Beer fans have been left furious after an award-winning brew was banned by competition chiefs over one complaint.
Campaign for Real Ale banned the Naked Ladies golden ale from entering its competition in 2022, saying it was “disappointed” at the ruling over the beer’s name and label.
The ale has been produced at Twickenham Brewery in South West London for 19 years.
The name was inspired by statues of naked water nymphs in a nearby park and the label on bottles and beer pumps features an artist’s impression with hop leaves, reports The Sun.
But according to the newspaper, a middle-aged man complained to the alcohol body the Portman Group over the name, saying it felt “awkward and unsettling for all concerned” when ordering from a bar.
He added: “The sniggering tone of the name is offensive.” But his claim was rejected by the Portman Group, despite Camra’s executives insisting it was sexist.
He also claimed the bottle was “inappropriately sexualised and could cause offence and embarrassment for customers and staff”.
Chairman Nik Antona said: “We are disappointed that the independent complaints panel did not uphold the complaint.
“The beer was removed from eligibility for inclusion in our Champion Beer of Britain Competition in 2022, following complaints from the public.”
Naked Ladies was named Champion Beer of London in 2022 by Camra members who called the ban “churlish”. Twickenham Brewery says it is “proud to promote our local history on the pump clip of our bestselling beer”.
