Elland’s 1872 Porter crowned the
Champion Beer of Britain 2023
Calderdale’s very own Elland Brewery’s 1872 Porter (6.5% ABV) has struck gold and has been crowned the best in Britain after winning the Campaign for Real Ales (CAMRA) prestigious Champion Beer of Britain competition.
The 1872 Porter was crowned the official winner at this year’s Great British Beer Festival (GBBF), following a rigorous and hard-fought competition. The beer has been awarded Champion Winter Beer of Britain four times previously, the most recent being this year.
Champion Beer of Britain co-ordinator Christine Cryne said it was a deserving champion, despite incredibly strong competition. She described the beer as a ruby black porter, with chocolate and caramelised fruit flavours with a hint of black toffee on the nose. The judges enjoyed its smooth mouthfeel with a finish that is roasty and dry. A satisfying and remarkably easy drinking porter.
The award – one of the most coveted real ale competitions in the world – puts the winner firmly in both the national and international spotlight. It was exclusively revealed at today’s GBBF trade session today (1 August – yes, Yorkshire Day).
Congratulations once again to our very own Elland Brewery, whose fantastic 1872 Porter has won overall gold in CAMRA’s Champion Winter Beer of Britain competition 2023 at the Great British Beer Festival Winter.
For those who’ve tried it this will come as no surprise, and not the first award it has won:
AWARDS
- 2015 – CAMRA National Winter Ales Champion Beer, Overall Winner
- 2014 – SIBA North East Gold Medal Winner – Premium Strong Beers,
- 2013 – CAMRA Supreme Champion Beer of Britain, Overall Winner
- 2013 – CAMRA National Winter Ales Champion Beer, Overall Winner
- 2010 – CAMRA National Winter Ales Champion Beer, Overall Winner
- 2004 – International Brewing Awards, Gold Medal
Calling all Calderdale Beer Lovers
Archived 18/09/2021
The Small Brewers Relief scheme (SBR) petition has now closed. A big thank you to our members for signing the petition.
The SBR is being reviewed by the Government, and their current
preferred approach could see some of the smallest breweries lose support they currently receive.
CAMRA has been asking the Government to rethink their approach and the technical consultation may be our last chance to convince them.
In January, the Government started the latest technical consultation on their proposed changes.
While the full consultation asks some very technical questions, this doesn’t stop individuals, brewers or organisations from submitting responses that give views on specific parts of the proposals rather than completing the whole consultation.
Responses to the SBR technical consultation can be submitted up until 23.59 on 4 April.
A campaign pack with a briefing, ideas for how to get involved, a template consultation response, digital assets and template social media is available here.
Could your local be the next Pub of the Year?
CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year is our annual competition to find the very best cask ale pub in the UK. We’ve been highlighting the best pubs in the country since 1988, and the competition helps to showcase quality pubs around the UK that are worth seeking out and visiting. It’s all about finding the cream of the crop and the best place for you to enjoy a pint of real ale.
Each year, local CAMRA branches nominate one pub in their area. These 200 pubs go through to the regional competition, selecting 16 top pubs, which whittles down to the four super-regional finalists – one of which will become the ultimate winner.
This year our Branch nominated pub was the Fox & Goose, Hebden Bridge, a community owned pub that has excelled in offering good beer in a comfortable welcoming environment. It is a community owned and run pub and it merely reinforces the widely held view that pubs are ideal as a centre for the local community.
All of this would be good enough but the fact is that CAMRA recognises its contribution to maintaining a wide range of good beer in excellent condition and in offering something for all, whether a welcoming cup of coffee on a chilly morning to a refreshing pint of “craft” lager on a sunny afternoon it is providing a service to the community.
Halifax & Calderdale branch recognised the merits of this pub in awarding it our Pub of the Year Award 2019 in March and this has now been recognised regionally as it is the runner-up in the Yorkshire Pub of the Year 2019.
Congratulations to Hannah Thurman & her team.
The award will be presented by Peter Goddard Deputy Regional Director (Yorkshire) on Saturday October 12th at 2pm
2019 Regional Award Presentation
On Saturday 12th October 2019 a presentation of the award for Runner up in the Regional Pub of The Year 2019 was awarded to the Fox & Goose in recognition of their commitment to serving good quality ale and also serving the local community. This award follows the Halifax & Calderdale CAMRA Pub of the Year Award in March and continues the recognition of the outstanding quality of the public houses, bars, clubs and Micropubs within our branch area.
The award was made by Peter Goddard, Deputy Director Yorkshire Region, CAMRA. This is a summary of the presentation:
The Fox and Goose is a traditional real ale pub on Heptonstall Road, Hebden Bridge. It is steeped in local history and has been extremely popular among the local community and visitors for many years probably since it opened as a pub in 1702. The Fox sells only quality real ales from independent micro breweries, real ciders and bottled beers, ciders and lagers.
Regulars and supporters from the local community and further afield came together in February 2012 with the aim of buying the Fox and Goose and running it as a co-operative pub. An interim steering group was set up to take the project forward with elected members from within the wider Fox Friends supporters group.
The steering group investigated the practicalities of a buy-out, commissioned a survey, looked into the present business and investigated where it could be improved and explored the best ways to make the co-operative viable and sustainable.
Fox Friends, are supported by a number of co-operative organisations and community groups including:
Since then the pub has undergone a series of transformations that have not changed the character of the pub but steadily improved the facilities and services provided to the pub & the community.
Due to ill health the owner was having difficulty keeping the pub going. Neither she nor the regulars and local community wanted to see the Fox and Goose swallowed up by a major chain, losing its unique character or being closed down and sold off for another use.
- The Plunkett Foundation,
- Co-operatives UK,
- The Co-operative Enterprise Hub,
- Halifax & Calderdale CAMRA,
- South Pennine Prospects &
- Wild Rose Heritage & Arts.
From the results of these investigations, a business plan was drawn up, a Community Benefit Society formed and a share offer issued, which has raised the funds to buy the pub.
On the 20th March 2014 after over 2 years of hard work the Pub was secured by the Community.
The fact that the Fox has been in the GBG guide 27 times is testament to the fact that the quality of beer has remained at a high level. Indeed since Hannah Thurman took over in 2016 it has won several more local CAMRA awards and continues to support the aims of CAMRA as well as being a notable sponsor of our Annual Beer Festival. They are, I believe, the current holders of a Pub Games Trophy for a competition held between Halifax & Calderdale CAMRA and their customers.
Sadly Trevor Cobb the first manager passed away earlier this year. His wake, naturally enough, was held in the Fox. I expect he’d be wanting to know why the Fox wasn’t the best pub in Yorkshire !