Kelburn wins champion beer of Scotland

June 12, 2006: Kelburn's Cart Blanche (5%) has been named champion beer of Scotland at CAMRA's Scottish Traditional Beer Festival, in Edinburgh.

Cairngorm took both runner-up and third places with, respectively, Black Gold (4.5%) and Trade Winds (4.3%), with Inveralmond's Ossian's Ale (4.1%) fourth.

The other finalists were Isle of Skye Young Pretender (4%), Kelburn Red Smiddy (4.1%), Orkney Red MacGregor (4%) and Sulwath Solway Mist (5.6%).

The winner is described in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide as a “golden, full-bodied ale with dry aftertaste”. It derives its name from the white waters of the River Cart which flows past the Kelburn brewery in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire.

CAMRA's Colin Valentine said: “The judges were impressed with all of the beers that made the final, and the fact that the beers that came second, third and fourth were former champion beer of Scotland winners emphasised the quality which shone through in Cart Blanche.”

Derek Moore, from Kelburn Brewery said the firm had won a number of awards since it was founded in 2002. "But this means the most because it means we are the champions of our country.

“I have been a member of CAMRA since 1978 and it is tremendous to be honoured in this way by people I have been involved with for so long. We are just delighted.”