UK: O'Hanlon's Thomas Hardy's Ale awarded The Supreme Champion at the International Beer Challenge 2006

The Supreme Champion award at the International Beer Challenge 2006 has gone to O'Hanlon's Thomas Hardy's Ale. This cult beer, created in 1968 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Wessex novelists death, is renowned for its depth of flavour in addition to its alcoholic strength - 11.5%, Spitoon released August 07.

Its winning status confirmed by "a pronounced aroma of pineapple, bitter orange, malt and just a hint of liquorice. There's more pineapple in the vinous, malty-sweet taste, plus a good hoppy bite, rounded off by a warming, tangy fruit finish."

Best In class awards went to the following beers:

Standard Ale: Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted
Strong Ale: La Trappe Dubbel
Standard Lager: Atlas Latitude Highland Pilsner
Strong Lager: Bernard Cerne Pivo
Fruit Beer: Jacobins Kriek Max
Wheat Beer: Franziskaner Kristall-klar Weissbier
Stout and Porter: St Peter's Cream Stout
Cider: Lyme Bay Jack Ratt Vintage Cider
No and Low Alcohol Beers: Bavaria Apple Malt

09 August, 2006