Dark Revolution selected as 'most popular beer' at Winterfest

Tuesday, 19 March 2024 00:00

Old Sarum-based brewers Dark Revolution won the vote for the most popular beer at Winterfest.

The winter beer festival was held at the City's Guildhall by the Salisbury & South Wiltshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.

On Friday (15th March 2024), CAMRA presented Dark Revolution with the certificate won by ‘Mummy Issues’, a spiced stout, during a visit to the brewery’s taproom by branch members.

Aaron Lewis of Dark Revolution received the Beer of the Festival winner’s certificate from Andrew Hesketh, festivals co-ordinator for Salisbury & South Wiltshire CAMRA, and Chris White, branch chairman. ‘Mummy Issues’, a 6.0 ABV stout using eight different malts combined with dark molasses and a cold brew Chai-spiced tea extraction, narrowly beat off competition from breweries in York and Lancaster to top the festival-goers poll.

Aaron Lewis (centre) of Dark Revolution receives the Beer of the Festival award from CAMRA’s local festivals co-ordinator Andrew Hesketh (right) and CAMRA branch chairman Chris White (left). Photo: Roger Braddick

“We are absolutely delighted to have won the very prestigious Salisbury CAMRA Winterfest with ‘Mummy Issues,” said Sarah Hughes, director and co-owner of Dark Revolution. “It means so much to everyone here. The award reinforces what we strive for; to brew awesome beers packed with aroma, flavour and real character and we could not do any of this without our very hard-working brewery team.”

Andrew Hesketh, who oversaw Winterfest’s successful near-sellout move to a new venue at Salisbury Guildhall for its 25th edition, said: “We had a wonderful range of 26 cask ales and five ciders from all over the country, and we can never predict which one will prove the most popular with the knowledgeable crowd who come along. But we can’t help feeling a certain amount of local pride when one of our excellent South Wiltshire breweries tops the poll.”

The presentation took place during a visit by a group of CAMRA members to Dark Revolution’s taproom on Lancaster Road in the Sarum Industrial Park just outside Salisbury. The taproom, now open seven days a week, sells beers to drink in and takeaway.

There are 20 rotating taps of Dark Revolution and guest beers, along with a huge range of cans and bottles.

Salisbury & South Wiltshire CAMRA can confirm that it will hold a summer companion festival to Winterfest—appropriately called Salisbury Sumerfest 2024—in the Guildhall on 21-22 June.