Well done Cairngorm Brewery. The Aviemore alchemists have racked up yet another award for their fantastic stout, Black Gold.
The cask version of the dark beer was crowned Champion Beer of Scotland at Camra's Scottish Real Ale Festival in Edinburgh this month.
Cairngorm are a well established brewery. They've been around since 2001 and you can find many of their bottles in good beer shops as well as a few supermarkets. Success has brought expansion and in the past few years they've have upped their production, distribution and staffing. The also now own pub, the Winking Owl.
Firing on all cylinders they can brew up to 6,500 litres a day, and export to places such as Norway, Germany and Hong Kong, and are looking to other export markets, such as Japan. They employ 24 staff in the brewery and 12 in the Winking Owl.
They also make a big deal about their presence in the Cairngorm National Park, as well they should. A few of the beers - Stag, Ginger Rodent and Wildcat - honour the wildlife around them, and proceeds from some of their beers go to local conservation charities and other good causes, enabling you to drink beer and help the environment. Unsurprisingly, their bottled beers are suitable for vegans
Sam Faircliff, managing director of Cairngorm, said she was "really chuffed; it's brill" at the latest prize, and explained that the Black Gold now goes through to the UK-wide competition, held at the Great British Beer Festival next month in London where it will be in the running for Champion Beer of Britain. She also revealed that due to popular demand, Cairngorm is to start selling its Highland IPA in bottles.
Despite the name, Black Gold (4.4%) pours a deep, dark ruby brown. Smelling it is a joy: light peat smoke mixed with fresh berries and roasted coffee and chocolate malts form an inviting, rich aroma.
The smoke lingers on the palate, though it’s not overbearing. Flavours of roasted malt, coffee and dark chocolate play around the mouth, accompanied by hints of dark berries. A touch of caramel sweetness slips in there too, balancing the bitter flavours. The finish is smooth and the finish dry and bitter. A complex, broody and delicious stout, well deserving of its popularity and prizes.
Five Other Great Beers to Enjoy
Scapa Special pale ale (4.2%) by Highland Brewing Company
The Orkney brewery's flagship beer took the second spot in this year's Camra contest. Light hops balanced against a soft malt backbone make for a well-weighted world-class pale ale with a crisp, dry and long bitter finish.
Red Rocker amber ale (5%) by Cromarty Brewing Company
Heavy on the hops and with a healthy dose of malts, Red Rocker has a bold resin and fruit aroma that continues into the glass. It’s big on bitterness though sweet malt flavours of caramel and summer fruits come through too. Took bronze at the Scottish Real Ale festival.
Wildcat (5.1.%) by Cairngorm Brewing Company
Cairngorm’s amber ale has a fruity and malty aroma with caramel and some orange citrus flavours coming through too. Refreshing, lively with a medium body, it also has a fairly dry finish. Some proceeds from its sale to go to the charity Scottish Wildcat Action.
Nessie's Monster Mash (4.1%) by Cairngorm Brewing Company
The name might be for the tourists but this is a heavy, or Scottish ale, that is worth hunting down. It reeks of big sweet malts but has a rounded bitter finish, with flavours of toffee, plums and raisins also rearing their head. A predominantly malty, lightly hopped beer, it gives you a satisfying finish.
Trade Winds (4.3%) by Cairngorm Brewing Company
Trade Winds rivals Black Gold in terms of awards; tastewise they couldn't be more different. Trade Winds is clear orange gold and has a light floral aroma and clean, crisp taste. There's traces of elderflower, as well as lemon and grapefruit alongside the light biscuit malt and a sprinkling of oats.
Cairngorm's lager and "Gentlemen of the Road" beer are the official ales for next weekend’s Aviemore Stopover Festival, alongside acts Mumford and Sons and Primal Scream.
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