Cairngorm Brewery, based in Aviemore, took home the silver medal from the Campaign for Real Ale’s (Camra) Champion Beer of Britain 2026 award for their bitter, Wildcat.
The Champion Beer of Britain title is the most prestigious of Camra’s awards, having been running since 1978.
The Scottish brewery also took home gold in the premium bitter category and its stout, Black Gold, also won gold in the session stouts and porters category.
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The stout has previously claimed the overall Champion Winter Beer of Britain title in 2025, and has been named the Champion Beer of Scotland on four occasions.
Elsewhere, Bristol Beer Factory won gold for their Independence pale ale, and Cornwall-based Driftwood Spars won bronze with their red ale, Alfie’s Revenge.
Placing second in the award, which takes two years to judge with multiple rounds of voting and blind tastings, was “absolutely brilliant”, the brewery’s managing director has said.
Samantha Faircliff, managing director of 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.”
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Describing the beer, Christine Cryne, the judging coordinator for the Champion Beer award, said the beer was “well balanced and satisfying.”
Cryne explained: “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. Well balanced and satisfying.”