Bolt from the blue: Tim Taylor wins gold

Timothy Taylor’s Boltmaker has been crowned the Champion Beer of Britain at the Great British Beer Festival, Olympia, London. Pictured above (left to right) marketing director Grant Simpson, managing director Charles Dent and head brewer Peter Eels.

The West Yorkshire 4% Best Bitter was judged the Supreme Champion over a host of other finalists in seven different beer categories: Bitters, Best Bitters, Strong Bitters, Golden Ales, Milds, Winter Beers, and the Speciality class, including beers from both small microbrewers and large regional brewers.

Nik Antona, Champion Beer of Britain Director, spoke in praise of today's winner. He said:

“It is fantastic to announce Timothy Taylor’s Boltmaker as the Champion Beer of Britain 2014. This full flavoured bitter is a modern classic that is as impressive today as the day it was first brewed. ”

Head Brewer Peter Eells said,

“I’m speechless. We work very hard to produce great beers and we really believe this is the best beer we can brew – so to have it acknowledged in such an important competition is absolutely fantastic.”

Managing Director Charles Dent added,

“We’re absolutely delighted. It’s our favourite, it’s the brewers favourite, it’s the beer that you drink if you’re drinking with us and it’s named after one of our favourites pubs – The Boltmakers.”

This year's Silver went to Oakham Citra, whilst the Bronze award went to Salopian Darwin’s Origin.

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

Overall winners-

Gold – Timothy Taylors, Boltmaker

Silver – Oakham, Citra

Bronze – Salopian, Darwin’s Origin

Mild category-

Gold – Bank Top, Dark Mild

Silver – Branscombe Vale, Mild

Bronze – Castle Rock, Black Gold

Bitter category-

Gold – Timothy Taylor, Boltmaker

Silver – Mighty Oak, Captain Bob

Joint Bronze – Flowerpots, Flowerpots Bitter &  Sambrook’s Wandle Ale

Best Bitters-

Gold – Salopian Darwin’s Origin

Silver – Red Willow, Directionless

Joint Bronze – Purity, Mad Goose & Langton, Inclined plain bitter

Golden Ales-

Gold – Oakham, Citra

Silver – Hawkshead, Cumbrian Five Hop

Bronze – Salopian, Hop Twister

Strong Bitters-

Gold – Church End, Fallen Angel

Silver – Blue Monkey, Ape Ale

Bronze –Loch Ness, HoppyNESS

Speciality Beers-

Gold – Saltaire Triple Chocoholic

Silver – Offbeat, Way Out Wheat

Bronze – Peak Ales, Chatsworth Gold

Champion Winter Beer of Britain (from category winners announced in January 2014)-

Cairngorm, Black Gold (Stouts Category)
Dunham Massey, Dunham Porter (Porter Category)
Exe Valley, Winter Glow (Old Ales & Strong Milds)
Kinver, Over the Edge (Barley Wines & Strong Old Ales)

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

Gold – Marble, Chocolate Marble

Silver – St Austell, Proper Job

Bronze – Spire, Prince Igor Imperial Russian Stout

*Below, Harvey's of Lewes, Sussex, brought more tradition to Olympia with a horse-drawn dray