Hobson's Mild named champion beer

August 9, 2007: Hobson's Mild has been named Champion Beer of Britain by a panel of judges at the Great British Beer Festival.

The classic 3.2% mild offers complex layers of taste from predominantly roasted malts and proved a popular winner with the Earls Court drinkers.

Roger Protz, one of the finalist judges and editor of the Good Beer Guide, said: “It's a great victory for a traditional British beer. It's bursting with flavour and, unusually for a mild, it's got plenty of hop character. It's great to see a classic copper coloured beer take the top award.”

Nick Davis, director of Hobsons, said: “What a great surprise! It's a nutty mild and despite being only 3.2% ABV it's packed full of flavour. I would like to thank all the team at Hobsons, in Cleobury Mortimer, for their outstanding work in achieving this prestigious award.”

Reserve champion was Mighty Oak Mauldon Gold (3.8%), a light citrussy session bitter, and Green Jack Ripper (8.5%), a "dangerously smooth" barley wine that won the Champion Winter Beer competition in January.

Others results

Milds: bronze, Brains Dark (3.5%); silver, Nottingham Rock Ale Mild (3.8%); gold, Hobson's Mild (3.2%).

Bitters: bronze, Fyne Ales Pipers Gold (3.8%) and Surrey Hills Ranmore Ale (3.8%); silver, Twickenham Crane Sundancer (3.7%);gold, Castle Rock Harvest Pale (3.8%).

Best bitters: bronze, Fuller's London Pride (4.1%), Nethergate Suffolk County Best Bitter and Station House Buzzin' (4.3%); silver, George Wright Pipe Dream 4.3%); gold, Purple Moose Cwrw Glaslyn (4.2%).

Golden beers: bronze, Otley O1 (4%); silver, Oakleaf Hole Hearted (4.7%); Mighty Oak Mauldon Gold (3.8%).

Strong beers: bronze, Brains SA Gold (4.7%); silver Inverlamond Lia fail (4.7%); gold, York Centurion's Ghost (5.4%).

Speciality beers: bronze, St Peter's Grapefruit Beer (4.7%); silver, Little Valley Hebden Wheat (4.5%); gold, Nethergate Umbel Magna (5%).

Bottled beers: bronze, Wapping Baltic Ale; silver, Titanic Stout and Wye Valley Dorothy Goodbody's Wholesome Stout; gold, O'Hanlon's Port Stout.