Great British Beer Festival 2009

A strong dark mild, Rudgate Ruby Mild (4.4%), has been voted the Champion Beer of Britain at the Great British Beer Festival in London. The beer is brewed in Tockwith, North Yorkshire, on a former airfield close to York. The beer is brewed with pale, crystal and chocolate malts and hopped with Challenger, Styrian Goldings and American Cascades. It has a rich vinous/fruity character with hints of chocolate, caramel and spicy hops. Right: James Allen, Head Brewer and Craig Lee, Director.

The full list of winners in the championship:

MILD Bronze: Highland Dark Munro Silver: Bank Top Dark Mild Gold: Rudgate Ruby Mild

BITTER Joint Bronze: Humpty Dumpty Little Sharpie; Triple fff Alton's Pride Silver: Butcombe Bitter Gold: Surrey Hills Ranmore Ale

BEST BITTER Joint Bronze: Evan Evans Cwrw; Thornbridge Lord Marples; Vale VPA Silver: Buntingford Britannia Gold: Southport Golden Sands

GOLDEN ALE No Bronze Joint Silver: Adnams Explorer; St Austell Proper Job Gold: Dark Star American Pale Ale (4.4%)

STRONG BITTER Bronze: Grain Tamarind IPA Silver: Thornbridge Kipling Gold: West Berkshire Dr Hexter's Healer

SPECIALITY BEERS Amber: Chocolate Orange Stout Silver: Wentworth Bumble Beer Gold: Nethergate Umbel Magna

CHAMPION WINTER BEER OF BRITAIN Oakham Attila

REAL ALE IN A BOTTLE Bronze: Worthington's White Shield Silver: Great Gable Yewbarrow Gold: Titanic Stout

CHAMPION BEER OF BRITAIN Bronze: West Berkshire Dr Hexter's Healer Silver: Oakham Attila Gold (Champion Beer of Britain): Rudgate Ruby Mild