Cairngorm’s Black Gold has been crowned CAMRA’s Champion Winter Beer of Britain at the Great British Beer Festival Winter 2025.

Following more than a year of blind-tasting panels and regional heats, the final round of judging took place at the festival with the 4.4 per cent ABV session stout from Scottish brewer Cairngorm taking the overall crown. 

Champion Beer of Britain judging panel organiser Christine Cryne described the beer as having: “Roasted coffee nose with dark fruits and earthy hops. The flavour is of refreshing coffee with sweet malt, orange and dark fruits, leading to a satisfying dry, chocolatey finish. Very easy drinking.”  

Cairngorm’s sales director Merlin Sandbach said: “After winning Champion Beer of Scotland two years consecutively, and four years in total, the team is ecstatic. Our head brewer Liam, Gemma from productions and I are absolutely over the moon!"

The runners up were Sarah Hughes Snowflake (8 per cent), which took home silver, and Grain Slate (6 per cent) which claimed bronze.

CAMRA’s awards director Gary Timmins said: “Massive congratulations to Cairngorm for its fantastic win plus all the amazing category winners in this year’s competition. Black Gold is a cracking pint and, even in such an incredibly competitive shortlist, it is a worthy winner.

Read the full story here