Chorus Fine English Sparkling Beer has secured a prestigious 2-Star Great Taste Award 2026, marking its third major industry accolade since launch.
The New Forest-brewed sparkling beer has previously earned Silver at the International Brewing Awards and Gold at the London Beer Competition, adding to growing recognition for its wine-inspired take on beer.
Run by the Guild of Fine Food, Great Taste is one of the world’s largest food and drink accreditation schemes. Products are assessed blind by panels including chefs, buyers, retailers, restaurateurs and food writers, with no knowledge of branding, packaging or provenance.
Judges described Chorus as “a remarkable taste experience that could easily replace a sparkling wine whilst retaining its own generous and rewarding, intriguing character”.
They praised the beer’s “excellent body and carbonation”, noting an “initial apple orchard hit” which develops into a “classic sparkling wine character”, before finishing with “rich, complex” biscuit notes. The judges concluded that “the flavour hits wonderfully somewhere between beer and champagne.”
Two stars are awarded to products considered “Outstanding: above and beyond delicious”, with around one in 10 Great Taste entrants receiving the recognition. Three-star awards are reserved for fewer than one in 50 entries.
Harry Baynham, co-founder and head brewer at Chorus, said: “We spent years developing Chorus, and we sent our early test recipes to Great Taste along the way for blind, honest feedback.
“Those early versions did not win an award, and the judges’ notes helped make the beer better. To come back and be given two stars means the world to us. This one is for everyone who has raised a glass with us so far.”
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Chorus is brewed using Chardonnay yeast, creating fresh orchard-fruit notes and complex flavours. Light malts are fermented for longer to produce a smooth, delicate and biscuity finish, while fine, persistent bubbles give the beer its sparkling character.
The 12% ABV beer is designed to be served chilled in glass flutes and is available in 750ml bottles. It is vegan and certified gluten-free by a UKAS-accredited laboratory.
Chorus Fine English Sparkling Beer is priced at £19.95 per 750ml bottle and is available from Chorus Beer.
