Gloucestershire Beer of the Year (From Cotswold Journal)

Gloucestershire Beer of the Year

Bespoke, the new brewer in Mitcheldean scooped the prize of Gloucestershire beer of the year at the Cotswold Beer Festival, organised by the Gloucestershire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and help at Postlip Hall near Winchcombe. The judging took place on the trade evening, the night before the festival opened to the public.

A panel of judges sampled all the local beers at the festival, and after picking the caregory winners, judged the final five to pick the overall winner.

Bespoke first brew was in March 2012, and their Money for Old Rope, a rich dark forest stout at 4.8% ABV impressed the judges. It has a classic rich dry flavours of malt and grain with deep hop bitterness.

Full results:

Milds Cotswold Spring OSM (Old Sodbury Mild);

Bitters 1 - Prescott Hill Climb 2 - Forge Discovery 3 - Stanway Broadway Artist's Ale;

Best Bitters 1 - Donnington SBA 2= Cotswold Spring Stunner 2= Severn Vale Luverly Jub’lee 2= Wickwar Cotswold Way;

Strong Bitters 1 - Prescott Grand Prix 2 - Uley Pig’s Ear 3= Bespoke Over a Barrel 3= Gloucester Dockside Dark 3 = Battledown Four Kings;

Porter/Stout 1 - Bespoke Money from Old Rope 2 - Goff’s Black Knight 3 - Stroud Big Cat