The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) held the Champion Beer of Scotland competition at the
Ayrshire Real Ale Festival on 4 th October 2024. After a close competition, in which all the
finalists are blind judged, Cairngorm Brewery’s Black Gold, a 4.4% Session Stout, was chosen
to be the Champion Beer of Scotland for 2024, retaining the title that it won last year, as
well as back in 2015 and 2005.
Black Gold is described as having roast malt which dominates throughout, slight smokiness
in aroma leading to a liquorice and blackcurrant background taste giving it a background
sweetness. Very long, dry bitter finish. No less than four colours of malt make the grist!
CAMRA’s Scotland Director Stuart McMahon said “Cairngorm Brewery, which is based in Aviemore, continues to brew a variety of tasty beers. Black Gold was a very worthy winner, despite the strong competition from the other category winners. It is a very good example of a rich stout, with the strong roast and burnt malts to the fore, but with a lovely smooth, bitter but sweet aftertaste. Since it was initially brewed, Black Gold has now received the most awards issued by CAMRA in Scotland.”
Five Kingdoms Brewery, Scotland’s most southerly brewery based in Isle of Whithorn took the Champion Beer of Scotland’s silver award, with Dark Storm, a 6.9% strong stout.
However, at a recent competition held in London the bottle-conditioned version of Dark Storm won CAMRA’s National Champion Bottled Beer of the Year – a testament and well-deserved award for the high quality of beers the small brewery is currently producing.
Notes to Editors
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, currently has over 145,000 members, and there are 216
local branches around the country.
Every year CAMRA organises the Champion Beer of Britain Competition to find the best
beer in Britain. There are 12 categories / styles of beers and beers in each category are
initially nominated by members, trained tasters and brewery liaison officers, with regional
shortlists being drawn up. The beers are judged in blind tastings held at Scottish CAMRA
festivals throughout the year.
This year’s Champion Beer of Scotland competition was held at the Ayrshire Real Ale
Festival in Troon on Friday 4th October and featured over 145 cask ales. Over 2,300 people
attended this year’s festival.
The Champion Beer of Scotland Competition was originally held in 1996 with the winners
receiving the Dan Kane Memorial Trophy. The winner goes forward to the national finals of
the competition in 2025.
This year’s Champion Beer of Britain competition will be held at the Kelham Hall Beer and
Cider Festival in Nottinghamshire from 23rd to 26th October 2024.
More information about CAMRA can be found at www.camra.org.uk.