Tiny now a giant among breweries

Tiny Rebel’s Cwtch crowned Champion Beer of Britain at the Great British Beer Festival

After more than a year of local tasting panels and regional heats leading up to the finals, the Campaign for Real Ale, CAMRA, has announced that Tiny Rebel’s Cwtch has been crowned the Best Beer in Britain at the Great British Beer Festival, Olympia, London. It's the first time a Welsh brewery has won the prestigious competition.

The founders of the brewery, brothers-in-law Bradley Cummings and Gareth Williams, say that on the back of their victory they plan to move to a new plant where they will have six times the capacity of the present brewery. They also hope to add a second pub to their Tap House in Newport, Gwent.

The founders, who started to home-brew at university, saw their ale triumph over a host of other finalists in 10 different beer categories (Bitters, Best Bitters, Strong Bitters, Golden Ales, Milds, the Speciality class and also the winter beer styles of Porter, Stouts, Barley Wines and Old Ales, and Strong Old Ales and Strong Milds), including beers from both small microbrewers and large regional brewers.

Nik Antona, Champion Beer of Britain Director, spoke in praise of today's winner saying: “The Champion Beer of Britain title is the most coveted titles in British beer. For more than 30 years brewers have put forward their real ale in the hope it will win and this year Tiny Rebel’s Cwtch is a very worthy winner of this prestigious award.”

The man who brewed Cwtch – which is pronounced ‘cutch’ and means cuddle in Welsh – head brewer Gareth Williams (pictured with CAMRA chariman Colin Valentine and Tiny Rebel co-founder Bradley Cummings) said what it meant to win:

“I feel like I’m dreaming! This is the ultimate award to win in our eyes and after winning at the Great Welsh a few years ago this feels even better. It’s just a crazy feeling and we’re massively proud.”

Co-founder of the brewery Bradley Cummings, added:

“We were brought up on real ale and we love traditional styles, Cwtch is our modern version of a traditional bitter, with extra hopping for a more pronounced bitterness and aroma. It’s new world and old world all in one.”

This year's Silver went to Kelburn, Jaguar (Renfrewshire) whilst the Bronze award went to Dancing Duck, Dark Drake (Derby).

All three of the beers are available at the Great British Beer Festival this week.

Overall winners-

Gold – Tiny Rebel, Cwtch

Silver – Kelburn, Jaguar

Bronze – Dancing Duck, Dark Drake

Mild -

Gold – Williams Bros, Black

Silver – Rudgate, Ruby Mild

Bronze – Great Orme, Welsh Black

Bitter -

Gold – Pheasantry, Best Bitter

Silver – Acorn, Barnsley Bitter

Joint Bronze – Purple Moose, Madog’s Ale & Timothy Taylor, Boltmaker

Best Bitter-

Gold – Tiny Rebel, Cwtch  

Silver – Highland, Scapa Special

Joint Bronze – Barngates, Tag Lag & Salopian, Darwin’s Origin
 

Golden Ale-

Gold – Kelburn, Jaguar

Silver – Adnams, Explorer

Bronze – Blue Monkey, Infinity

Strong Bitter-

Gold – Dark Star, Revelation

Silver – Salopian, Golden Thread

Bronze – Grain, India Pale Ale

Speciality Beer -

Gold – Titanic, Plum Porter

Joint Silver – Kissingate, Black Cherry Mild & Saltaire, Triple Chocolate

Bronze – Hanlons, Port Stout

Champion Winter Beer of Britain (from category winners announced in January 2015)-

Porter - Elland Brewery

Stout – Dancing Duck, Dark Drake

Barley Wines and Strong Old Ales – Lees, Moonraker

Old Ales and Strong Milds – Purple Moose

Champion Bottled Beer of Britain winners 
(Sponsored by Beer Hawk)

Gold – Harveys, Imperial Extra Double Stout

Silver – Fyne Ales, Superior India Pale Ale

Bronze – Mordue, India Pale Ale