22-04-2025
Edinburgh 'Speyside whisky' beer crowned 'best in the UK' at prestigious awards
Only 875 cans of the unique beverage will ever be produced.
An Edinburgh beer has been crowned the UK's 'Beer of the Year'. The acclaimed beer took home the title at the London Beer Competition 2025.
The prestigious title was awarded to the Edinburgh -based Cold Town Beer. It clinched the prize for its flagship beer, Barrel Aged Imperial Stout - Speyside Cask Matured.
The base beer for Barrel Aged Imperial Stout is taken from Cold Town Beer's Topic Thunder Stout. The latter took home a gold medal at last year's London Beer Competition.
Approximately 400 litres of the award-winning brew was allowed to sleep for almost a year in an oak cask previously used to hold a renowned Speyside whisky. The beer is described by makers as "a rich, dark and opaque liquid with a lusciously smooth, velvety texture and a distinctively deep mouthfeel".
According to Cold Town Beer, only 875 cans of Barrel Aged Imperial Stout - Speyside Cask Matured will ever be produced. It is available to purchase online, with 12 cans costing £69.
Head of Production for Edinburgh's Cold Town Beer Ian Kennedy said: "We're absolutely thrilled. We've spent the last seven years building a range we're truly proud of, and it's incredibly exciting to see Cold Town getting national recognition.
"This beer is something special. It's a celebration of everything we've been working toward, and a real moment for our team to put Cold Town firmly on the map."
Director at Cold Town Beer Euan Bain added: "From day one, we set out to create beers that were full of character and brewed with care—and our Barrel Aged Stout is the perfect example of that ethos.
"Maturing it in Speyside whisky casks was a passion project for the team, and the result has exceeded all our expectations.
"To see it recognised as Beer of the Year – United Kingdom is a huge honour and a testament to the dedication of everyone at Cold Town."
The London Beer Competition is one of the most demanding tasting rooms in the industry. Winning a category award at the contest means that Cold Town Beer's Barrel Aged Imperial Stout - Speyside Cask Matured stands out among its global peers.
Now in its eighth year, the London Beer Competition differs from many other beer competitions around the world. Unlike most traditional competitions that judge beers solely on taste, it rewards beers based on quality, value, and packaging.
This year's competition brought together a panel of some of the most influential beer buyers, bar owners, and industry experts from around the world. The judging took place in London, where hundreds of beers from more than 20 countries were blind-tasted, assessed, and scored.
Elsewhere, the overall global Beer of the Year award went to Belgian beer Ramon. The alcohol-free beer includes only 0.3 per cent alcohol by volume and 40 per cent fewer calories than an average Pilsner beer.
Other winners include Honkirin in Japan for International Lager Of The Year and ABK Edel Spezialbier in Germany for Pale Malty European Lager Of The Year. Meanwhile, Toast Brewing - New Dawn Session IPA won IPA Of The Year.
