Lightning Strikes Again – Tigertops Edwardian Porter wins in successive years
On Saturday 26 September, SPBW members gathered at the Swan Inn on Bishopthorpe Road, York, to present Tigertops Brewery with the Woodfest Beer of Britain (WBOB) 2026 award, given for the best beer served from the wood, for their Edwardian Porter. The presentation, held in the lounge room, drew around 30 members and guests for a convivial afternoon, with a buffet laid on by the pub’s management.
City of London Ale-Connor Liam Randall (aleconner.beer) presented the winner’s tankard, hand-crafted by a retired cooper, while SPBW Vice Chair Angela Aspin presented the certificate. She said “I have run the Woodfest Beer of Britain (WBOB) six times now and I have been asked why Tigertops Edwardian Porter has won two years running? I really have no definitive answer. Drinkers say dark beers go well in wood, but the first winner was Hook Norton Haymaker, a pale ale, so it is not that. Is it because the judges are biased? It is blind tasting with different judges so no. Is it better cellared? All the beers are cellared to the same high standard so it can’t be that. In the end I just have to say it’s a jolly good beer!”.
Harrogate Brewing’s Amber Bitter was runner up. York SPBW Branch Chair Marcus Hodgson presented their certificate and said “Joe and Matthew are more than deserving of this award as this beer clearly shows the work that has gone into producing such a wonderful example of a pint of best. Many congratulations and we look forward to tasting more of your superb wood cask beers in the future”.
You can see photos of the presentations here: Photographs taken by SPBW members.
