Hogs Back Brewery has been presented with CAMRA’s Champion Bottled Beer of Britain award by members of its local branch.
CAMRA’s Champion Bottled Beer of Britain award is presented at Higs Back Brewery. Front row (left to right) are: Miles Chesterman, Hogs Back head brewer; Kevin Travers, Champion Beer of Britain competition coordinator; Rupert Thompson, Hogs Back managing director. Rear (left to right): Ian Johnson, CAMRA Surrey Hants Borders branch chairman; Rosie Robinson, Hogs Back bar manager; Mark Frogley, Hogs Back operations manager; Gordon Thompson, Hogs Back sales director.
The accolade was given for A over T, Hogs Back’s 9% ABV bottle-conditioned barley wine. It was judged the best bottle-conditioned beer in the country by a panel of beer experts.
The beer won judges’ votes for its rich, complex flavours and wonderful aromas, which give the beer its full name of Aromas over Tongham, after the village near Farnham where Hogs Back is based.
Rupert Thompson, Hogs Back Brewery’s managing director, said: “We’re delighted to receive this lovely trophy, which will take pride of place at the brewery, for A over T’s many loyal fans to enjoy. It’s a wonderful beer and it’s great to have won CAMRA’s top bottled beer award, after taking a number of medals in previous competitions over the years.
“The award was given to our 2020 vintage of A over T. We’ve now brewed our 2021 vintage, which is in the brewery shop now, to buy for Christmas, or to put aside and enjoy during our 30th anniversary year in 2022.”
A over T drinkers tend to buy a couple of bottles as a new vintage is released — one to enjoy straight away and one to mature further in the bottle.
Like a fine wine
Kevin Travers, CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain competition co-ordinator, said: “One of the most rewarding parts of my role is giving trophies to our winning brewers.
“CAMRA’s competitions schedule has been disrupted by covid, so we were only able to judge bottled beers, rather than the usual cask ale. That makes this presentation to Hogs Back for A over T a one-off this year, and all the more enjoyable for that.”
A over T is brewed in small batches and matured in the brewery cellar, like a fine wine. Made from high-quality English malted barley, Kent Goldings hops are added for bitterness and aroma, and Bramling Cross to further enhance the character, resulting in complex flavours of sultanas, orange peel and plums.
It’s best enjoyed in a wine glass or a brandy balloon, says the brewer, to concentrate its aromas, and is a wonderful match with blue cheese, such as a well-aged Stilton, and with rich desserts.
