Champion Best Bitter of Great Britain

 A Cornish brewery has celebrated its biggest-ever competitive triumph with a return to London to collect its award at another famous venue. 

In August, Truro-based Skinners Brewery chalked up a Cornish first when its Betty Stogs won the Champion Best Bitter of Great Britain award in the 2008 Great British Beer Festival at Earl’s Court. 

The happy sequel saw a party of Skinners representatives, including the real-life “Betty”, attend CAMRA’s annual awards lunch at Lord’s, the home of cricket. A framed commemorative certificate and gold rosette were presented to managing director Steve Skinner by CAMRA chair Paula Waters.  Mr Skinner said he and all his colleagues were “fantastically honoured” to have their best-selling beer win such prestigious recognition. 

The lunch was attended by around 250 representatives and guests of breweries from all over Britain, along with top beer writers and experts.  It was served with a selection of this year’s award-winning beers, including Betty Stogs accompanying the main course.  The programme also included a tour of the iconic cricket ground. 

The Earl’s Court festival was a double triumph for Skinners, whose Cornish Knocker Ale won bronze in the Golden Ale category.  This and Betty Stogs had been competing against thousands of other beers from up and down the country. 

“Now it’s time for the hard bit – doing as well again next year!” said Mr Skinner.  “We have succeeded through rigidly adhering to our policy of brewing the best beer with the best quality raw materials, including Cornish barley, and that’s the way it will continue to be in 2009.”