Monday 13 June 2011

Prize winners and photos from the 2011 Beer Challenge

Another splendid day and another terrific turnout, with 15 beers in five different categories. I really hope you enjoyed it and many thanks to you all for yet another tremendous effort. You are a credit to the fine traditions of brewing and a towering example of can-do spirit.

Not only that, but we collectively raised £146 for disaster relief in Japan. That might not seem a lot when your country is ankle deep in radioactive seawater, but every little helps and thanks for your support.

Extra special thanks go to Hugo, our beer judge, a towering colossus of a man; Tony, the landlord of the Crown, a towering colossus of a Welshman; and Kate H, who narrowly escaped death in judging the ginger beer. She is neither towering, nor, according to our best intelligence, a man.

Happily we have full results this year, because although we did all get titanically drunk, someone less drunk than me remembered to pick them up. As usual, pics from the event are on Flickr (see link) and the placings are listed below. Cheers!


From left: Kate, Molly, Craig and Jen Hazledine (grand prix, label), Jaego, Richard and Jessame Cable (ginger beer, vintage), Hugo Anderson (judge), Oliver and Ben Smith (naturalised Brits) and Myles Willingale (freestyle, name)























Click here for the Flickrstream (photo gallery) of the event [LINK]
    (If you have any pics to share, send them to me and I'll add them to the gallery)

    Best beer (grand prix)
    Blind tasting letter included as key to the accompanying image.

    Hugo's notes: click to enlarge
    1. Supporter (Craig Hazledine) D
    2. Swing Low (Chris Greenwood) C
    3. Penthouse Porter (Steve Dobson) J
    = 4. Standard (Richard Cable) E
    = 4. Sith Pith (Richard Cable) F
    = 5. Bridge Over Troubled Porter (Richard Cable) G
    = 5. Tastes Like Cole (Sean Parry) O
    = 5. Coal (Big Gay Al Davis) H
    6. Pebbledasher (Chris Mesney) B
    7. Hugo Is (Not) Smashing (Kayte Cable) I
    8. Will's Morning Glory (Myles Willingale) A


    Best ginger beer

    1. Mack the Nipper (Jaego and Jessame Cable)
    = 2. Lillybell (Isabelle Willingale)
    = 2. Giner (Tom Willingale)*
    *Narrowly avoided disqualification for taking the judge's head off


    Best vintage

    1. Nutkin's Finger (Richard Cable)
    2. I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Beer (Kayte Cable)
    3. Beer (Sean Parry)
    4. No Thanks I'm Driving (Richard Cable)
    5. Romp of Runnymede (Big Gay Al Davis)*
    *Notably last year's Grand Prix winner


    Best name

    1. Will's Morning Glory (Myles Willingale)
    2. Bridge Over Troubled Porter (Richard Cable)
    3. Sith Pith (Richard Cable)
    = 4. Hugo Is (Not) Smashing (Kayte Cable)
    = 4. Supporter (Craig Hazledine)
    = 5. Tastes Like Cole (Sean Parry)
    = 5. Coal (Big Gay Al Davis)
    = 5. Swing Low (Chris Greenwood)
    6. Penthouse Porter (Steve Dobson)
    Unplaced: Standard (Richard Cable), Pebbledasher (Chris Mesney)


    Best label

    1. Supporter (Craig Hazledine)
    2. Sith Pith (Richard Cable)
    3. Bridge Over Troubled Porter (Richard Cable)
    4. Will's Morning Glory (Myles Willingale)
    = 5. Hugo Is (Not) Smashing (Kayte Cable)
    = 5. Penthouse Porter (Steve Dobson)
    = 5. Standard (Richard Cable)
    = 5. Coal (Big Gay Al Davis)
    Unplaced: Swing Low (Chris Greenwood), Tastes Like Cole (Sean Parry), Pebbledasher (Chris Mesney)


    Best freestyle

    1. Will's Morning Glory (Myles Willingale)

    Prize winners and photos from the 2010 Beer Challenge [LINK]
    Prize winners and photos from the 2009 Beer Challenge [LINK]