Ripper Named Champion Winter Beer Of Britain

Green Jack Brewery’s Ripper has been named as the supreme Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2007 by a panel of judges at CAMRA's National Winter Ales Festival in Manchester.

The 8.5% abv barley wine was described as “A light coloured beer brewed as a homage to Belgian trappist ales, with sweet notes and a strong hoppy flavour.”

At the announcement, Steve Prescott, Organiser of the National Winter Ales Festival congratulated Green Jack on its victory. He said, "It’s great to see a barley wine win the competition yet again. I sincerely hope people will be inspired to try this fantastic beer style on the back of Green Jack’s victory.”

On hearing the news, Green Jack Head Brewer Tim Dunford said: “This is absolutely incredible. All my life it has been my ambition to win a national award for my beers and I can’t believe it has happened.”

The Silver award went to Fuller’s London Porter and the Bronze to Orkney Skullsplitter.

A panel of CAMRA experts and beer writers at the National Winter Ales Festival (New Century Hall, Manchester) judged the competition. Drinkers at the festival sampled the winners as well as over 200 other old ales, milds, stouts, porters, barley wines and bitters.

CAMRA’s 'Dictionary of Beer':

Stout - One of the classic types of ale, a successor in fashion to 'porter'. Usually a very dark, heavy, well-hopped bitter ale, with a dry palate, thick creamy head, and a good grainy taste.

Porter - A dark, slightly sweetish but hoppy ale made with roasted barley; the successor of 'entire' and predecessor of stout. Porter originated in London around 1730, and by the end of the 18th century was probably the most popular beer in England.

Old Ale - Now virtually synonymous with 'winter ale'. Most 'old ales' are produced and sold for a limited time of the year, usually between November and the end of February. Usually a rich, dark, high-gravity draught ale of considerable body.

Barley Wine - a strong, rich and sweetish ale, usually over 1060 OG, dark in colour, with high condition and a high hop rate.