North Finchley brewery wins national beer award

An ale brewed in North Finchley has been recognised as Britain's best seasonal beer. 'Beer Street', an amber rye bitter produced by London Brewing Company, has won the Campaign for Real Ale's (CAMRA) Champion Winter Beer of Britain award. The brewery is currently based at the Bohemia pub in Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley.

Brewery Origins and Growth

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London Brewing Company began its operations in 2011 at The Bull pub in Highgate. Initially, it focused on producing small batches of cask ales for on-site consumption. The company outgrew its original location and subsequently acquired the Bohemia pub, which had closed in 2013. Following the installation of a 1,000-litre brewhouse in 2014, the Bohemia was transformed into a community hub dedicated to cask and keg ales. The brewery's website describes the Bohemia as a place for the community to gather, united by a shared appreciation for locally brewed beer.

Award Recognition

After being nominated by beer enthusiasts and progressing through local judging rounds, 'Beer Street' achieved the national accolade. The award was announced at the Liverpool Beer Festival. The winning ale is described as a sparkling golden amber bitter with spicy rye and a roasty aroma, featuring sweet biscuit notes on the palate. The flavour profile includes increasing spicy rye notes that linger in a dry, slightly bitter finish, making it very drinkable, according to Christine Cryne, coordinator of the judging panel. The brewery itself noted on Instagram that 'Beer Street' is a traditional English bitter brewed with Goldings and Fuggles hops, built on a balanced malt base offering notes of toffee, dried fruit, dark chocolate, and a subtle nutty rye finish.

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“We’re absolutely delighted that our best bitter, Beer Street, has been named Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2026 by CAMRA. We’ve been brewing Beer Street since we founded the brewery in 2011, and it’s a real testament to the skill and dedication of our head brewer, Alex, that he has continued to refine and elevate the recipe over the years.”

Senan Sexton, London Brewing director

Senan Sexton, a director at London Brewing Company, expressed his delight at the award, highlighting it as a significant achievement for a brewery of their size. He stated that the award is a proud moment for the team and provides a considerable boost, celebrating the lasting appeal of high-quality cask ales served in pubs across the country. 'Beer Street' will now advance to compete for the Supreme Champion 2026 title at CAMRA's Cambridge Beer Festival, scheduled for May.