The best ale in Scotland has been named at an annual beer festival in Edinburgh.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) announced that the Isle of Skye brewery's Cuillin Beast has been crowned champion beer of Scotland for 2011 at the Scottish Real Ale Festival.

The 7% ABV strong old ale is described in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide as a “winter warmer; sweet and fruity, and much more drinkable than the strength would suggest. Plenty of caramel throughout with a variety of fruit on the nose.”

Angus MacRuary, managing director of the Uig-based brewing company, said: “We're absolutely knocked-out.

“As one of the earlier new Scottish brewers, we've come close to winning on a number of occasions and couldn't be more delighted to win this year.'

Mr MacRuary credited the company’s head brewer, Pam MacRuary, and the rest of the team for all their hard work.

The runner-up in this year's competition was the Aviemore-based Cairngorm brewery's Black Gold beer, while third place went to the Houston brewery's Peter's Well ale.

Judging the final entrants this year were a panel of CAMRA members, brewers, publicans and beer writers. Judges noted the difficulty in choosing between the sheer quality of all the entrants on show this year.

The competition was held at the Scottish Real Ale Festival in Edinburgh, which is open until Saturdayand features beers from 38 Scottish brewers.

For more information on the Scottish Real Ale Festival, click here.