The Champion Beer of Britain (also known as CBOB) is an award presented by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), at its annual Great British Beer Festival in early August.
Beers can qualify for the Champion Beer of Britain in three ways:
Nominated beers are then grouped into categories and go through several rounds of blind tasting at the Great British Beer Festival (GBBF). Category winners are then re-judged to determine the supreme champion — the Supreme Champion Beer of Britain.
Up until 2015, the Supreme Champion was to be announced at the GBBF. In 2016, however, the announcement was made at a special Champion Beer of Britain Awards Dinner held in the evening of 9 August (the first day of that year's festival) at the Kensington Olympia Hilton Hotel on the first day of the festival. The change was made to raise the profile of the competition.[1] [2] After an outcry from members the process of announcing the winning beers during the trade day afternoon at GBBF was quickly reinstated.
The judges of the competition usually include professional brewers, beer writers, and respected beer enthusiasts.[3] The focus of the judging is whether the judges actually enjoy the beer, as opposed to the American approach of judging a beer's technical merits.
While the award is prestigious, winning has sometimes caused problems for smaller breweries who have been unable to meet the demand for their champion beers caused by the newfound fame and publicity.
Beers can be split into categories depending on their style or strength, from 2023 the categories were changed:
The Old Ales & Barley Wines category has been renamed over the years. The award was first presented in 1991. In 1992 the category was split into two - Old Ales and Barley Wines. The new Old Ales category was renamed in 1993 to Old Ales & Strong Milds, changed again to Old Ales & Strong Ales in 1994, finally reverting to Old Ales & Strong Milds in 1996.
The Strong Ale category was changed in 1991 to Strong Bitter, with the Strong Milds joining the Old Ales category.
A winter ales festival has been held since 1991, the winner, since 1996, being named the Champion Winter Beer of Britain
Since 1996 the Old Ales & Strong Milds, Barley Wines and Porters & Stouts have been judged as part of the Champion Winter Beer Of Britain awards at the National Winter Ales Festival. In 2023 Speciality beers also moved to the Winter ales festival.
From 1990 onwards Gold, Silver and Bronze awards were made instead of just having an overall winner.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Thwaites Best Mild (Lancashire) Fuller's, ESB (London) | n/a | n/a | |
| 1979 | Fuller's, London Pride (London) | n/a | n/a | |
| 1980 | Thwaites, Best Mild (Lancashire) | n/a | n/a | |
| 1981 | Fuller's, ESB (London) | n/a | n/a | |
| 1982 | Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) | n/a | n/a | |
| 1983 | Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) | n/a | n/a | |
| 1984 | No event was held this year | |||
| 1985 | Fuller's, ESB (London) | n/a | n/a | |
| 1986 | Batemans, XXXB (Lincolnshire) | n/a | n/a | |
| 1987 | Pitfield, Dark Star (Greater London) | n/a | n/a | |
| 1988 | Ringwood, Old Thumper (Hampshire) | n/a | n/a | |
| 1989 | Fuller's, Chiswick Bitter (London) | n/a | n/a | |
| 1990 | Ind Coope, Burton Ale (Staffordshire) | Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) | Robinsons, Old Tom (Manchester) | |
| 1991 | Mauldons, Black Adder (Suffolk) | Fuller's, ESB (London) | Brains, Dark (Cardiff) | |
| 1992 | Woodforde's, Norfolk Nog (Norfolk) | Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) | Batemans, Salem Porter (Lincolnshire) | |
| 1993 | Adnams, Extra (Suffolk) | Timothy Taylor, Best Bitter (West Yorkshire) | Woodforde's, Headcracker (Norfolk) | |
| 1994 | Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) | Coach House, Blunderbuss (Cheshire) | Woodforde's, Headcracker (Norfolk) | |
| 1995 | Cottage, Norman's Conquest (Somerset) | Harvey's, Porter (Sussex) | Hadrian, Centurion (Newcastle) | |
| 1996 | Woodforde's, Wherry Best Bitter (Norfolk) | Cheriton, Digger's Gold (Hampshire) | Butterknowle, Banner Bitter (County Durham) | |
| 1997 | Mordue, Workie Ticket (Tyne & Wear) | Batemans, Dark Mild (Lincolnshire) | Hobsons, Best Bitter (Shropshire) | |
| 1998 | Coniston, Bluebird Bitter (Cumbria) | Mordue, Radgie Gadgie (Tyne & Wear) | Moorhouse's, Black Cat (Lancashire) | |
| 1999 | Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) | Oakham, JHB (Jeffrey Hudson Bitter) (Cambridgeshire) | Caledonian, Deuchars IPA (Edinburgh) | |
| 2000 | Moorhouse's, Black Cat (Lancashire) | Hogs Back, TEA (Surrey) | York Brewery, Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkshire) | |
| 2001 | Oakham, Jeffrey Hudson Bitter (Cambridgeshire) | Hop Back, Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) | Brains, Dark (Cardiff) | |
| 2002 | Caledonian, Deuchars IPA (Edinburgh) | RCH, East Street Cream (Somerset) | Triple fff, Moondance (Hampshire) | |
| 2003 | Harviestoun, Bitter & Twisted (Clackmannanshire) | Brains, Dark (Cardiff) | Bazens, Black Pig (Manchester) | |
| 2004 | Kelham Island, Pale Rider (Sheffield) | Greene King, IPA (Suffolk) | Hampshire, Ironside (Hampshire) | |
| 2005 | Crouch Vale, Brewers Gold (Essex) | Grainstore, Rutland Panther (Rutland) | Woodforde's, Wherry (Norfolk) | |
| 2006 | Crouch Vale, Brewers Gold (Essex) | Harvey's, Sussex Best Bitter (Sussex) | Triple fff, Moondance (Hampshire) | |
| 2007 | Hobsons, Mild (Shropshire) | Mighty Oak, Maldon Gold (Essex) | Green Jack, Ripper (Suffolk) | |
| 2008 | Triple fff, Alton's Pride (Hampshire)[4] | Beckstones, Black Dog Freddy (Cumbria) | Wickwar, Station Porter (Gloucestershire) | |
| 2009 | Rudgate, Ruby Mild (North Yorkshire) | Oakham, Attila (Cambridgeshire) | West Berkshire, Dr Hexter's Healer (Berkshire) | |
| 2010 | Castle Rock, Harvest Pale (Nottinghamshire) | Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) | Surrey Hills, Hammer Mild (Surrey) | |
| 2011 | Mighty Oak, Oscar Wilde (Essex) | Marble, Chocolate (Manchester) | Salopian, Shropshire Gold (Shropshire) | |
| 2012 | Coniston, No.9 Barley Wine (Cumbria) | Green Jack, Trawlerboys Best Bitter (Suffolk) | Dark Star, American Pale Ale (Sussex) | |
| 2013 | Elland, 1872 Porter (West Yorkshire) | Buntingford, Twitchell (Hertfordshire) | Fyne Ales, Jarl (Argyll & Bute) | |
| 2014 | Timothy Taylor, Boltmaker (West Yorkshire) | Oakham, Citra (Cambridgeshire) | Salopian, Darwin's Origin (Shropshire) | |
| 2015 | Tiny Rebel, Cwtch (Newport) | Kelburn, Jaguar (East Renfrewshire) | Dancing Duck, Dark Drake (Derby) | |
| 2016 | Binghams, Vanilla Stout (Berkshire) | Old Dairy, Snow Top (Kent) | Tring, Death or Glory (Hertfordshire) | |
| 2017 | Church End, Goats Milk (Warwickshire) | Bishop Nick, Ridley's Rite (Essex) | Tiny Rebel, Cwtch (Newport) | |
| 2018 | Siren Craft, Broken Dream Breakfast Stout (Berkshire) | Green Jack, Ripper (Suffolk) | Mordue, Workie Ticket (Tyne & Wear) | |
| 2019 | Surrey Hills, Shere Drop (Surrey) [5] | Grey Trees, Afghan Pale (Rhondda Cynon Taf) | Oakham, Citra (Cambridgeshire) | |
| 2020 | Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||
| 2021 | Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||
| 2022 | Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||
| 2023 | Elland, 1872 Porter (West Yorkshire) [6] | Greene King, Abbot Ale (Suffolk) | Salopian, Darwin's Origin (Shropshire) | |
Champion Beer of Britain Results | ||||
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Thwaites, Best Mild (Lancashire) | n/a | n/a | |
| 1979 | Hanson's, Mild | Thwaites, Mild (Lancashire) | n/a | |
| 1980 | Thwaites, Best Mild (Lancashire) | Courage, Heavy | Banks's, Mild | |
| 1981 | Banks's Mild | Tetley's Mild | Thwaites Best Mild (Lancashire) | |
| 1982 | Tetley's Mild | Thwaites Mild (Lancashire) | West Riding Mild | |
| 1983 | Ansells, Mild | Banks's, Mild | Highgate, Mild | |
| 1984 | No event was held this year | |||
| 1985 | Ansells Mild | Hook Norton Mild | Adnams Mild | |
| 1986 | Thwaites Best Mild (Lancashire) | Highgate Mild | Hook Norton Mild | |
| 1987 | Ansells Mild | Thwaites Best Mild (Lancashire) | Timothy Taylor Golden Best (West Yorkshire) | |
| 1988 | Batemans Mild | M&B Highgate Mild | Timothy Taylor Best (West Yorkshire) | |
| 1989 | Timothy Taylor Golden Best | Courage Bitter Ale | Batemans Mild | |
| 1990 | Harvey's Pale Ale | Batemans Mild | Timothy Taylor Golden Best (West Yorkshire) | |
| 1991 | Brains Dark | Gales XXXD (Horndean) | Guernsey LBA | |
| 1992 | Timothy Taylor Golden Best (West Yorkshire) | King & Barnes Sussex Mild | Brains Dark | |
| 1993 | Woodforde's Mardlers Mild | Adnams Mild | n/a | |
| 1994 | Hoskins & Oldfield Mild | Coachhouse Gunpowder Strong Mild | Highgate Dark | |
| 1995 | Ridley Mild | Hoskins & Oldfield Mild | Cains Mild (Liverpool) | |
| 1996 | Tomlinsons Heritage Mild | Batemans Dark Mild | Harvey's Sussex XX Mild | |
| 1997 | Batemans Dark Mild | Cains Dark Mild (Liverpool) | Coach House Gunpowder Strong Mild | |
| 1998 | Moorhouse's Black Cat Mild | Elgood's Black Dog Mild (Cambridgeshire) | Harvey's Sussex XX Mild | |
| 1999 | Batemans Dark Mild | Elgood's Black Dog Mild (Cambridgeshire) | Cains Dark Mild (Liverpool); St Austell XXXX (Cornwall) | |
| 2000 | Moorhouse's, Black Cat (Lancashire) | Batemans Dark | Brains Dark | |
| 2001 | Brains Dark | Moorhouse's Black Cat | Boat Brewery Man in a Boat | |
| 2002 | Triple fff Pressed Rat & Warthog (Hampshire) | Boat Brewery Man in a Boat | Moorhouse's Black Cat | |
| 2003 | Lidstones Rowley Mild | Brains Dark | Bazens Black Pig Mild | |
| 2004 | Lees GB Mild (Manchester) | Brains Dark | Hardys & Hansons Kimberley Mild | |
| 2005 | Grainstore Rutland Panther | Brains Dark | Elgood's Black Dog (Cambridgeshire) | |
| 2006 | Mighty Oak, Oscar Wilde (Essex) | Elgood's Black Dog (Cambridgeshire) | Grainstore Rutland Panther | |
| 2007 | Hobsons, Mild (Shropshire) | Nottingham Rock Mild | Brain's Dark | |
| 2008 | Beckstones, Black Dog Freddy (Cumbria) | Rudgate, Ruby Mild (York) | Rhymney, Dark (Merthyr Tydfil) | |
| 2009 | Rudgate, Ruby Mild (North Yorkshire) | Bank Top, Dark Mild (Lancashire) | Highland, Dark Munro (Orkney) | |
| 2010 | Surrey Hills Hammer Mild | Greene King XX Mild (Suffolk) | Golcar Dark Mild; Nottingham Rock Ale Mild | |
| 2011 | Mighty Oak, Oscar Wilde (Essex) | Rudgate, Ruby Mild | Coastal, Merry Maidens | |
| 2012 | Rudgate, Ruby Mild (North Yorkshire) | Hobsons, Hobsons Mild (Shropshire) | Son of Sid, Muckcart Mild (Bedfordshire) | |
| 2013 | Great Orme, Welsh Black (Conwy) | Cotswold Spring, Old Sodbury Mild (Gloucestershire) | Fernandes, Malt Shovel Mild (West Yorkshire) | |
| 2014 | Bank Top, Dark Mild | Branscombe Vale, Mild | Castle Rock, Black Gold | |
| 2015 | Williams Bros, Black | Rudgate, Ruby Mild | Great Orme, Welsh Black | |
| 2016 | Williams Bros, Black | Mighty Oak, Oscar Wilde (Essex) | Acorn, Darkness | |
| 2017 | Rudgate, Ruby Mild (North Yorkshire) | West Berkshire, Maggs' Magnificent Mild | Winter's, Mild (Norfolk) | |
| 2018 | Greene King, XX Mild (Suffolk) | Rhymney, Dark (Gwent) | East London Brewery, Orchid (Greater London) | |
| 2019 | Church End, Grave Digger's Ale (Warwickshire) | Fernandes, Malt Shovel Mild (West Yorkshire) | West Berkshire, Maggs' Mild (Berkshire) | |
| 2020 | Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||
| 2023 | Harvey's, Dark Mild (East Sussex) | Bank Top, Dark Mild (Greater Manchester) | Church End, Grave Digger's Ale (Warwickshire) | |
Champion Beer of Britain Results | ||||
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Ridleys Bitter | n/a | n/a | |
| 1979 | Fuller's London Pride (London) | Wadworth 6X | Sam Smiths Old Brewery Bitter | |
| 1980 | Exmoor Ale | Archers Bitter | Young's Bitter | |
| 1981 | West Riding Tyke | Shepherd Neame | n/a | |
| 1982 | Clarke's Wakefield | West Riding Bitter | Tetley's Bitter | |
| 1983 | Burton Bridge Bitter | Shepherd Neame Bitter | Young's Bitter | |
| 1984 | No event was held this year | |||
| 1985 | Gales BBB (Horndean) | Brakspear Bitter | Burton Bridge Bitter | |
| 1986 | Brakspear PA | Young's Bitter | Gales BBB (Horndean) | |
| 1987 | King & Barnes Sussex | Thwaites Bitter (Lancashire) | Young's Bitter | |
| 1988 | Tetley's Bitter | King & Barnes Sussex | Hook Norton Bitter | |
| 1989 | Fuller's, Chiswick Bitter (London) | Butcombe Bitter | Golden Hill Exmoor Ale | |
| 1990 | Adnams Bitter | Young's Bitter | Butcombe Bitter | |
| 1991 | Cain's Traditional Bitter | Stones Best Bitter | Young's Bitter | |
| 1992 | Ridley's IPA | Butterknowle Bitter | Plassey Bitter | |
| 1993 | Timothy Taylor Best Bitter (West Yorkshire) | Caledonian R&D Deuchars IPA | n/a | |
| 1994 | Everards Beacon | Caledonian R&D Deuchars IPA | Judge's Barrister Best | |
| 1995 | Cheriton Pots Ale | Everards Beacon | Oakham JHB (Cambridgeshire) | |
| 1996 | Woodforde's, Wherry (Norfolk) | Caledonian R&D Deauchers IPA | Butcombe Bitter Big Lamp Bitter | |
| 1997 | Hobsons Best Bitter | Ruddles Best Bitter | Goddards Special Hydes Bitter (Bronze) | |
| 1998 | Coniston, Bluebird Bitter (Cumbria) | Oakham JHB (Cambridgeshire) | Dent Aviator Itchen Valley Godfathers | |
| 1999 | Oakham JHB (Cambridgeshire) | Caledonian Deuchars IPA | Goddards special Woodforde's Wherry | |
| 2000 | Bullmastiff Gold & Brakspear Bitter | n/a | Oakham JHB (Cambridgeshire) Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted (Clackmannanshire) | |
| 2001 | Oakham, JHB (Cambridgeshire) | Adnams Bitter | Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted (Clackmannanshire) Barge and Barrel Bargee | |
| 2002 | Caledonian, Deuchars IPA (Edinburgh) | Rudgate Viking | RCH Hewish IPA Oakham JHB (Cambridgeshire) | |
| 2003 | Harviestoun, Bitter & Twisted (Clackmannanshire) | Daleside Bitter (Yorkshire) | Triple fff Alton Pride (Hampshire) Caledonian Deuchars IPA | |
| 2004 | Greene King IPA (Suffolk) | Oakham JHB (Cambridgeshire) | Triple fff Alton Pride (Hampshire) Whim Hartington Bitter | |
| 2005 | Woodforde's Wherry Best Bitter | Holdens Black Copuntry Bitter | RCH PG Steam Belvoir Star | |
| 2006 | Elgood's Cambridge Bitter (Cambridgeshire) | Acorn Brewery Barnsley Bitter | Sharp's Doom Bar Woodforde Wherry | |
| 2007 | Castle Rock Harvest Pale | Twickenham Crane Sundancer | Surrey Hills Ranmore Ale; Fyne Piper's Gold | |
| 2008 | Triple fff, Alton's Pride (Hampshire) | Lees, Bitter (Manchester) | Jarrow, Rivet Catcher (Tyne & Wear); Surrey Hills, Ranmore Ale (Surrey) | |
| 2009 | Surrey Hills, Ranmore Ale (Surrey) | Butcombe, Bitter (Avon) | Humpty Dumpty, Little Sharpie (Norfolk); Triple fff, Alton's Pride (Hampshire) | |
| 2010 | RCH PG Steam | Moor Revival | Orkney Raven Purple Moose Snowdonia Ale | |
| 2011 | Salopian, Shropshire Gold | Teignworthy, Reel Ale | Triple fff, Altons Pride (Hampshire) Potton, Shannon IPA | |
| 2012 | Purple Moose, Snowdonia Ale (Gwynedd) | Tintagel, Castle Gold (Cornwall) | Flowerpots, Bitter (Hampshire) Fuller's, Gales Seafarers Ale (London) Salopian, Shropshire Gold (Shropshire) | |
| 2013 | Buntingford, Twitchell (Hertfordshire) | Moor, Revival (Somerset) | Surrey Hills, Ranmore Ale (Surrey) Buttcombe Bitter (Somerset) | |
| 2014 | Timothy Taylor, Boltmaker (West Yorkshire) | Mighty Oak, Captain Bob | Flowerpots, Flowerpots Bitter Sambrook's Wandle Ale (London) | |
| 2015 | Pheasantry, Best Bitter | Acorn, Barnsley Bitter | Purple Moose, Madog's Ale Timothy Taylor, Boltmaker (West Yorkshire) | |
| 2016 | Timothy Taylor, Boltmaker | Tiny Rebel (Newport), Hank | Hawkshead, Bitter Salopian, Shropshire Gold | |
| 2017 | Church End, Goats Milk (Warwickshire) | Bishop Nick, Ridley's Rite (Essex) | Triple fff, Alton's Pride (Hampshire) | |
| 2018 | Orkney, Red MacGregor (Northern Isles) | Mighty Oak, Captain Bob (Essex) | Bank Top, Flat Cap (Greater Manchester) Acorn, Barnsley Bitter (South Yorkshire) | |
| 2019 | Dancing Duck, Ay Up (Derbyshire) | Rhymney, Hobby Horse (Gwent) | Wolf, Edith Cavell (Norfolk) Ulverston, Laughing Gravy (Cumbria) | |
| 2020 | Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||
| 2023 | Salopian Brewery, Darwin's Origin[7] | Timothy Taylor, Landlord | The Mighty Oak Brewing Company, Captain Bob | |
Champion Beer of Britain Results | ||||
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) | Wadworth 6X | Fuller's London Pride (London) | |
| 1989 | Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) | Batham Bitter | Marston's Pedigree (Burton upon Trent) | |
| 1990 | Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) | Fuller's London Pride (London) | Wadworth 6X | |
| 1991 | Batham Best Bitter | Marston's Pedigree Bitter (Burton upon Trent) | Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) | |
| 1992 | Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) | Butterknowle Concilliation Ale | Exe Valley Dob's Bitter | |
| 1993 | Adnams, Extra (Suffolk) | Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) | n/a | |
| 1994 | Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) | Fuller's London Pride (London) | Concertina Band Club KW Special Pride | |
| 1995 | Fuller's London Pride (London) | Hogs Back TEA (Surrey) Otter Ale | n/a | |
| 1996 | Butterknowle Banner Bitter | Camerons Strongarm | Brains SA Plassey Bitter | |
| 1997 | Mordue, Workie Ticket (Tyne & Wear) | Cottage Golden Ale | Whitbread Castle Eden Concertina Bengal Tiger | |
| 1998 | RCH Pitchfork | Adnams Extra | Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) Fuller's London Pride (London) | |
| 1999 | Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) | Harvey's Armada Ale | Jennings Cocker Hoop Tomos Watkin OSB | |
| 2000 | Hogs Back TEA (Surrey) | York Yorkshire Terrier Bitter | Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) Houston St Peter's Well | |
| 2001 | RCH Pitchfork | Woodforde's Nelson's Revenge | Goddards Special Hog's Back TEA | |
| 2002 | Triple fff Moondance (Hampshire) | Crouch Vale Brewers Gold | Orkney Red McGregor Fuller's London Pride (London) | |
| 2003 | Crouch Vale Brewers Gold | West Berkshire Full Circle | Slaters Supreme Roosters Hooligan | |
| 2004 | Hampshire Ironside | Hook Norton Generation | Nottingham Extra Pale Ale Woodfordes Nelson's Revenge | |
| 2005 | Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter | Mighty Oak Burntwood Bitter | Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) Olde Swan Entire | |
| 2006 | Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter | Triple fff Moon Dance (Hampshire) | Kelburn Red Smiddy Surrey Hills Shere Drop | |
| 2007 | Purple Moose Glaslyn Ale | George Wright Pipe Dream | Fuller's London Pride (London); Nethergate Suffolk County; Station House Buzzin' | |
| 2008 | Skinner's, Betty Stogs (Cornwall) | Highland, Scapa Special (Orkney) | Cairngorm, Nessies Monster Mash (Highlands); Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) | |
| 2009 | Southport, Golden Sands (Merseyside) | Buntingford, Britannia (Hertfordshire) | Evan Evans, Cwrw (Carmarthenshire); Thornbridge, Lord Marples (Derbyshire); Vale, VPA (Buckinghamshire) | |
| 2010 | Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) | St Austell Tribute (Cornwall) | Evan Evans Cwrw Great Oakley Gobble | |
| 2011 | Houston, Peter's Well | Country life, Golden Pig | Castle Rock, Preservation Bollington, Best Bitter | |
| 2012 | Green Jack, Trawlerboys Best Bitter (Suffolk) | Salopian, Hop Twister (Shropshire) | Oakwell, Senior Bitter (South Yorkshire) Milton, Pegasus (Cambridgeshire) | |
| 2013 | Mordue, Workie Ticket (North Shields) | Surrey Hills, Shere Drop (Surrey) | Purple Moose, Glaslyn (Gwynedd) Woodforde's, Nelsons Revenge (Norfolk) | |
| 2014 | Salopian, Darwin's Origin | Red Willow, Directionless | Purity, Mad Goose Langton, Inclined Plain Bitter | |
| 2015 | Tiny Rebel, Cwtch (Newport) | Highland, Scapa Special | Barngates, Tag Lag Salopian, Darwin's Origin | |
| 2016 | Surrey Hills, Shere Drop | Salopian, Darwin's Origin | Colchester, Colchester No.1 Tiny Rebel, Cwtch (Newport) | |
| 2017 | Tiny Rebel, Cwtch (Newport) | Blackedge, Pike (Greater Manchester) | Surrey Hills, Shere Drop (Surrey) West Berkshire, Good Old Boy | |
| 2018 | Mordue, Workie Ticket (Tyne & Wear) | Bishop Nick, 1555 (Essex) | St Austell, Tribute (Cornwall) Salopian, Darwin's Origin (Shropshire) | |
| 2019 | Surrey Hills, Shere Drop (Surrey) | Green Jack, Trawler Boys (Suffolk) | Castle Rock, Preservation (Nottingham) Salopian, Darwin's Origin (Shropshire) | |
| 2020 | Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||
| 2023 | Greene King, Abbot Ale | Glamorgan Brewing, Jemima's Pitchfork | Batemans, XXXB | |
Champion Beer of Britain Results | ||||
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Bass Worthington's White Shield | Guinness Original Stout | Eldridge Pope Thomas Hardy Ale | |
| 1992 | Gales Prize Old Ale (Horndean) | Eldridge Pope Thomas Hardy Ale | Bass Worthington's White Shield | |
| 1993 | Eldridge Pope's Thomas Hardy Ale | Courage Imperial Russian Stout | n/a | |
| 1994 | Courage Imperial Russian Stout | King & Barnes Festive | Shepherd Neame Spitfire | |
| 1995 | King & Barnes Festive | Gales Prize Old Ale (Horndean) | Bass Worthington's White Shield | |
| 1996 | Marston's Oyster Stout (Burton upon Trent) | Worthington's White Shield | Courage Russian Imperial Stout | |
| 1997 | Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) | King & Barnes Festive | Fuller's 1845 (London) | |
| 1998 | Fuller's 1845 (London) | Burton Bridge Empire Pale Ale | Hampshire Brewery Pride of Romsey | |
| 1999 | Young's Special London Ale | Salopian Entire Butt | Hampshire Pride of Romsey | |
| 2000 | King & Barnes Worthington's White Shield | Hampshire Pride of Romsey | King & Barnes Festival | |
| 2001 | RCH Ale Mary | Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) | Fuller's 1845 (London) | |
| 2002 | Fuller's 1845 (London) | Brakspear Live Organic | Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) | |
| 2003 | O'Hanlons Original Port Stout | Fuller's 1845 (London) | RCH Old Slug Porter | |
| 2004 | Titanic Stout | Young's Special London Ale | Yates' Isle of Wight Special | |
| 2005 | Durham Evensong | Young's Special London Ale | Titanic Stout | |
| 2006 | Worthington's White Shield Silver | Greene King Hen's Tooth (Suffolk) | Titanic Stout (Staffordshire) | |
| 2007 | O'Hanlon's Port Stout | Titanic Stout; Wye Valley Dorothy Goodbody's Wholesome Stout | Wapping Baltic Gold | |
| 2008 | Wye Valley, Dorothy Goodbody's Wholesome Stout | Fuller's, 1845 (London) | Wells and Young's, Special London Ale (Bedfordshire) | |
| 2009 | Titanic, Stout (Staffordshire) | Great Gable, Yewbarrow (Cumbria) | White Shield Brewery, White Shield (Burton-on-Trent) | |
| 2010 | St Austell, Admiral's Ale (Cornwall) | Pitfield, 1850 London Porter (Essex) | Great Oakley, Delapre Dark (Northamptonshire) | |
| 2011 | St Austell, Proper Job (Cornwall) | Molson Coors, Worthington's White Shield; Brown Cow, Captain Oates Dark Oat Mild | n/a | |
| 2012 | Stewart, Embra (Midlothian) | Great Gable, Yewbarrow (Cumbria) | Molson Coors, Worthington's White Shield (Staffordshire) | |
| 2013 | Molson Coors, Worthington's White Shield (Staffordshire) | St Austell, Proper Job (Cornwall) | Harvey's, Imperial Extra Double Stout (East Sussex) | |
| 2014 | Marble, Chocolate Marble (Manchester) | St Austell, Proper Job (Cornwall) | Spire, Prince Igor Imperial Russian Stout (Derbyshire) | |
| 2015 | Harvey's, Imperial Extra Double Stout (Lewes, East Sussex) | Fyne Ales, Superior India Pale Ale (Achadunan, Cairndow) | Mordue, India Pale Ale (North Shields, Tyne & Wear) | |
| 2016 | Stringers, Mutiny (Cumbria) | Flipside, Russian Rouble (Nottinghamshire) | Crouch Vale, Yakima Gold (Essex) | |
| 2017 | St Austell, BIG Job (Cornwall) | Fuller's, Vintage Ale 2017 (London) | Oakham, Green Devil IPA (Peterborough) | |
| 2018 | Fuller's, 1845 (London) | Durham, Temptation Imperial (County Durham) | St Austell, BIG Job (Cornwall) | |
| 2019 | Thornbridge, Saint Petersburg Imperial Russian Stout (Derbyshire) | St Austell, Proper Job (Cornwall) | St Austell, BIG Job (Cornwall) | |
| 2020 | Hogs Back, A Over T (Surrey) | Durham, Temptation Imperial (County Durham) | Harvey's, Imperial Extra Double Stout (East Sussex) | |
| 2021 | Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||
| 2022 | Harvey's Brewery, Imperial Double Extra Stout[8] | Hobsons Brewery, Dhustone Stout | Runaway Brewery, Runaway IPA | |
| 2023 | Green Jack Brewing, Baltic Trader [9] | Hobsons Brewery, Dhustone Stout | Five Kingdoms Brewery, McGregor's Mild | |
Champion Bottled Beer of Britain Results | ||||
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Fuller's, ESB (London) | n/a | n/a | |
| 1979 | Fuller's, ESB (London) | Theakston Old Peculier | Greene King Abbot Ale (Suffolk) | |
| 1980 | Young's Special | Gales HSB (Horndean) | Fuller's ESB (London) | |
| 1981 | Fuller's, ESB (London) | Gales HSB (Horndean) | Theakston Old Peculier | |
| 1982 | Marston's Owd Roger | Lees Moonraker (Manchester) | Theakston Old Peculier | |
| 1983 | Fuller's ESB (London) | Gales HSB; Theakston Old Peculier | n/a | |
| 1984 | No event was held this year | |||
| 1985 | Fuller's, ESB (London) | Gales HSB (Horndean); Theakston Old Peculier | n/a | |
| 1986 | Theakston Old Peculier | Ringwood Old Thumper | Marstons Owd Rodger | |
| 1987 | Fuller's ESB (London) | Theakston Old Peculier | Robinsons Old Tom | |
| 1988 | Ringwood Old Thumper | Fuller's ESB (London) | Gibbs Mew Bishop's Tipple | |
| 1989 | Theakston Old Peculier | Batemans Victory Ale | Fuller's ESB (London) | |
| 1990 | Robinsons Old Tom | Ringwood Old Thumper | Fuller's ESB (London) | |
| 1991 | Category closed | |||
Champion Beer of Britain Results | ||||
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Old Mill | Mauldons | Ringwood | |
| 1986 | Pitfield, Dark Star (Greater London) | Old Mill Bullion | Banks & Taylor SOS | |
| 1987 | Pitfield, Dark Star (Greater London) | Old Mill Bullion | Banks & Taylor SOS | |
| 1988 | Banks & Taylor SOS | Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby | Woodforde's Wherry | |
| 1989 | Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) | Whitby's Own Force Nine | Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild | |
| 1990 | Woodforde's Wherry Best Bitter | West Coast Sierra Nevada Pale Ale | Yates' Premium | |
| 1991 | Category closed | |||
Champion Beer of Britain Results | ||||
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) | Marston's Pedigree (Burton upon Trent) | West Riding Tyke Bitter | |
| 1983 | Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) | Young's Special | Marston's Pedigree (Burton upon Trent) | |
| 1984 | No event was held this year | |||
| 1985 | Young's Special | Marston's Pedigree (Burton upon Trent) | Timothy Taylor Landlord (West Yorkshire) | |
| 1986 | Batemans, XXXB (Lincolnshire) | Fuller's London Pride (London) | Timothy Taylor (West Yorkshire) | |
| 1987 | Category closed | |||
Champion Beer of Britain Results | ||||
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Batemans, XXXB (Lincolnshire) | Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire) | Young's, Special (London) | |
| 1988 | Batemans, XXXB (Lincolnshire) | Young's, Special (London) | Holdens, HSB (West Midlands) | |
| 1989 | Batemans, XXXB (Lincolnshire) | Moorhouse's, Pendle Witches Brew (Lancashire) | Young's, Special (London) | |
| 1990 | Ind Coope, Burton Ale (Staffordshire) | Greene King, Abbot Ale (Suffolk) | Adnams, Broadside (Suffolk) | |
| 1991 | Category closed | |||
Champion Beer of Britain Results | ||||
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Crouch Vale Brewers Gold (Essex) | Jarrow Rivet Catcher | Oakham JHB (Cambridgeshire) | |
| 2006 | Crouch Vale Brewers Gold (Essex) | Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) | Holdens Golden Glow | |
| 2007 | Mighty Oak Maldon Gold | Oakleaf Hole Hearted | Otley O1 | |
| 2008 | Otley, O1 (Mid Glamorgan) | Loddon, Ferryman's Gold (Oxfordshire) | Skinner's, Cornish Knocker Ale (Cornwall) | |
| 2009 | Dark Star, American Pale Ale (West Sussex) | Adnams, Explorer (Suffolk) | St Austell, Proper Job (Cornwall) | |
| 2010 | Castle Rock, Harvest Pale (Nottinghamshire) | Marble Manchester Bitter | St Austell Proper Job (Cornwall) | |
| 2011 | Cumbrian Legendary Ales, Loweswater Gold | Salamander, Golden Salamander | Holdens, Golden Glow | |
| 2012 | Dark Star, American Pale Ale (Horsham, West Sussex) | Cumbrian Legendary Ales, Langdale (Hawkshead, Cumbria) | Hobsons, Town Crier (Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire) | |
| 2013 | Beeston, On the huh (Norfolk) | Marble, Dobber (Greater Manchester) | Castle Rock Brewery, Screech Owl (Nottingham) | |
| 2014 | Oakham Ales, Citra (Cambridgeshire) | Hawkshead, Cumbrian Five Hop | Salopian Brewery, Hop Twister | |
| 2015 | Kelburn, Jaguar | Adnams, Explorer | Blue Monkey, Infinity | |
| 2016 | Golden Triangle, Mosaic City | Grey Trees Independent Craft Brewery, Diggers Gold | Marble, Lagonda IPA | |
| 2017 | Blue Monkey, Infinity (Nottinghamshire) | Fyne Ales, Jarl (Argyll and Bute) | Ludlow, Gold (Shropshire) | |
| 2018 | Salopian Brewery, Oracle (Shropshire) | Salopian Brewery, Hop Twister (Shropshire) | Abbeydale, Moonshine (South Yorkshire) Windsor & Eton, Knight of the Garter (Berkshire) | |
| 2019 | Oakham Ales, Citra (Cambridgeshire) | Five Points, Pale (Greater London) | Vocation, Heart & Soul (West Yorkshire) Big Lamp, Prince Bishop Ale (Tyne & Wear) | |
| 2020 | Category closed | |||
Champion Beer of Britain Results | ||||
Successor to the Strong Ale category. Strong Milds were transferred to the Old Ales category.
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Fuller's ESB (London) | Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) | Hardys & Hansons Kimberley Classic | |
| 1992 | Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) | Harvey's Armada Ale | Randall's Best Bitter | |
| 1993 | Exe Valley Exeter Old Bitter | Mauldons White Adder | n/a | |
| 1994 | Coach House Posthorn | Moorhouse's Pendle Witches Brew | n/a | |
| 1995 | Hadrian Centurion | Fuller's ESB (London) | Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) | |
| 1996 | Cheriton Diggers Gold | Bullmastiff Son of a Bitch | Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) | |
| 1997 | Batemans XXXB | Dent Kamikaze | Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) | |
| 1998 | Mordue Radgie Gadgie | Dent Kamikaze | Cheriton Diggers Gold | |
| 1999 | Ballard Nyewood Gold | Durham White Bishop | Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) | |
| 2000 | Cropton Monkman's Slaughter | Gales HSB (Horndean) | Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) | |
| 2001 | Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) | Goachers Gold Star Ale | Slater's Supreme | |
| 2002 | RCH East Street Cream | Fuller's ESB (London) | Hogs Back Hop Garden Gold (Surrey) | |
| 2003 | Adnams, Broadside | RCH, East Street Cream | Oakham, Bishops Farewell (Cambridgeshire) | |
| 2004 | Kelham Island, Pale Rider (Sheffield) | Mordue IPA | Hop Back Summer Lightning (Wiltshire) | |
| 2005 | Hanby Nutcracker | Bullmastiff Son of a Bitch | Fuller's ESB (London) | |
| 2006 | York Centurion's Ghost | Thornbridge Jaipur IPA | Weetwood Oasthouse Gold | |
| 2007 | York Centurion's Ghost | Inveralmond Lia Fail | Brain's SA Gold | |
| 2008 | Thornbridge, Jaipur IPA (Derbyshire) | Fuller's, ESB (London) | Highland, Orkney Blast (Orkney) | |
| 2009 | West Berkshire, Dr Hexter's Healer (Berkshire) | Thornbridge, Kipling (Derbyshire) | Grain, Tamarind IPA (Norfolk) | |
| 2010 | Thornbridge Jaipur IPA | Fuller's Gales HSB (London) | Beckstones Rev Rob | |
| 2011 | Moles, Moles Catcher | Kinver, Half Centurion | Adnams, Broadside | |
| 2012 | Dark Star, Festival (Horsham, West Sussex) | O'Hanlon's, Stormstay (Whimple, Devon) | Highland, Orkney IPA (Swannay, Orkney) | |
| 2013 | Beeston, On the huh (Norfolk) | Marble, Dobber (Greater Manchester) | Castle Rock, Screech Owl (Nottingham) | |
| 2014 | Church End, Fallen Angel | Blue Monkey, Ape Ale | Loch Ness, HoppyNESS | |
| 2015 | Dark Star, Revelation | Salopian, Golden Thread | Grain, India Pale Ale | |
| 2016 | Heavy Industry, 77 | Hawkshead, NZPA | Adnams, Ghost Ship | |
| 2017 | Grey Trees, Afghan Pale Ale (Rhondda Cynon Taff) | Barngates, Red Bull Terrier (Cumbria) | Salopian, Automaton (Shropshire) | |
| 2018 | Fuller's (Dark Star), Revelation (West Sussex) | Bay, Devon Dumpling (Devon) | Kinver, Half Centurion (Staffordshire) | |
| 2019 | Grey Trees, Afghan IPA (Rhondda Cynon Taff) | Irving, Iron Duke (Hampshire) | Church End, Fallen Angel (Warwickshire) | |
| 2020 | Category closed | |||
Champion Beer of Britain Results | ||||
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Harviestoun Schiehallion (Clackmannanshire) | Passageway St Arnold | Brewery on Sea Spinnaker Buzz | |
| 1997 | Harviestoun Schiehallion (Clackmannanshire) | Passageway St Arnold | Nethergate Umbel Magana | |
| 1998 | Freeminer Shakemantle Ginger Ale | Dark Horse Fallen Angel | Daleside Morocco Ale (Yorkshire) | |
| 1999 | Harviestoun Schiehallion (Clackmannanshire) | Nethergate Umbel Magna | Dark Star Zingibier | |
| 2000 | Nethergate Umbel Ale | Oakham White Dwarf (Cambridgeshire) | Heather Ale Fraoch | |
| 2001 | Oakham White Dwarf (Cambridgeshire) | Harviestoun Schiehallion (Clackmannanshire) | Cheriton Village Elder | |
| 2002 | Oakham White Dwarf (Cambridgeshire) | Harviestoun Schiehallion (Clackmannanshire) | Nethergate Umbel Magna | |
| 2003 | Cheriton Village Elder | Daleside Morocco (Yorkshire) | Oakham White Dwarf (Cambridgeshire) | |
| 2004 | Cairngorm Tradewinds | Harviestoun Schiehallion (Clackmannanshire) | Titanic Iceberg | |
| 2005 | Cairngorm Tradewinds | Young's Waggledance | Daleside Morocco (Yorkshire); Ridleys Rumpus | |
| 2006 | Cairngorm Tradewinds | Wolf Straw Dog | William Brothers Fraoch | |
| 2007 | Nethergate Umbel Magna | Little Valley Hebden Wheat | St Peter's Grapefruit | |
| 2008 | Otley, OGarden (Mid Glamorgan) | Wentworth, Bumble Beer (South Yorkshire) | Nethergate, Umbel Magna (Essex) | |
| 2009 | Nethergate, Umbel Magna (Essex) | Wentworth, Bumble Beer (South Yorkshire) | Amber, Chocolate Orange Stout (Derbyshire) | |
| 2010 | Amber Chocolate Orange Stout | O'Hanlon's Port Stout | Breconshire Ysbrid y Ddraig | |
| 2011 | Oakleaf, I cant believe it's not bitter | Amber, Chocolate Orange Stout | Orkney, Atlas Wayfarer | |
| 2012 | Dunham Massey, Chocolate Cherry Mild (Dunham Massey, Gtr Manchester) | Little Valley, Hebden's Wheat (Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire) | Nethergate, Umbel Magna (Pentlow, Essex) | |
| 2013 | Nethergate, Umbel Magna (Suffolk) | Saltaire, Triple Chocolate (West Yorkshire) | Conwy, Honey Fayre (Conwy) | |
| 2014 | Saltaire, Triple Chocoholic | Offbeat, Way Out Wheat | Peak Ales, Chatsworth Gold | |
| 2015 | Titanic, Plum Porter | Kissingate, Black Cherry Mild; Saltaire, Triple Chocolate | Hanlons, Port Stout | |
| 2016 | Binghams, Vanilla Stout (Berkshire) | Saltaire, Triple Chocoholic | Titanic, Plum Porter | |
| 2017 | Saltaire, Triple Chocoholic (West Yorkshire) | Blackedge, Black Port Porter (Greater Manchester) | Cromarty, Red Rocker (Highland) | |
| 2018 | Colchester, Brazilian Coffee & Vanilla Porter (Essex) | Cromarty, Red Rocker (Highlands & Western Isles) | Derventio, Cleopatra (Derbyshire) | |
| 2019 | Binghams, Vanilla Stout (Berkshire) | Blue Monkey, Chocolate Guerilla (Nottinghamshire) | Colchester, Brazilian Coffee & Vanilla Porter (Essex) | |
| 2020 | Competition cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||
| 2023 | Category moved to Winter Festival | |||
Champion Beer of Britain Results | ||||