CAMRA names 2025’s top beer at the Great British Beer Festival
Mild by Penzance Brewing Co has been crowned CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain 2025 at the Great British Beer Festival, NEC Birmingham, today.
Twelve amazing finalists were whittled down to the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners by an expert judging panel.
The long-standing CAMRA award is one of the most coveted and well-respected cask beer competitions in the world, putting the winner firmly in both the UK-wide and international spotlight.
The competition is fiercely independent, with judging taking two years to complete. Each year kicks off with individual nominations from CAMRA members and volunteer tasting panels, then regional competitions. Every round of judging uses a strict blind tasting policy.
Lewis Elliott and Richard Hickman (pictured above) of Penzance Brewing said:
“It’s quite overwhelming. I'm really glad the style has come back. It’s down to the founder of our brewery Peter Elvin and his nephew Rob, who showed me the ropes. I can’t believe we are here right now, its mad!”
Christine Cryne, Champion Beer of Britain Judging Coordinator described Mild as:
“The aroma of this classic dark mild has all the enticing aromas one would expect. Chocolate and sweet cocoa on the nose. Chocolate, sultanas and dry roast on the palate where the gentle pleasant sweetness is balanced by a roasty, subtle, dry bitterness. Packs a lot of flavour for a 3.6% beer!”
The Silver and Bronze winners for 2025 were:
Silver: Snowflake, Sarah Hughes was described by the judges as: "a gorgeous barley wine and a classic example of the style. The flavour is complex, with sweet bitter marmalade on a smooth palate.”
Bronze: Fallen Angel by Church End was described by the judges as having: “A sweet honey toast, butterscotch aroma with a little spice. It’s a rich pale ale with bitter spicy hops that are balanced by notes of honey.”
Gary Timmins, CAMRA Awards Director said:
“I’m over the moon for Penzance, with Mild being a deserving Champion Beer of Britain. From CAMRA members nominating their favourites, through to those tough regional rounds, to the final panel of judges, this is a vigorous and fiercely independent competition, and Mild has come out on top.
“I hope everyone will join me on the Great British Beer Festival floor where you can try all our final twelve beers, each one is top quality, and each brewer deserves a congratulations in their own right.”
All the finalists in this year’s competition are on sale while stock lasts at the Great British Beer Festival at the NEC Birmingham from Tuesday 5 August to Saturday 9 August. Tickets start at just £6 for CAMRA members and £9.50 for the public: greatbritishbeerfestival.co.uk/tickets
The winners of the Champion Bottled Beer of Britain were also announced at the Great British Beer Festival, with St Austell’s Proper Job claiming Gold.
Brewing Director Georgina Young said: “We are very honoured and delighted to be recognised in this category with our amazing Proper Job IPA, which was first brewed in 2004, created using original new style hops made with Chinook and Cascade.”
Judges described the bottled beer as: “The forerunner of many New World IPAs. A gorgeous looking gold coloured IPA with strong fruity nose and a perfect balance of biscuit, citrus fruits and bitter hops, with an ABV of 5.5% this is a beer to savour and enjoy.”
Silver was won by Monty’s Mischief and Bronze was won by Kernal’s Imperial Brown Stout.
Notes to editors:
Gold, Silver and Bronze winners
Gold: Penzance, Mild
Silver: Sarah Hughes, Snowflake
Bronze: Church End, Fallen Angel
Category winners
Mild
Penzance, Mild
Session Bitter
Butcombe, Butcombe Original
Premium Bitter
Cairngorm, Wildcat
IPAs
Elusive, Oregon Trail
Session Pale, Blond and Golden Ales
Track, Sonoma
Premium Pale, Blond and Golden Ales
Church End, Fallen Angel
Brown and Red Ales, Old Ales and Strong Milds
Tintagel, Caliburn
Session Stouts and Porters
Cairngorm, Black Gold
Strong Stouts and Porters
Grain, Slate
Specialty, Differently Flavoured
Siren, Broken Dream Breakfast Stout
Specialty, Differently Produced
Allendale, Adder Lager
Barely Wines and Strong Old Ales
Sarah Hughes, Snowflake
