Bitter beer produced at Branscombe Vale Brewery has been crowned the best in the South West.

The business’s SummaThis bitter went down a treat with judges at the South West Beer Awards, triumphing over 60 of the West Country’s best beers.

Alongside the title of Champion Best Bitter, the brewery also scooped a gold award at the ceremony in Newton Abbot.

Owner Paul Dimond started the business 24 years ago, with the late Graham Luxton, after he was made redundant.

The Axminster resident said: “I had some redundancy money and I did not know what do with it. With my business partner, we thought we would have a crack at it.

“Graham, my business partner, has since passed away and we have just been keeping up the great work.

“I am over the moon. Gold is a bit special, especially in the best bitter category.”

The brewery employs four people, including brewery manager Alistair Smith, and produce six beers, with a seventh product on the way later this year.

Its winning bitter, SummaThis, is an amber-coloured ale.

During the competition, the bitter tickled the taste buds of industry experts who blind tasted more than 200 beers.

Following the tasting, the judges retire to vote in secret, before announcing the winners of the eight categories.

Paul added: “We are lucky in that way that we are quite good at what we do and our beer is very consistent. We have just got to keep doing what we have been doing for the last 24 years and maintain the status quo.”