On Friday evening 21 November, before the big day on Saturday, St Austell Brewery ran a quiet evening for customers after the trade session. Quite a few Cornwall CAMRA members took advantage of this and tried a variety of the 56 or so cask beers on the top bar and music bar, which included non-Celtic-country breweries this year.

Brewing Director George Young gave a speech to explain that the festival was in support of the St Austell Brewery Charitable Trust which supports individuals and good causes.

She then proudly brandished the cup awarded to St Austell Brewery by CAMRA for winning Champion Bottled Beer of Britain in 2025 for Proper Job, 5.5% ABV.

Not bad out of over 2000 bottle-conditioned (live beer) ales across the whole UK. Something to be very proud of.

Each successive winner is engraved on the base.

After the speech, we got on with the serious business of drinking the beer, discussing the beer and doing a few tastings for next year’s competition.

Cheers, Steve Barber