Old Sarum brewery wins CAMRA award

Monday, 3 March 2025 06:00

Sam Dyer (centre), Dark Revolution Tap Room Manager, receives the winner’s certificate from Andrew Hesketh (left) and Mike Bird (right) of CAMRA. Photo: Roger Braddick

A smooth oatmeal stout brewed by Dark Revolution from Old Sarum was voted the Beer of the Festival by those who attended Winterfest, Salisbury’s much-loved winter beer and cider festival organised by the local branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.

The winner’s certificate for Dark Matter was presented to Sam Dyer, Dark Revolution’s Tap Room Manager, by Salisbury & South Wiltshire CAMRA representatives Andrew Hesketh and Mike Bird.

Dark Matter is a blend of eight different malts which combine to produce a smooth 5.7% ABV stout which appealed to the experienced tastebuds of the knowledgeable crowd who go to Winterfest. It was the most popular of 24 real ales available at Winterfest, which was held at The Guildhall in the centre of Salisbury in late January.

“We are very, very happy to receive this award and to be recognized by CAMRA,” said Sam Dyer, after receiving the certificate when a group from CAMRA visited the brewery on the Old Sarum Industrial Estate. “It is nice that a local brewery won the award and we look forward to contributing beers to Summerfest in Salisbury in June”.

Andrew Hesketh, festivals co-ordinator for the Salisbury & South Wiltshire branch of CAMRA, said: “Dark Revolution has built up a great reputation for brewing delicious and innovative beers and it is not surprising that festival-goers voted it their favourite. We aim to showcase local beers – about half those on offer at Winterfest were from the Salisbury area – and it was good that one of them topped the poll.”

The first two runners-up were from elsewhere in the country. Tonkoko, Brew York’s milk stout, came second, while the Fixed Wheel Brewery, from Halesowen, West Midlands, was voted third with its Blackheath Stout. However one-man micro-brewery Small Paul from Gillingham, kept the flag flying for north Dorset by coming fourth with Gylla’s IPA.

Summerfest, Salisbury’s summer beer festival, will be held by CAMRA in The Guildhall on 20-21 June.

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