Blind tasting event at Camra festival leaves bitter taste in the mouth for some
A beer produced by a big brewery chain winning one of the Campaign for Real Ale's top awards has left a sour taste in the mouth for some Camra members.
In a blind tasting at the Great British Beer Festival at Olympia, Abbot Ale, a five per cent beer from Greene King was judged silver medal winner in the organisation's Champion Beer of Britain competition.
Gold went to Elland 1872 Porter, a 6.5 per cent beer from Yorkshire brewery Elland, with bronze won by Shropshire's Salopian Brewery for Darwin's Origin – a 4.3 per cent bitter.
In comments on Facebook some Camra members have questioned how Bury St Edmonds-based Greene King, which is one of Camra's partners for the festival which finishes on Saturday, did so well.
One member said it was travesty and undermined everything Camra should stand for for Abbot Ale, which features in the pubs of JD Wetherspoon – another festival partner– to win silver in the national competition.
Another said Salopian should consider itself the runner-up and a third said it was a farce.
