Surrey Hills Shere Drop awarded Champion Beer of Britain 2019
The award was unveiled at the opening day of this year’s festival today (Tuesday 6 August), which is hosted by the Campaign for Real Ale and held at London’s Olympia.
Shere Drop was one of the winners for the Best Bitter category before it went on to win the overall title.
The beer is a former winner in two different categories and took home bronze in 2010.
Surrey Hills owner Ross Hunter said: “I’m a little bit overcome. We are doing something right and we are absolutely delighted [to win]."
Brewing consistency
He added: “Everyone is in a bit of shock. We knew we were in the finals but we didn’t expect anything. [Our success is down to] the consistency of our brewing.”
Shere Drop was described as pale in colour with a subtle hint of grapefruit and lemon in the aroma with the hop bitterness complemented by a balanced malt flavour.
Overall second place beer was Grey Tree Brewery’s Afghan Pale and in third place was Oakham Ales’ Citra.
Category winners were also announced. These included the Mild competition winners, which were West Berkshire Brewery’s Maggs Magnificent Milds; Fernandes Brewery’s Malt Shovel Mild; and Church End Brewery’s Gravediggers.
The winners of the Bitters category were Ulverston – Laughing Gravy, Wolf Brewery – Edith Cavell, Rhymney Brewery – Hobby Horse, and Dancing Duck Brewery – Ay Up.
Beer winners
Best Bitters winners were Castle Rock Brewery’s Preservation Fine Ale; Salopian Brewery’s Darwin’s Origin; Green Jack Brewery’s Trawler Boys; and Surrey Hills’ Shere Drop.
The four winners of the Golden Ales category were Big Lamp – Prince Bishop Ale, Vocation Brewery – Heart & Soul, Five Points Brewery – Pale, and Oakham Ales - Citra
The winners of the Strong Bitters category were also announced – Church End Brewery – Fallen Angel, Irving & Co Brewing – Iron Duke, and Grey Trees Brewery – Afghan Pale Ale.
This year’s Speciality category had three winners which were Colchester Brewery’s Brazilian Coffee & Vanilla Porter; Blue Monkey Brewery’s Chocolate Guerilla, and Binghams Brewery’s Vanilla Stout.
