CAMRA’s National Winter Ales Festival has kicked off with a bang with an ale from one of Blighty’s sunnier climes crowned its Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2012.

Pete Martin from Cornish microbrewery Driftwood was nothing if not surprised when his creation, Alfie’s Revenge, scooped the award ahead of the best brews from over 100 other breweries.

Driftwood Brewery is situated in one of the country’s most sociable brewpubs, the Driftwood Spars, run by the vivacious Lou Treseder. “We’re thrilled to win,” she said. “It will be a big boost to the pub and brewery and help raise the profile of Cornish brewing and our brewery tours.”

Coincidentally, the brewery will be running its first “Boutique Brewery Tours” at the end of this month, with none other than Roger Protz hosting the first evening’s tastings. In a unique set-up, while basing it at the Driftwood Spars, the tour visits six different Cornish micro-breweries. For more information, see here.

CAMRA’s National Winter Ales Festival continues until Saturday 21 January in Manchester.

With over 300 beers, ciders and perries on offer, the Festival’s beer list could be handy for those planning their visit, while the website also gives useful directions on how to get there.

The Silver medal went to Cairngorm Brewery’s popular Black Gold, and both this and Alfie’s Revenge will get automatic entry into the Champion Beer of Britain final at CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival in August.

For more on the brewery and its award-winning host, the Driftwood Spars, see the brewery’s main entry.

National Winter Ales Festival, Sheridan Suite, Manchester, nwaf.org.uk/, @WinterAlesFest