After over a year of local tasting panels and regional heats leading up to the finals, the Campaign for Real Ale, CAMRA, has announced that today Chocolate Marble has been crowned the Best Winter Beer in Britain at the National Winter Ales Festival, Derby.

The Manchester stout was crowned the Champion Winter Beer of Britain five years after coming second place in the 2011 Champion Beer of Britain. 

CAMRA national director Nik Antona said: “Marble Chocolate is a more than worthy winner of one of CAMRA’s highest accolades. It embodies everything a great winter beer should be, packed with flavour, complexity and depth, but still incredibly drinkable.

“No beer gets through to the final of the Champion Winter Beer of Britain without being good, and our three finalists really stood out for our judges in Derby.

“It’s a fitting close to three fantastic years of the National Winter Ales festival in Derby. I think we can all raise a glass to the great team here and wish Norwich well for 2017.”

The chocolately stout was crowned the Winter Champion over a host of other finalists in four different beer categories (barley wine strong old ales, old ale strong milds, porters and stouts), including beers from both small microbrewers and large regional brewers.

Comments from Christine Cryne, chair of the National Winter Ales final judging panel:

“The Chocolate Marble had a lovely chocolately aroma, with flavour of marmalade, mocha and raisins. The chocolate notes perfectly underlaid the mocha character and made a second drink a must”.

This year’s Silver went to Elland’s 1872 Porter while Inncognito Stout by Plain Ales took home the Bronze award.

All three of the beers will be available at the National Winter Ales Festival.

NWAF winners

Overall winners-

Gold – Marble, Chocolate Marble

Silver – Elland, 1872 Porter

Bronze – Plain Ales, Inncognito Stout

It was also announced that next year’s festival will be held in Norwich.