Brewers have been raising their glasses after their Harveys Sussex Best Bitter was voted the best in Britain at the Campaign for Real Ale's Champion Beer Competition last week.

Reporter Lucy Brinicombe spoke with the Lewes brewery's head brewer and joint managing director Miles Jenner to try to prise out some of his secrets over a pint.

To be voted this year's Champion Best Bitter of Britain is no mean feat but it does confirm what many punters reckon they have known for a long time.

Harveys has produced other award-winning beers, including its Armada and Pale Ales, but this accolade is significant because the award is for the beer it produces most of.

Mr Jenner said: "Our Best Bitter is 90 per cent of our production so it's the one we're very pleased to win for because it's very popular and seen as our local brew.

"What we have been trying to do with our beers since the Second World War is produce a beer which is tailored to the local palate.

"It's a well-hopped beer with a slight sweetness to it, very well-balanced and with a more-ish quality.

"Obviously, it has a great reputation locally which goes beyond our trading area. It's very much a local beer that people associate with this area of the country."

Situated on the River Ouse overlooking Cliffe Bridge, Harveys has come a long way since the family business began as a wine and spirits merchant and evolved into beer production more than 200 years ago. John Harvey established the Bridge Wharf Brewery on its present site in 1838, with about a dozen staff producing between 15 and 20 barrels a day. This compares to today's 65 staff producing up to 220.

Unlike many other local family breweries, it has avoided being swallowed by larger companies, while maintaining its reputation in Sussex despite trading only within a 50-mile radius.

Producing a special beer every month has helped stave off the competition.

The brewery has quite literally risen from the ashes. It was virtually gutted in a blaze in July 1996 and then flooded five years ago.

Mr Jenner said: "We're one of the last remaining local breweries in Sussex and we have doubled our production in the past 20 years."

The Harvey family is still involved, with seventh generation Hamish Elder the other managing director and his mother Audrey Elder as chairman.

Mr Jenner, who has worked at the company for 25 years, said: "We use a very traditional system of brewing which really has remained the same for hundreds of years.

"The process is very similar, it's just done with better machinery using stainless steel instead of wood.

"The other thing, of course, is we have a very dedicated staff who work towards producing a consistent product.

"Lovely though it is to win awards, we would rather have a product that lasts year in and year out rather than just hits a peak."

He said the farmers and maltsters, many local, played their part in last week's award.

A well water supply has been used since 1870 and a yeast strain which has remained unchanged for almost 50 years is still an important ingredient.