter

Brewery

Beer

Award

Heavy Industry

77

Gold

Hawkshead

NZPA

Silver

Adnams

Ghost Ship

Bronze

Category: Golden ales

Brewery

Beer

Award

Golden Triangle

Mosaic City

Gold

Grey Trees Craft Brewery

Digger's Gold

Silver

Marble

Laonda IPA

Bronze

Category: Speciality

Brewery

Beer

Award

Bighams

Vanilla Stout

Gold

Saltaire

Triple Chocoholic

Silver

Titanic

Plum Porter

Bronze

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