Surrey Hills Shere Drop is Champion beer

Surrey Hills Brewery in Dorking has climbed a major mountain to win the coveted Supreme Champion Beer of Britain award with its Shere Drop Best Bitter, 4.2 per cent. The award was handed over at the Great British Beer Festival on 6 August at London Olympia at the culmination of a frantic day of tasting dozens of beers in categories ranging from mild ale to speciality beers.

Shere Drop is brewed from England’s finest malting barley, Maris Otter, with additions of cara gold and crystal malts. The hops used are three English varieties – Challenger, First Gold and Pioneer – along with American Cascade. The photo shows head brewer Simon Jones (left) and brewery owner Ross Hunter.

The full list of winners:

Mild

Gold: Church End Gravediggers

Silver: Fernandes Malt Shovel

Bronze: West Berkshire Maggs Mild

Bitter

Gold: Dancing Duck Ay Up

Silver: Rhymney Hobby Horse

Bronze: Wolf Edith Cavell; Ulverston Laughing Gravy

Best Bitter

Gold: Surrey Hills Shere Drop

Silver: Green Jack Trawler Boys

Bronze: Castle Rock Preservation Fine Ale; Salopian Darwin’s Origin

Golden Ale

Gold: Oakham Citra

Silver: Five Points Pale

Bronze: Big Lamp Prince Bishop Ale; Vocation Heart & Soul

Strong Bitter

Gold: Greytrees Afghan Pale

Silver: Irving Iron Duke

Bronze: Church End Fallen Angel

Speciality

Gold: Bingham’s Vanilla Stout

Silver: Blue Monkey Chocolate Guerrilla

Bronze: Colchester Brazilian Coffee & Vanilla Porter

Winter Festival Winners

Strong Milds & Old Ales: Tintagel Excalibur

Porters: Calverley’s Porter

Stouts: Plain Ales Incognito

Barley Wines & Strong Old Ales: Lacon’s Audit Ales