News
- Champion Winter Beer Of Britain
Saturday 21 February 2026
The Champion Winter Beer of Britain competition took place at the CAMRA Liverpool Beer Festival and the winners were announced on February 19. Overall gold champion from blind tastings was Beer Street (4.0% ABV), a rye bitter from London Brewing. Taking the silver second place was Black Gold (4.4%), a session stout from Cairngorm Brewery. In bronze position was Baltic Trader Export Stout (10.5%), an imperial stout from Green Jack Brewery. Judging panel co-ordinator Christine Cryne described Beer Street as: "A sparkling golden amber bitter, with spicy rye and roasty nose, having a sweet biscuit flavour, where the spicy rye notes increase and linger in the dry and slightly bitter finish. Very easy drinking." Each category winner will progress to the national final at the Cambridge Beer Festival in May, where they will compete for the overall Champion Beer of Britain 2026 title. LIVERPOOL ECHO
- Butchers Arms, Winterton Has Closed
Sunday 18 January 2026
The Butchers Arms at Winterton closed on 16 January blaming rising costs making the pub no longer viable. Chef and licensee Craig Goulden, together with Tracey and Sam Goulden, have now taken over at the newly named Blue Dog (formerly the Butchers Arms) at West Halton, which has been closed since January 2025. The pub reopened on 16 December. FACEBOOK
- New Licensees at the Wheatsheaf, Hibaldstow
Sunday 18 January 2026
New licensees at the Wheatsheaf, Hibaldstow. Daryl and Lauren bring years of experience between them and aim to bring a community feel to the venue with a relaxed atmosphere for all to enjoy. The pub will be open seven days a week (3 pm opening on Mon/Tues, 12 noon Wed - Sun), offering fresh homemade traditional pub grub from Wednesday to Sunday. FACEBOOK
- Guinness brings brewing back to London
Tuesday 23 December 2025
Guinness has opened a new £73m brewing centre in Covent Garden, London. The building includes a 20,000 barrel brewery producing a wide range of beers including Porter. The centre is based on the site of the historic Combe Brewery, one of the capitals leading Porter producers in the 18th and 19th century. The Combe plant was closed by Watney in 1905. The beers include Lager (4.9% ABV), IPA (4.4%), Pale Ale (5.2%) and Porter (4.7%), although all are keg beers. Open Gate also has two restaurants and several bars and follows the blueprint of the successful Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, now the most visited tourist attraction in the Republic. PROTZ ON BEER
- Rogue Brewery Closes
Saturday 15 November 2025
The iconic Rogue Brewery of Newport, Oregon, one of the main drivers of the American craft beer revolution, announced the closure of its brewery and all its pubs on 15 November. The closure was abrupt, but trouble had been brewing for some time and it recently shut down its distilling operation. Reports suggested that the company had significant rent and tax arrears. It was not clear if this marks the end for Rogue. Rogue was founded in Ashland, Oregon in 1988, but quickly relocated to Newport. It was America's 50th largest craft brewery by volume in 2024. WASHINGTON BEER BLOG