A Lowestoft brewery is toasting success after being crowned one of the best in the country.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has named Green Jack Brewery as the joint best in its category at the Great British Beer Festival Winter 2024.

Green Jack Brewery's Baltic Trader jointly shared the honour of winning CAMRA’s champion winter beer of Britain with West Yorkshire-based Elland Brewery’s 1872 Porter.

The beers were awarded Gold in the 'Strong Stouts and Porters' category, beating Longdog’s Lamplight Porter (Bronze) to the title.

Green Jack Brewery's Ripper also took Bronze in the Barley Wines and Strong Ales category.

The honours came after more than a year of local blind-tasting panels and vigorous regional heats.

The Champion Winter Beer of Britain competition marked the first day of CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival Winter 2024, which was held at Burton Town Hall, Burton-upon-Trent.

In posts on its X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook pages, a Green Jack Brewery spokesman said: "It’s a gold for Baltic Trader and a bronze for Ripper at The Great British Beer Festival Winter 2024

"Well done team GJB."

Staffed by beer-loving volunteers, the Great British Beer Festival Winter brings hundreds of UK and international beers, plus real ciders and perries, to a different venue every two years. 

CAMRA’s awards director Laura Emson said: "Congratulations to Elland Brewery and Green Jack Brewery 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.

"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 Elland Brewery and Green Jack Brewery and all our fantastic category winners."

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