TWO breweries from the Warrington area have come home with awards following the Cheshire Beer Festival.

The event at Chester Racecourse also became the venue for the annual Champion Beer of Cheshire competition run by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Lymm Brewing Co’s Lymm Heritage Ale came out on top in the ‘best bitter’ category and Latchford brewery 4Ts’ stout won the stout category after a blind tasting.

4Ts, which is run by The Tavern owner John Wilkinson, also won the overall bronze award for the same beer.

The overall champion beer was Macclesfield brewery Red Willow’s Wreckless pale ale which was named Cheshire’s best strong bitter too.

Jordan Millington, head brewer at 4Ts, said: “When we heard the announcement, it was surprising that our stout had won Cheshire stout of the year for two years running as it’s one of the hardest categories so we are very pleased to be awarded this again.

“Then when it was announced we had won bronze overall we didn’t quite believe it at first.

“But it is a great pleasure to receive this after we started eight years ago and it just goes to show the hard work is finally paying off.”

A spokesman for CAMRA said “Congratulations to all the winners. The quality of the beer this year was judged to be the best and all the winners were well deserved.”

The winners will be presented with their awards at the Red Willow’s brewery tap in Macclesfield early next year.

DAVID MORGAN