Keighley brewer Timothy Taylor creates the best cask conditioned ale in the world - and it's official.

The company's traditionally brewed Landlord bitter snatched the Gold trophy at the Oscars of the brewing industry.

In doing so, Landlord became the first beer ever to hold the two top national brewing awards for cask ale at the same time.

Last August, it won the Champion Beer of Britain award at the Great British Beer Festival at Olympia, organised by the beer drinkers' pressure group, The Campaign for Real Ale.

The latest award for Landlord was announced at the Brewing Industry International Awards 2000, at the Guildhall in London, where 60 brewers from throughout the world were judged in various categories.

Landlord's victory was announced in front of 600 brewers and their suppliers and it qualifies the brewery to brand Landlord a Champion Beer.

To add to the glory, Timothy Taylor's Golden best - a mild beer - won a silver medal in the same category.

There were nine winners in the cask conditioned category, which was divided into three different strength classes, and each was awarded a gold, silver or bronze.

They then all competed against each other and Landlord took the overall prize and was awarded the supreme gold trophy.

Only British breweries entered the cask conditioned ale section because it is exclusively a British product, said a competition spokesman.

There were eight sections including international keg ales, international lagers, bottled and canned beers, speciality beers, strong beers keg ales, stouts and porters.

Breweries entered the competition, which is held every two years, from Sweden, South Africa, the USA, Jersey, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, Japan, Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Germany and Ireland.

Timothy Taylor head brewer Peter Eells was one of the judges who taste the beers blind. None of the judges sample their own beers.

He said: "It is a privilege to be judged best by our peers. Quality ingredients and consistency in the brewing process is key to our success."

And administration manager, Geoff Drinnan said: "It's wonderful news. It's quite an achievement for Landlord to get the gold award."

Timothy Taylor has been brewing traditional cask ales in Keighley since 1858. The range of six beers the brewery produces has collected over 70 major awards and prizes since 1928.

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