Old Sodbury Mild wins Beer of the Year

News – Cotswold Spring's Old Sodbury Mild is the 2010 Gloucestershire Beer of the Year, beating 45 ales from across the county for the top award.

With Gloucestershire playing home to a plethora of large and micro-breweries alike, competition for the coveted prize of Gloucestershire Beer of the Year is always going to be tough – all the more reason the Cotswold Spring brewery should be toasting the success of its Old Sodbury Mild, having just scooped the coveted 2010 title.

Described as ‘an unusual mild made with oats, rye and dark malts, flavoured with English brambling cross hops and blackcurrant notes in the aftertaste,’ the 3.9 per cent brew was a popular choice.

The decision was made at the end of the summer by eight experienced judges from Gloucestershire Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), who enjoyed the enviable task of converging at Postlip Hall in Winchcombe to sample an array of tipples from across the county.

Cotswold Spring’s 3.9 per cent Old Sodbury Mild also won the milds category in the annual competition, with Wickwar brewery’s Coopers WPA the best bitter; Cotswold Spring’s Old English Rose the top best bitter; and Goff’s White Knight the top strong bitter.

Severn Vale’s Severn Sins was announced as the top tipple in the category for porters and stouts, while the barley wines prize was awarded to Battledown Brewery’s 4 Kings.

SoGlos.com