Cairngorm’s Black Gold is CAMRA’s Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2025

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

Following over a year of local blind-tasting panels and regional heats, the final round of judging took place at the winter festival, with Black Gold (4.4% ABV), a session stout from Scottish brewers Cairngorm, named as overall Champion Winter Beer of Britain.

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.”

Reacting to the win, 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!"