A beer from Bristol has been crowned the best in the nation. Independence, a pale ale crafted by the Bristol Beer Factory, took home the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) 'Champion Beer of Britain 2026' gong at the Cambridge Beer Festival. Sam Burrows, managing director of Bristol Beer Factory, said he was delighted to be following in some illustrious footsteps, but cheekily added the prize had been a long time coming. "The lineage of the Champion Beer of Britain is impeccable," he said.