THE team behind a Gornal founded brewery is celebrating after beating tough competition to win a silver award in a national CAMRA competition.

King Korvak Saga, created by Fownes Brewery, won silver in the Champion Porter of Britain competition at the opening day of CAMRA's Great British Winter Beer Festival in Birmingham.

The festival, held for the first time in the West Midlands, is expected to attract hundreds of real ale fans from across the UK to showcase the best traditional winter brews in the country.

CAMRA judges awarded Fownes' creation the silver award in its porter category, where it beat off tough competition from around the country.

James Fownes, who runs the brewery with his brother Tom, said they were delighted with the award.

James said: "We were delighted to win silver, there was a lot of stiff competition."

The duo's porter is no stranger to success in the real ale world, having been named the best porter in the West Midlands three times in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

The brothers, who are from Sedgley, originally brewed from the Jolly Crispin pub in Upper Gornal but have recently moved to a premises on Talbot Road in Brierley Hill as the brewery has grown in popularity.

Fownes Brewery was not the only Black Country brewery to find national success in Birmingham.

Blackheath's Fixed Wheel Brewery took home gold in CAMRA’s Champion Winter Beer of Britain for their 5% Blackheath Stout.

Scott Povey, who runs the Long Lane based brewery with partner Sharon, said: "Blackheath Stout is the first beer we brewed, and is named after where we're based. We're really pleased to see it get the recognition it deserves - we'll probably have to brew it a bit more now! Thank you to all the judges for voting for us."

The Great British Beer Festival Winter runs until Saturday, February 8 at the New Bingley Hall in Birmingham.