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Timothy Taylor sales director, Grant Simpson, managing director, Charles Dent, and head brewer, Peter Eells, with the champion Beer of Britain shield

Timothy Taylor’s Boltmaker has been named champion beer of Britain at the Campaign for Real Ale’s Great British Beer Festival.

The beer won a gold medal in the bitters category before going on to claim the top title, as revealed by Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson before a huge crowd at Olympia, London.

ttboltmakerTimothy Taylor head brewer, Peter Eells, said: “I’m speechless. We work very hard to produce great beers and we really believe this is the best beer we can brew, so to have it acknowledged in such an important competition is absolutely fantastic.”

Managing director, Charles Dent, added: “We’re absolutely delighted. It’s our favourite, it’s the brewers favourite, it’s the beer that you drink if you’re drinking with us and it’s named after one of our favourites pubs — The Boltmakers.”

The West Yorkshire brewed real ale was judged the supreme champion over a host of other finalists in seven different beer categories (bitters, best bitters, strong bitters, golden ales, milds, winter beers, and the speciality class), including beers from both small microbrewers and large regional brewers.

Nik Antona, champion beer of Britain director said: “It is fantastic to announce Timothy Taylor’s Boltmaker as the champion beer of Britain 2014. This full flavoured bitter is a modern classic that is as impressive today as the day it was when first brewed. ”

This year’s silver went to Oakham Citra, while the bronze award went to Salopian for its Darwin’s Origin.

Timothy Taylor’s triumph at Olympia means that 14 of the last 15 champion beer of Britain winners, as well as the vast majority of class winners, have come from within SIBA’s ranks.

SIBA managing director, Mike Benner, said: “To be named champion beer of Britain is a tremendous achievement and Timothy Taylor is to be heartily congratulated. That the CBOB title continues to be awarded to SIBA brewers is testament to the craft, quality and innovation that are evident in beers produced by our members.”

He added: “Winning an award at the GBBF undoubtedly helps those brewers to raise their profile andsecure listings. We’re delighted that a growing number of pubs are now making space on their bars for beers from independent British breweries, and we will be working hard to ensure this trend continues and more of our members’ great beers are listed in more pubs, to the benefit of brewer, retailer and the increasing number of drinkers looking for quality British beers.”

Category winners

Milds: gold, Bank Top, Dark Mild; silver, Branscombe Vale, Mild; bronze, Castle Rock, Black Gold.

Bitters: gold, Timothy Taylor, Boltmaker; silver, Mighty Oak, Captain Bob; joint bronze, Flowerpots, Flowerpots Bitter and  Sambrook’s Wandle Ale.

Best bitters: gold, Salopian, Darwin’s Origin; silver, Red Willow, Directionless; joint bronze, Purity, Mad Goose and Langton, Inclined Plain Bitter.

Golden  ales: gold, Oakham, Citra; silver, Hawkshead, Cumbrian Five Hop;  bronze, Salopian, Hop Twister.

Strong bitters: gold, Church End, Fallen Angel; silver, Blue Monkey, Ape Ale; bronze, Loch Ness, HoppyNess.

Speciality beers: gold, Saltaire, Triple Chocoholic; silver, Offbeat, Way Out Wheat; bronze, Peak Ales, Chatsworth Gold.

Champion winter beer of Britain (from category winners announced in January 2014): Cairngorm, Black Gold (stouts category); Dunham Massey, Dunham Porter (porter category); Exe Valley, Winter Glow (old ales and strong milds); Kinver, Over the Edge (barley wines and strong old ales).

Champion bottled beer of Britain winners (sponsored by Beer Hawk): gold, Marble, Chocolate Marble: silver, St Austell, Proper Job; bronze, Spire, Prince Igor Imperial Russian Stout.