Angry real ale fans all frothed up amid claims champion beer contest was rigged
ANGRY real ale fans are all frothed up amid claims a champion beer contest was rigged.
They are questioning how sponsor Greene King’s Abbot Ale won a coveted silver medal at this year’s Great British Beer Festival.
The Suffolk brewer’s pub staple was also named the UK’s best premium bitter.
Greene King is one of two backers of the festival, along with the JD Wetherspoon pub chain — where Abbot Ale is one of the biggest sellers.
Drinkers at London’s Olympia venue were outraged at the vote by the Campaign for Real Ale.
Beer blogger Mark Briggs, of Burnley, fumed: “I suspect some unfair influential intervention.
“I’m frustrated and saddened for all the immensely talented, small, independent breweries who work so very hard to produce such an exceptional range of cask conditioned beers.
“How the hell has the Camra judging system deemed Abbot Ale superior?”
Publican Duncan Borrowman posted online: “I am sure it is all above board but a lot of the chat among independent brewers, pubs and bottle shops is that there is something fishy.”
The champion beer of Britain was won by West Yorkshire brewery Elland’s 1872 Porter.
Camra dismissed claims of a fix and said the winners were chosen by a blind tasting.
Award director Laura Emson said: “Our winners are crowned purely on the quality of the beer judged on the day.”