HRH The Duke of Cornwall pulled a pint of it, gold medallist Olympic oarsman Ed Coode swears he trained on it, and now Tribute has been officially selected as Supreme Champion Cornish Ale.

The selection was made during a blind tasting by a panel of independent judges.

Beers from the majority of Cornish breweries were submitted, but St Austell Brewery's Tribute was selected as being best in its class of Best Bitters and the overall accolade of Supreme Champion Cornish Ale. Tribute has also won a medal at the Taste of the West Food and Drink awards.

Other awards won by St Austell Brewery included a second prize for Black Prince in the dark ales category and a third for the brewery's experimental brew Admiral's Ale - giving the independent family brewery a total of three awards in all.

Only one other Cornish brewer won an award at the CAMRA Festival, the other beers coming from around the country. Head brewer at St Austell, Roger Ryman said: "This is a great accolade for Tribute. CAMRA's panel of independent judges are well respected and the blind tasting is a tough discipline.

"We're delighted to have competed so successfully winning the Supreme Champion Ale of Cornwall. This has to be our best award yet".