Hole Hearted, brewed by the Oakleaf Brewery, Gosport has won the competition to find the best beer produced in Hampshire for the third time. It beat off competition from more than 50 beers brewed by 10 breweries in Hampshire.

The winning beer is a premium bitter with an abv of 4.7%. It is described as an amber-coloured strong bitter with powerful floral hop and citrus notes in the aroma. It is brewed with entirely with Cascade hops. The brewer is Ed Anderson who brewed for the Fuzz and Firkin in Portsmouth and then the Winchester Ale Houses, before starting the Oakleaf Brewery in 2000.

Judging took place on the Thursday evening of Southampton Beer Festival, organised by the Southern Hampshire branch of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale. The judging panel included experienced beer tasters from the Hampshire branches of CAMRA, Neville & Sue Pryor, landlord & landlady of the Guide Dog in Bevois Valley (Southern Hampshire CAMRA's Pub of the year 2005), and Southampton Daily Echo's Paul Hancocks.

Customers can sample this year's winning beer, and more than 90 other beers from around the country at the Southampton Beer Festival, which has lunchtime and evening sessions on both Friday 17th and Saturday 18th June. The festival is being held at the city's Guildhall.

For further information ring the festival organiser, Rob Whatley on 07985 194586. Oakleaf Brewery can be contacted on 023 9251 3222. The brewery's website is http://www.oakleafbrewing.co.uk/