Fyn Ales Win Champion Beer of Scotland

A Cowal brewery has had one of its beers named “Champion Beer of Scotland” at the Campaign for Real Ale’s annual Scottish Real Ale Festival in Edinburgh last week

The winning beer, Jarl, is produced by Fyne Ales of Cairndow, 30 miles from Dunoon. It is the first time that Fyne Ales has won the award and the first time in seven years that a mainland Scottish brewery has been named champion.

Runner-up in the competition was the Cairngorm Black Gold produced at Aviemore while third place went to the Highland Brewing Company of Orkney for their St Magnus Ale.

Tuggy Delap, the owner of Fyne Ales, said: “We are very proud of a great team who have put in a fabulous effort.”

A CAMRA spokesman said: “The Scottish Real Ale Festival features beers from 48 Scottish brewers. This year’s champion, Jarl, is part of the range of 159 excellent beers available at this year’s festival.”

The Fyne Ales brewery was set up in 2001 using the redundant milking parlour in the traditional farm buildings at Achadunan, Cairndow.

The first commercial brew was on St. Andrews day that year. The design for the brewery and the impact which the brewing makes on the locality are arranged to have as little environmental impact as possible. Water is sourced from a burn above the brewery overlooking Glen Fyne and the head of Loch Fyne.

Jarl is described as: “Light and golden colour with strong citrus and hop aroma. Citrus and grassy hop flavours dominate the palate with a light and refreshing dry finish. A superbly drinkable beer.” It has ABV of 3.8 per cent.

Congratulations to all at Fyne Ales.