Black Gold, a 4.4% ABV session stout from Cairngorm Brewery, has been voted CAMRA’s Champion Winter Beer of Britain for 2025. It was back in 2001 when the award last went to a Scottish brewery, when Orkney Brewery won with their Skullsplitter. Christine Cryne, the organiser of the judges, said, “We don’t often find the weaker beers winning, so Black Gold makes a nice change. It has a coffee and chocolate flavour with sweet malt and a hint of orange. It is remarkedly refreshing for a milk stout.”
The awards were presented by legendary beer writer Roger Protz, seen here with organiser Christine.
After winning the gold last year, Sarah Hughes’ Snowflake took the silver and Norfolk’s Grain Brewery took the bronze with their Slate porter. A past Champion Beer of Britain, Siren’s Broken Dream, received a gold in the ‘Speciality – Flavoured’ category.
In total, 38 beers from around the country were judged, divided into six style categories. There were three beers from London in the judging: Five Points’ Porter, Anspach & Hobday’s The Porter and their Smoked Brown. The latter took home a worthy silver in the very competitive ‘Speciality – Differently Produced’ category. The winners of all six categories are listed below. The category winners went through to the final judging panel who selected the overall winner.
Cairngorm’s Black Gold now goes forward to the Champion Beer of Britain finals at CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival which, this year, is being held at the NEC in Birmingham in August.
Go to https://greatbritishbeerfestival.co.uk for information.
Christine Cryne
