Lacons’ Audit Ale, an 8% ABV barley wine, has been judged to be best real ale in a bottle in Norfolk by local Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) members.
One of Lacons’ Heritage Ales, it was described by judges as having a “smooth and malty character, finely balanced by malt and berries”.
It’s a multi-award-winning brew, having won Champion Winter Beer of Britain at the Great British Beer Festival in 2019, CAMRA overall gold champion bottled beer of Norfolk 2021, and, most recently, Champion Beer of Britain East Anglia, in the barley wine and strong ales category.
Runner-up in the competition was Big Sharpie, a 5% ABV premium pale ale, brewed by Reedham-based Humpty Dumpty Brewery, with third place going to Bouchart X, a 10% ABV strong mild, from North Norfolk’s Moon Gazer Ales.
Alan Edwards, chair of the CAMRA’s Norfolk tasting panel, said: “The competition is organised to showcase the fine range of Norfolk-brewed real ales that are available in bottles.
“These beers can be drunk at home or stocked in pubs, shops, and restaurants that may not always have cask ales. This is another way for us all to support our local brewers.”
Full results
| CATEGORY | BEER | BREWER | LOCATION |
| Overall champion | |||
| Winner | Audit Ale | Lacons | Great Yarmouth |
| Runner-up | Big Sharpie | Humpty Dumpty | Reedham |
| Third | Bouchart X | Moon Gazer | Hindringham |
| Milds | |||
| Winner | Red Mount Mild | Lynn | King’s Lynn |
| Session bitters | |||
| Winner | Lynn Ferry Bitter | Lynn | King’s Lynn |
| Runner-up | Best Bitter | Elm Tree | Snetterton |
| Premium bitters | |||
| Winner | Sbetterton Scary Tree | Elm Tree | Snetterton |
| IPAs | |||
| Winner | Top of the Hop | Elm Tree | Snetterton |
| Runner-up | Highlight | Lacons | Great Yarmouth |
| Session pale blonde, golden ales | |||
| Winner | Vancounver Blond | Lynn | King’s Lynn |
| Runner-up | Evolution | Mr Winter’s | Norwich |
| Third | Galaxy Dream | Tindall | Seething |
| Premium pale blonde, golden ales | |||
| Winner | Big Sharpie | Humpty Dumpty | Reedham |
| Runner-up | Golden Pale | Elm Tree | Snetterton |
| Red ales, brown ales, old ales, strong milds | |||
| Winner | Bouchert X | Moon Gazer | Hindringham |
| Runner-up | Red Mill | Humpty Dumpty | Reedham |
| Third | Old Nog | Lacons | Great Yarmouth |
| Session stouts and porters | |||
| Winner | Three Threads Smoked Porter | Fengate | Marsham |
| Runner-up | Spiral Stout | Boudicca | Norwich |
| Strong stouts and porters | |||
| Winner | Dark Amber | Birdhouse | Downham Market |
| Runner-up | Imperial Extra Double Stout | Fengate | Marsham |
| Barley wines, strong ales | |||
| Winner | Audit Ale | Lacons | Great Yarmouth |
| Runner-up | Bob’s Tale | Moon Gazer | Hindingham |
| Speciality beers | |||
| Winner | Yarmouth Strong | Lacons | Great Yarmouth |
| Runner-up | Cherry Stout | Fengate | Marsham |
| Third | Vanilla Latte | Mr Winter’s | Norwich |
