Robinsons Family Brewers - Brewing Excellence

"‘Third time lucky" is a saying often banded about, but fortune played no part when Old Tom deservedly romped to victory at the National Winter Ales Festival in January– picking up the title "Supreme Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2005" in the process.

Judges singled out Robbie’s own strong ale from a line-up of over 120 winter brews to see Old Tom complete its hat trick following previous victories in 1991 and 2000. The welcome award from CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) was well justified in a year which saw the festival return to Manchester after a two year absence.

Mr Oliver and Head Brewer Chris Hellin were at the event as the good news broke.

"We were over the moon but more significantly it puts us in a position of strength to market Old Tom. The brand has been in almost constant production since 1899 and clearly still has a great future ahead of it, " said Mr Oliver.

The news was, of course, welcomed around the estate and quickly resulted in a rack of 25 pins at UPC, requested by sharp-minded operators keen to capitalise on Old Tom’s enhanced profile and the anticipated upturn in demand.

CAMRA saw to it that the message was widely broadcast after despatching one of its top writers to Stockport on a fact-finding mission for a double-page spread in ‘What’s Brewing’, its national magazine. More locally, details of Old Tom’s success spread by word of mouth and through ‘Opening Times’ CAMRA’s award winning newsletter for Stockport and South Manchester.

At The Pineapple, Heaton Lane, Eileen Lloyd was one licensee to proudly place a pin on her bar and saw brisk business from regular customers and those eager to sample the newly crowned"Supreme Champion Winter Beer".

Positive reactions also came from free trade customers including JD Wetherspoon as the news spread.