Southwold-brewed Adnams Old Ale has been named Champion Beer of East Anglia by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Lowestoft Journal: Old Ale AdnamsOld Ale Adnams (Image: Archant)

The contest involves 'blind' judging of cask-conditioned beers at CAMRA festivals around the region, with entries being nominated by the organisation's local branches and tasting panels.

Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded for 10 different styles of beer, with the gold winners then being judged for the overall title.

Adnams Old Ale, which is brewed to a recipe dating from 1890, won the category for Old Ales/Strong Milds for the third year in a row before claiming the top honour, with Adnams also picking up gold in the Bitters category, with its flagship Southwold Bitter.

Fergus Fitzgerald, head brewer at Adnams, said: 'We are genuinely thrilled to win gold for Adnams Old Ale and Southwold Bitter as well as the Overall Champion Beer Award for Old Ale. Part of the brewer's job is to brew new, innovative beers, but brewing well-established beers like Old Ale and Southwold Bitter is also a huge part of what we do.

'These are classic beers that have been handed down to us from the many Adnams' brewers before us, and it is great to see them being loved by a new generation too.'

The awards were organised by CAMRA volunteers Paul Moorhouse and Kathy Hadfield-Moorhouse and announced following final judging at the Colchester Winter Ales Festival.

Mr Moorhouse said: 'I am delighted that Adnams has won the overall gold medal with its Old Ale. Old Ales are not widely available these days, but this beer is a delight and is very popular every year.'

Southwold-based Adnams is also celebrating after receiving the Edie Sustainability Leaders Award for Water Management, recognising its industry-leading and innovative work in sustainable water stewardship.

Adnams has become the first UK brewer to complete a full lifecycle assessment of its products, examining the consumption and quality of water at all stages of making its beer, from grain to glass.

This build on a previous initiative saw it become the first UK brewer to complete a carbon assessment of its beers