Cairngorm Brewery’s Black Gold has been named Champion Winter Beer of Britain at CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival Winter, being staged in Rotherham.
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 Brewery’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 production, and I are absolutely over the moon!”
Runners-up in the competition were Sarah Hughes’ Snowflake (8% ABV), which took silver, and Grain’s Slate (6% ABV), claiming bronze.
“Massive congratulations to Cairngorm for their fantastic win, plus all the amazing category winners in this year’s competition,”said CAMRA awards director Gary Timmins. “Black Gold is a cracking pint, and even in such an incredibly competitive shortlist, it is a worthy winner.
“Every year our judges find it harder and harder to pick a winner, which speaks volumes of the brewing talent in the UK. Despite their evident quality, our brewers struggle to find a place at the bar of our locals. Soulless global conglomerates have a greedy stranglehold on the industry, restricting true customer choice and our independent brewers’ access to market.
“Everyone should get out to their pub, social club or taproom and look out for one of your local brews — it might be one of our award-winning beers!” it might be one of our award-winning beers!”
This year’s award winners will be available to try at the Great British Beer Festival Winter this week while stocks last.
