After a year of local tasting panels and regional heats leading up to the finals, CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is today proud to announce that Castle Rock (of Nottingham) brewery's Harvest Pale has been crowned the 'Best Beer' in Britain at the Great British Beer Festival, Earls Court, London.

Nottingham brewer crowned king of the Castle

Harvest Pale, which has an ABV of 3.8 per cent, is described in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide 2010 as 'blonde and refreshing with distinctive citrus hop.'

The Nottingham brewed real ale was judged the Supreme Champion over a host of other finalists in seven different beer categories (Bitters, Best Bitters, Strong Bitters, Golden Ales, Milds, Winter Beers*, and the Speciality class), including beers from both small microbrewers and large regional brewers.

Unanimous choice

Roger Protz, of the Final judging panel, praised today's winner. He said: "Against intense competition from eight other brilliant beers, Castle Rock Harvest Pale stood out and was the unanimous choice of all the judges for its great blend of tangy hop and juicy malt. A wonderfully refreshing and complex beer."

A delighted Chris Holmes, Castle Rock brewery Chairman, on hearing the results, said: "We've won dozens of awards over the past five to six years, but the best moments have been since our new brewer, Adrian Redgrove, who started four years ago, began producing high quality, consistent beer. The last 18 months we've been brewing at capacity because of the success and popularity of Harvest Pale, which has led to the opening of a new brew house in two weeks time which will treble our capacity."

With Castle Rock brewery securing the Gold award for 2010, this year's Silver went to Timothy Taylor brewery's Landlord, whilst the Bronze award went to Surrey Hills brewery's Hammer Mild.

Complete List of winners:

Overall winners
Champion Beer of Britain - Castle Rock, Harvest Pale (3.8 per cent ABV, Nottingham, Notts)
Second - Timothy Taylor, Landlord (4.3 per cent ABV, Keighley, West Yorkshire)
Third - Surrey Hills, Hammer Mild (3.8 per cent ABV, Guildford, Surrey)

Mild category
Gold- Surrey Hills, Hammer Mild (3.8 per cent ABV, Guildford, Surrey)
Silver- Greene King, XX Mild (3 per cent ABV, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk)
Joint Bronze- Golcar, Dark Mild (3.4 per cent ABV, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire)
Joint Bronze- Nottingham, Rock Ale Mild (3.8 per cent ABV, Nottingham, Notts)

Bitter category
Gold- RCH, PG Steam (3.9 per cent ABV, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset)
Silver- Moor, Revival (3.8 per cent ABV, Pitney, Somerset)
Joint Bronze- Orkney, Raven (3.8 per cent ABV, Stromness, Orkney)
Joint Bronze- Purple Moose, Snowdonia Ale (3.6 per cent ABV, Portmadog, Gwynedd)

Best Bitter category
Gold- Timothy Taylor, Landlord (4.3 per cent ABV, Keighley, West Yorkshire)
Silver- St Austell, Tribute (4.2 per cent ABV, St Austell, Cornwall)
Joint Bronze- Evan Evans, Cwrw (4.2 per cent ABV, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire)
Joint Bronze- Great Oakley, Gobble (4.5 per cent ABV, Great Oakley, Northamptonshire)

Golden Ale category
Gold- Castle Rock, Harvest Pale (3.8 per cent ABV, Nottingham, Notts)
Silver- Marble, Manchester Bitter (4.2 per cent, Manchester, Gtr Manchester)
Bronze- St Austell, Proper Job (4.5 per cent ABV, St Austell, Cornwall)

Strong Bitter category
Gold- Thornbridge, Jaipur IPA (5.9 per cent ABV, Bakewell, Derbyshire)
Silver- Fuller's, Gales HSB (4.8 per cent ABV, Chiswick, Gtr London)
Bronze- Beckstones, Rev Rob (4.6 per cent ABV, Millom, Cumbria)

Speciality Beer category
Gold- Amber, Chocolate Orange Stout (4 per cent ABV, Ripley, Derbyshire)
Silver- O'Hanlon's, Port Stout (4.8 per cent ABV, Whimple, Devon)
Bronze- Breconshire, Ysbrid y Ddraig (6.5 per cent ABV, Brecon, Powys)

Winter Beer of Britain winner (announced in January 2010)
Elland, 1872 Porter (6.5 per cent ABV, Elland, West Yorkshire)

Bottled Beer of Britain winners (sponsored by Travelodge)
Gold- St Austell, Admiral's Ale (5 per cent ABV, St Austell, Cornwall)
Silver- Pitfield, 1850 London Porter (5 per cent ABV, Epping, Essex)
Bronze- Great Oakley, Delapre Dark (4.6 per cent ABV, Great Oakley, Northamptonshire)