A RUNCORN brewery has been named one of the best in the country.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has named Sutton Weaver's Chapter Brewing’s Dead Man’s Fist as the best in its category in the Champion Winter Beer of Britain (CWBOB) 2024 competition at the Great British Beer Festival Winter.

The beer was awarded Gold in the Speciality, Differently Produced category, beating Cromarty Brewing’s Red Rocker (Silver) and Treen’s Brewery’s Smoulder (Bronze) to the title. The award came after over a year of local blind-tasting panels and vigorous regional heats.

The Champion Winter Beer of Britain competition marks the first day of CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival Winter 2024, which ran from February 15-17 at Burton Town Hall, Burton-upon-Trent. 

CAMRA’s awards Director Laura Emson said: “Congratulations to Chapter Brewing on their well-deserved win.

"Each year, judging this competition gets harder and harder as the quality beer produced by UK brewers continues to astound us.

“The pub, brewing and cider making industries are facing huge hardship and unless government offers meaningful support to the sector in the upcoming Spring Budget, the UK risks losing many more of its talented brewers.

"Competitions like the Champion Winter Beer of Britain offer recognition and exposure to brilliant producers across the UK.

“I want to thank the hardworking volunteers and judges who have made the festival and the Champion Winter Beer of Britain possible. Congratulations once again to Chapter Brewing and all our fantastic category winners. I wish them all the best of luck in the overall Champion Beer of Britain 2024 competition.”

The category winners from the Champion Winter Beer of Britain competition will be entered into the overall Champion Beer of Britain competition later this year.