INDEPENDENCE 4.6% IS THE CHAMPION BEER OF BRITAIN 2026

What is this award and why is it such a big deal?

Well, firstly it isn’t just any award. The Champion Beer of Britain award is the highest honour CAMRA can bestow upon a brewer, putting the winner firmly in both the UK-wide and international spotlight.

The award is the most sought after and well-respected cask beer competition in the world. The country’s best beers get whittled down from 12 fantastic finalists to one supreme champion by an expert judging panel.

The lineage of the Champion Beer of Britain is impeccable. It features some of the best beers of all time: Landlord, Bluebird, Cwtch, JHB, Rudgate Ruby Mild, and now Independence.

How is the winner decided?

Discovering the process of how you’re nominated and the judging process gives everyone involved with BBF a real sense of achievement. The competition is fiercely independent - pun not intended!

Judging taking two years to complete. Each year kicks off with individual nominations from CAMRA members and volunteer tasting panels, then regional competitions. Every round of judging, including the final at Cambridge Beer Festival, uses a strict blind tasting policy. It’s a serious competition with competitors from across the UK.

Who even is CAMRA?

Founded by four real ale enthusiasts back in 1971, CAMRA represents beer drinkers and pub-goers across the UK. Their vision is to have quality real ale pubs thriving in every community for the social and community benefits but also to honour the tradition of cask and quality brewing.

They do this by supporting and encouraging the beer and pubs trade by running beer festivals, lobbying Government for change, running numerous awards and developing bespoke pub finders and guides.

In short – CAMRA really, really, know their cask beers. If you like real ale pubs, you’ve probably heard of them. You can become a member to be part of this community and oftentimes receive discounts and other benefits in certain pubs!

Find out more at camra.org.uk

How did you know BBF was even in the running?

We literally had no idea. Over the last few years, we’ve stayed away from awards you must pay to enter, so to get the call from CAMRA was a real surprise. This is one where you can’t buy your way in – another reason that this award is such an honour in the industry.

Independence has had a couple of nods before – it has been pouring for 15 years, after all! 2026 is the year it finally took the crown. 

15 years of Independence? Here’s us thinking BBF was famous for Black Gates…

In an era when many breweries have prioritised keg, we have remained steadfastly committed to the brilliance of cask. You could be fooled to thinking we were all about keg, like Black Gates 4.1% Nitro Stout, Clear Head 0.5% and our brilliant lagers.

But we brew around 60 different cask beers each year. Our team live and breathe cask. It represents beer in its purest form, as we say at BBF, cask is king!

Can I try Independence?

Yes! It’s available in the traditional cask version in all our pubs and in selected independent venues across the South West. You can also buy a 9 pint tin of the cask ale.

Independence is also available in can and keg; although not the truest form of the beer, it’s still a champion pint. And, easier to keep fresh! Order a case online for UK wide delivery.