York Camra held an awards night to honor the best local beers from its festival
Members tasted many ‘LocAle’ beers from five nearby breweries. They narrowed it down to six finalists, including two stouts and four pale ales/IPAs. Guests, including the York Press, also participated in the judging.
The beers were evaluated in a blind tasting. Judges assessed aroma, initial taste, final taste, and overall enjoyment.
The top prize went to Roosters Brewery from Harrogate for its Baby Faced Assassin. Wilde Child from Leeds took silver for Holy Moly, while Yorkshire Heart from Nun Monkton won bronze for Aurum.
Plaques were awarded to category winners and finalists. Isaac Reeves received the inaugural Alan Conner Award for his dedication as a volunteer.
John Thompson from York Camra praised Isaac’s involvement at the festival. He noted that Isaac learned a lot about cellaring and other tasks.
Melissa Reed presented Isaac’s certificate, sharing a heartfelt speech about her late husband, Allan, who was a beloved figure in the beer community.
The presentation evening was a success, with around 100 attendees, including Camra members and brewers. John described the atmosphere as family-friendly, with everyone enjoying the beer.
They consumed about 60 gallons, averaging six pints per person. John expressed gratitude for the local breweries, acknowledging the challenges they face.
Looking ahead, Camra is preparing for its 51st York Beer Festival, scheduled for September 17-20 at St Lawrence Church.
John mentioned that planning is on track and they are seeking sponsors. The festival will feature around 250 different beers, making it the largest Camra beer festival in northern England.
Other category winners included Pacer from Brass Castle for the up to 4% ABV category, Brew York’s Bronx for the 4.1-4.3% ABV category, and Wilde Child’s Holy Moly for the 4.4-4.7% ABV category.
In the 4.8-5.0% category, both Yorkshire Heart’s Aurum and Jolly Sailor’s Admiral Cherry Stout won gold. Rooster’s Baby Faced Assassin took gold in the above 5% ABV category, with Half Moon’s Shankar IPA winning silver.
