Maldon Gold takes South Devon title

l Members of the South Devon CAMRA beer festival team take a break during serving. Left to right are festival organiser Joan Calvert, bar manager Alan Calvert and branch chairman Ian Packham.

September 27, 2005: Drinkers can't get enough of light-coloured beers this year, as was proved again as Mighty Oak Brewery's Maldon Gold took top prize at this weekend's South Devon Beer Festival.

Organised by the South Devon branch of CAMRA, the festival - staged at Newton Abbot Race Course - is a showcase for brews from across the UK, although there was a strong emphasis on fine Westcountry beers.

Mighty Oak hail from Essex, and Maldon Gold is a beer not frequently seen in this part of the world. But it's a fine example of the golden, fruity beers that have become dominant in the summer of 2005.

There was Westcountry success in the judging, though. The South Hams Brewery, based at Kingsbridge, won the bitter class with Plymouth Pride, a tasty 3.8 per cent session beer, and took runner-up spot in the golden ales with Eddystone Light. At 4.8 per cent, the latter also has that fruity, hoppy dryness, but with a greater depth of flavour.

Otter Ale, 4.5 per cent, from the Otter Brewery, at Luppitt, near Honiton, is a perennial favourite and earned a runner-up spot in the best bitter class, while those who like a bit more oomph in their beer glass voted Gray's, of Launceston, top of the strong ale class with their 5.5 per cent Scuttled.

Festival organiser Joan Calvert, of Torquay, was pleased with their way it had gone, but was feeling the strain with only a handful of volunteers staffing the event. "I'd enjoyed it more if more helpers were involved," she said.

Husband Alan was the bar manager for the event and kept around 120 real ales, ciders and perries in tip-top condition. Again, lack of volunteers meant there staff were worked very hard behind a long bar, in the betting hall of the racecourse.

Results

Champion beer: Mighty Oak Maldon Gold; runner-up, McGuire's Rusty Ale (Dublin). Golden beers: 1, Mighty Oak Maldon Gold; 2, South Hams Eddystone Light. Strong beers: 1, Grays Scuttled; 2, Otley Experiment O (Pontypridd). Speciality beers: Beowulf Woffa (Staffordshire); 2, Coach House Banoffee (Warrington). Bitters: 1, South Hams Plymouth Pride; 2, Young's Bitter (London). Best bitters: 1, Iceni Fine Soft Day (Norfolk); 2, Otter Ale. Premium bitters: 1, McGuire's Rusty Ale; 2, Young's Ramrod.