CAMRA Crowns Finalists for Champion Beer of Britain 2025 at Cambridge Festival

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has unveiled the top beers in six major categories at the Cambridge Beer Festival, setting the stage for the final showdown to determine the Champion Beer of Britain 2025.

Winners in the categories of milds, bitters, IPAs, and golden ales were selected following rigorous judging. These six victors will join the earlier finalists from the Great British Beer Festival Winter to compete for the top honour at the Great British Beer Festival, scheduled for August at the NEC in Birmingham.

The six category winners, accompanied by tasting notes from Champion Beer of Britain Judging Panel Organiser Christine Cryne, are as follows:

• Mild: Penzance Mild (3.6%) – Characterised by grainy malt, coffee, and chocolate notes with hints of dried fruit.
• Session Bitter: Butcombe Original (4%) – A sweet-tasting bitter dominated by malt, with subtle traces of dark fruit.
• Premium Bitter: Cairngorm Wildcat (5.1%) – Malt-driven with a subtle hop presence and a well-balanced aftertaste.
• IPA (English and New World): Elusive Oregon Trail (5.8%) – A bold, bitter, and classically styled West Coast IPA.
• Session Pale, Blond and Golden Ales: Track Sonoma (3.8%) – A sweet, fruity, well-balanced beer with moderate bitterness and citrus hop character.
• Premium Pale, Blond and Golden Ales: Church End Fallen Angel (5%) – A sharp, full-flavoured bitter with a distinct lemon edge.

Gary Timmins, CAMRA’s Awards Director, commended the standard of competition and emphasised the prestige of the event.

“This was a fiercely fought battle, and the winners and category runners-up should be extremely proud of themselves,” Timmins said. “Champion Beer of Britain showcases the best of cask beer in the UK, with beers entered by CAMRA members and volunteer tasting panels before being judged using a ‘blind’ process, so it’s a truly independent competition.”

Timmins also encouraged beer enthusiasts to visit the Cambridge Beer Festival while the award-winning brews are still on tap, noting, “You won’t be disappointed.”

The Champion Beer of Britain remains one of the most respected accolades in the brewing industry, recognising excellence in flavour, craftsmanship, and character among the nation’s finest cask ales.

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