News
- Champion Beer of Scotland 2024 – Results and Presentation
Thursday 10 October 2024
The results of CAMRA's Champion Beer of Scotland 2024 competition, decided by blind judging at the Ayrshire Real Ale Festival in Troon on Friday 4th October, are in!
Gold: Cairngorm Black Gold Silver: Five Kingdoms Dark Storm Bronze: Cromarty Red Rocker
Other shortlisted beers included Broughton Old Jock, Cromarty Brewed Awakening, Cromarty Raptor IPA, Five Kingdoms McGregor's Mild, Kelburn Red Smiddy, Loch Lomond Southern Summit, Swannay Orkney IPA, and Stewart 80/-.
A big congratulations to Cairngorm Brewery for their fantastic win!
The official award presentation will take place at the brewery on Friday 22nd November at approximately 1:30 pm.
Cheers to Cairngorm and all the finalists for an excellent competition!
- Special Awards
Thursday 10 October 2024
Over the summer, the branch presented three special awards to publicans who have made an outstanding contribution to real ale in Fife.
The first award recognised the outstanding efforts of Andy McGonigal and Hannah Murphy in preserving Betty Nicols, expanding the beer range, and serving up some seriously great brews!
The second award honoured the exceptional contributions of Robbie Hunter, who tirelessly served outstanding beers at The Albert Tavern and championed real ales over the years! While it's bittersweet that Robbie wasn't able to receive the award in person before his passing, he knew of the accolade.
The final special award recognised Willie Cunningham for his remarkable dedication to real ale. His passion for quality, craftsmanship, and supporting local breweries has built a community around tradition and a great pint. Congratulations to Willie and The Crown Tavern Kinghorn on this well-deserved recognition!
Here’s to many more years of fantastic real ale and community spirit.
- 50th Anniversary of CAMRA in Scotland
Tuesday 3 September 2024
Several special events have been organised to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of CAMRA in Scotland and we’ve love to see you at some, or all, of them.
The first special event is to celebrate the three oldest active breweries in Scotland, namely Belhaven, Broughton and Traquair House. This event will take place on Saturday 7th September, in the Athletic Arms (Diggers), 1-3 Angle Park Terrace, Edinburgh EH11 2JX from 1pm. There are normally 6 real ale ales available and we hope to have beer available from all three breweries. https://whatpub.com/pubs/EDN/638/athletic-arms-diggers-edinburgh
On Saturday 12th October from 1pm, we will be celebrating the formation of the first Scottish CAMRA branch fifty years ago, in the Bon Accord, 153 North Street, Charing Cross, Glasgow G3 7DA. The Bon Accord was one of the original pubs at the forefront of real ale in Glasgow and the founding nearby of the first branch in Scotland. It remains an important part of Scotland’s real ale history. There will be a small finger buffet and some celebration cake available. There are normally 8 real ales available. It would be great to see some long-standing original CAMRA members from across the country at this event. https://whatpub.com/pubs/GLA/0114/bon-accord-glasgow
The presentation of this year’s Scottish Pub of the Year Award to the Hillend Tavern will take place on Friday 13th September at 4pm. Note that the pub opens at 3pm on a Friday afternoon. There’s a train that leaves Haymarket at 1508, arriving at Dalgety Bay at 1530. If coming from the Kirkcaldy side there’s a train leaving Perth at 1427, Kirkcaldy 1510 and arriving in Dalgety Bay at 1529. There’s a bus stop beside the station with varous buses serving it including the Stagecoach 7 or 87. For anyone who’s never been to the Hillend Tavern, come out of the station, turn to your right and walk for about 5 minutes (be careful with traffic on the bad bend) and the pub sits on your right at 37 Main Street, Hillend. There should be 4 real ales available. Francesca and her team will give you a warm welcome. https://whatpub.com/pubs/FIF/50/hillend-tavern-hillend
Other forthcoming Scottish CAMRA events to note in your diaries are:
27-29 Sept: Forth Valley CAMRA - Dark Ale Trail by Rail. Visit a selection of pubs between Dunblane, Larbert and Linlithgow for a weekend of dark ales. More info at: https://forthvalley.camra.org.uk/viewnode.php?id=226089
3-5 October: Ayrshire Real Ale Festival, Troon Concert Hall. Organised by Ayrshire & Wigtownshire CAMRA, Scotland’s largest real ale festival features over 140 cask ales and 20 real ciders and perries. Only 10 mins walk from Troon station. https://www.ayrshirebeerfestival.co.uk/
8-9 November: Forth Valley CAMRA - Alloa Real Ale and Cider Festival, Alloa Town Hall. Featuring over 50 real ales and 20 ciders. https://forthvalley.camra.org.uk/viewnode.php?id=223590
- Kelly Marr @ Pittenween Art Festival - People in Pubs Across Scotland
Friday 2 August 2024
A collection of oil paintings by the Australian artist, Kelly Marr celebrating pubs in Scotland being exhibited at The West End Bar in Pittenweem (daily from 1pm) from 3rd to 10th August.
- Scottish Pub of the Year 2024
Friday 2 August 2024
Scottish Pub of the Year (SPOTY)
This year's SPOTY is the Hillend Tavern, Dalgety Bay. The other finalists were the Bandstand, Nairn and the Bull Inn, Paisley. A summary of the final scores can be found here: SPOTY 2024 Final Results.
The Hillend will be presented with its award in due course.
Scottish Cider Pub of the Year (SCPOTY)
The Jolly Judge, Edinburgh has been presented with its award.
Scottish Club of the Year (SCOTY)
This year's SCOTY is the Ravenswood Country Club (Royal British Legion Scotland), Banchory with Ardrossan Academicals Rugby Club being the other finalist.