A YORKSHIRE brewery has earned itself a prestigious award.

Hambleton brewery is among the Great Taste winners of 2019 and has been awarded a 3-star Great Taste award, the highest award available.

The brewery was judged by over 500 of the most demanding palates, belonging to food critics, chefs, cooks, as well as a whole host of food writers and journalists.

Rachel Harrison, Managing Director, said: “This is the first time we have entered the competition, and we were just hoping to get recognition with at least a one star rating – which in itself is hugely difficult to achieve.

"To then find out we were awarded 3 stars, the top rating possible, is a dream come true.

"The team here at the brewery are all hugely excited, and we will all be celebrating with a pint of Nightmare Porter tonight.”

There were 12,772 entries into Great Taste this year and of those products, 208 have been awarded a 3-star, 1,326 received a 2-star and 3,409 were awarded a 1-star accolade.

The panel of judges this year included; cook, writer and champion of sustainable food, Melissa Hemsley, Kenny Tutt, MasterChef 2018 champion, author, Olia Hercules, chef and food writer, Gill Meller, Kavi Thakar from Dishoom, food writer and stylist, Georgina Hayden and author and chef, Zoe Adjonyoh, as well as food buyers from Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Sourced Market and Partridges.

Less than 3 per cent of products judged are awarded a 3-star each year.