Hole Hearted, brewed by the Oakleaf Brewery, Gosport has won this year's competition to find the best beer produced in Hampshire. The Oakleaf Brewery was founded in 2000 and this was the first year its beers have featured in the final of the competition.

The winning beer is a premium bitter with an abv of 4.7%. It is described as powerfully floral and fruity and is brewed with Cascade hops. The brewery's 3.8% abv Oakleaf Bitter also reached the finals of the competition.

The brewer is Ed Anderson who brewed previously for the Fuzz and Firkin in Portsmouth and then the Winchester Ale Houses.

Judging took place on the Thursday evening of Southampton Beer Festival. The judging panel included experienced beer tasters from the Hampshire branches of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, and local celebrities including the Southampton town crier, Jack Hibberd OBE.

Customers can sample this year's winning beer, and 80 other beers from around the country at the Southampton Beer Festival, which has lunchtime and evening sessions on both Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd 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/