The Cairngorm Brewery in Aviemore took home Silver in CAMRA’s prestigious Champion Beer of Britain 2026.
The cat is out of the bag… Aviemore is home to one of the top two beers in the whole of Britain.
The Cairngorm Brewery based on the village’s Dalfaber Industrial Estate in Aviemore took home silver in CAMRA’s prestigious Champion Beer of Britain 2026.
The contest’s expert judging panel went wild – appropriately enough – for the brewer’s premium bitter, Wildcat (5.1%).
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Find out who won what at this year’s CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain awards
The ale fought off competitors from all corners of Britain to be named overall silver in the most trusted beer contest.
It was just pipped at the post to Gold by the Bristol Beer Factory’s Independence (4.6%).
The Champion Beer of Britain is the highest honour CAMRA can bestow upon a brewer, putting the winner firmly in both the UK-wide and international spotlight.
The award is the most sought after and well-respected cask beer competition in the world.
The competition is fiercely independent, with judging taking two years to complete.
Each year kicks off with individual nominations from CAMRA members, volunteer tasting panels, and then regional competitions.
Every round of judging, including the final at the latest Cambridge Beer Festival, uses a strict blind tasting policy.
The Cairngorm Brewery is no stranger to CAMRA awards – and it was the same again this year.
Along with Wildcat being awarded overall Silver and Gold in the Premium Bitter category this year, its decorated session stout, Black Gold (4.4%), also won Gold in the Session Stouts and Porters category.
Black Gold claimed the overall Champion Winter Beer of Britain title last year and has achieved the Champion Beer of Scotland four times.
Managing director Samantha Faircliff is delighted with the honour.
Samantha Faircliff, managing director of the Cairngorm Brewery, said: “It is absolutely brilliant to get overall Silver in the Champion Beer of Britain competition with Wildcat, alongside winning Gold with Wildcat for Premium Bitter, and Gold for Black Gold in the Session Stout and Porters categories.
“Two years on the trot, along with similar wins in the CAMRA Winter Beer of Britain competition, is a real testimony to the consistency and the quality of the beers that head brewer Liam Anderson and the team are producing here in Aviemore.
“We would like to sincerely thank CAMRA and its members for their continued support.”
Christine Cryne, Champion Beer of Britain judging coordinator described Wildcat as being ‘well balanced and satisfying.
She described it as having ‘toffee, malt hops and a little orange on the nose, with flavours of dark orange marmalade with honey. The spicy hops develop and then linger in a dry bitter finish, which is balanced by some toffee notes’.
Overall Champion Beer of Britain – Gold: Bristol Beer Factory, Independence, 4.6%; Silver: Cairngorm, Wildcat, 5.1%; Bronze: Driftwood Spars, Alfie’s Revenge, 6.5%.
First taking place in 1978, the Champion Beer of Britain is one of the most coveted and well-respected cask beer competitions in the world.
Judging for the competition takes two years to complete, starting with individual nominations from CAMRA members and tasting panels, then regional rounds.
Each round of judging, including the final, uses a strict blind tasting policy, contributing to the award’s respected reputation of independence.
The Cairngorm Brewery was the sole Scottish brewer in the overall Champion Beer of Britain finals.
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