London Brewing takes winter title in leading beer competition
Beer Street (4.0%), an amber bitter with rye by London Brewing has won CAMRA’s Champion Winter Beer of Britain award, announced at Liverpool Beer Festival today (Thursday 19 February).
After a year of local and regional blind judging heats, the Campaign’s winter winners have been crowned. The category winners now go forward to the final judging in May at CAMRA’s Cambridge Beer Festival where they’ll battle it out to take the crown of Supreme Champion 2026.
Cairngorm’s session stout, Black Gold (4.4%), took home silver, and Green Jack’s Baltic Trader Export Stout (10.5%) won bronze.
Judges were blown away by the winner, with judging panel coordinator Christine Cryne describing Beer Street (4.0%) as: “A sparkling golden amber bitter, with spicy rye and a roasty nose, sweet biscuit on the flavour, where the spicy rye notes increase and linger in the dry and slightly bitter finish. Very easy drinking.”
The judging and announcement took place at Liverpool Beer Festival, in the Lutyens Crypt at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, just ten minutes’ walk from Liverpool Lime Street station. Competition beers are available at the festival while stocks last.
CAMRA’s Awards Director, Shelly Bentley, said:
“Our Champion Beer of Britain competition is the only truly independent beer contest in the UK. Brewers can’t simply enter their beers into it; they have to be nominated by beer lovers or expert tasting panels.
“London Brewing are incredibly deserving winners of the winter crown, and everyone taking home a category win or top three placement should be proud that their beers have been declared the cream of the crop by expert judges.”
Ends
Notes to editors
Find photos here.
Tasting notes for silver and bronze winners:
Silver - Cairngorm, Black Gold, 4.4%
A black session stout with red hues and oyster head. Aromas of black treacle and faint hits of dark fruits. Caramelised fruits on a sweetish chocolate base with some plums create a moreish stout. The dry finish is slightly sweet with some spicy notes.
Bronze - Green Jack, Baltic Trader Export Stout, 10.5%
A dark ruby brown imperial stout, with aromas of sweet black treacle with some damsons. A rich smooth mouthfeel with bitter black chocolate, sweet molasses and damsons. The finish is sweet, smooth with bitter roasty notes remaining. Very warming.
Full category winners:
Overall winner:
Gold: London Brewing, Beer Street, 4.0%
Silver: Cairngorm, Black Gold, 4.4%
Bronze: Green Jack, Baltic Trader Export Stout, 10.5%
Brown Ales, Red Ales, Old Ales and Strong Milds:
Gold: Harvey’s, Old Ale, 4.3%
Silver: Elmtree, Nightlight Mild 5.7%
Bronze: RedWillow, Sleepless, 5.4%
Session Stouts and Porters:
Gold: Cairngorm, Black Gold, 4.4%
Silver: Green Jack, Lurcher Stout, 4.8%
Bronze: Blackjack, Manchester Stout, 4.8%
Strong Stouts and Porters:
Gold: Green Jack, Baltic Trader Export Stout, 10.5%
Silver: Ramsgate, Gadds’ Black Pearl, 6.2%
Bronze: Five Kingdoms, Dark Stout, 6.9%
Barley Wines and Strong Ales:
Gold: Driftwood Spars, Alfie’s Revenge, 6.5%
Silver: Grainstore, Nip, 7.3%
Bronze: Holden’s, Old Ale, 7.2%
Speciality, Differently Produced:
Gold: London Brewing, Beer Street, 4.0%
Silver: Papworth, Koura, 5.7%
Bronze: Dorset, Jurassic Dark, 5.9%
Speciality, Differently Flavoured
Gold: Farm Yard, Hoof, 4.3%
Silver: Titanic, Cappuccino Stout, 4.5%
Bronze: Cerne Abbas, Gurt’s Rum Coconut Stout, 6.7%
Media Contact:
CAMRA Press Office:
01727 337863
