[Closed] Scottish beer

In no particular order. (and what our local sells...)
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]
[img] ?v=1397738966[/img]
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]

Distinctively average I find that, pleasant enough but nothing special. The Cairngorm Beers are Ok but again just nothing special.

80/- (eighty shilling).

I'm a big Arran fan, can't say there's a bad one in the bunch. Also like Thrappledouser. Orkney company is good. Thankfully local Tesco is big on Scottish beers and beers of the world. (Rutherglen if anyone's close)

[url= http://www.scottishbeershop.co.uk/ ]Scottish beers[/url]
This used to be my local shop but stopped by to get some Tempest beers, which are excellent, and discovered they have an extensive selection.

[img] [/img]

Harvieston 7 Giraffes....mmmmmm

Oooh yes good call on Tempest.

http://bridgeofallan.co.uk/

[img] [/img]

All the best rides finish there!

[img] [/img]

80/-. Who here remembers The Diggers in Gorgie as it was 20 years ago, where your eye was caught as you walked in the door and you held up the requisite number of fingers pertaining to the amounts of pints of Heavy you desired; these were then poured? If you wanted something else you got a scowl instead.

[img] [/img]

You lot would hate this 😉

[quote=chickenman ]80/-. Who here remembers The Diggers in Gorgie as it was 20 years ago, where your eye was caught as you walked in the door and you held up the requisite number of fingers pertaining to the amounts of pints of Heavy you desired; these were then poured? If you wanted something else you got a scowl instead.

Me: "Four pints of heavy and a pint of lager please"
(Barman pours dinks)
Barman (loudly): "There you go - four heavy and a lager for the poof"
(Time passes)
Mate: "Five pints of heavy please"
Barman: "Oh - the poof's drinking heavy now?"

We used to drive along from work, scoop down four pints, and drive back. On our hour break.

Me: "Four pints of heavy and a pint of lager please"

I once ordered "a pint of fizzy piss" for a mate. Without missing a beat, the barperson decanted me a pint of Fosters.

(Mind you, that was in the same pub that once got Hobgoblin on tap, amended the pump masthead to change the "H" to an "N" and refused to serve it unless it was asked for by its corrected name.)

Heavy is 70/- 😀

Heavy is normally 80/-

The main categories are as follows:
60/- (aka "Light") under 3.5% ABV
70/- (aka "Heavy") 3.5%-4.5% ABV
80/- (aka "Heavy" or "Export") 4.0%-5.5% ABV
90/- (aka "Wee Heavy") over 5.5% ABV

[img] [/img]

McEwan's is best known for 80/-, a Heavy beer,

When William McEwan founded his brewery at Fountainbridge in Edinburgh in 1856, this 80/- (‘eighty shilling’) was one of the first beers he produced. It was the beer of choice for McEwan’s brewery workers and at one time the local pub sold almost nothing else! Its classic full flavour is still much loved at home and abroad.

This traditional Scottish premium ale is also known as ‘Heavy’ and when it comes to taste it certainly packs a powerful punch.

Your round Drac 😆

Colin: That's made my day! 😀

I'm on holiday on Arran, and just polished off a very pleasant Arran Clyde Puffer - their Blonde is also excellent.

The McEwan's 80/- is nice but it's a poor cousin of, er, the other one. Deuchar's? Maybe.

Worth it for the name alone
[img] ?v=1391599594[/img]

It's took a long time for the beer up here to catch up with the amount of decent beers in England, but we're getting there. Both of my local rides now feature a pub that sells schiehallion on draft, awesome stuff.

Your round Drac

Awww you spoilt my fun.

I spent 8 weeks training with Glaswegians when I was 19. They'd properly get wound up when I bought them any bitter saying it was all heavy. Although they all agreed it was the generic term for bitter they liked McEwans 80/- shilling to be called it.

Of course can we trust wiki?

Light
(60/-) was under 3.5% abv
Heavy
(70/-) was between 3.5% and 4.0% abv
Export
(80/-) was between 4.0% and 5.5% abv
Wee heavy
(90/-) was over 6.0% abv

If I could only drink one kind of beer for the rest of my life, from anywhere in the world, it wouldbe Deuchars IPA.
It just does everything a beer needs to do.

This has been given long and serious thought.
A good pint of 80 on tap is pretty close to perfection too though.

Always a fan of Fraoch heather ale. Might be a gimmick, but it tastes lovely to me.

Also, very much agreed with StirlingCrispin. The brewery at BoA is bloody superb. They'll even fill a 4 litre milk jug with a beer of your choice for the home drinking enthusiasts.

Calling Heavy "Bitter"? Now you're cruisin' fer a bruisin'

Unfortunately the older style Scottish Heavy is becoming increasingly difficult to find as todays styles are very hopped. Diggers Heavy was particularly known for being quite sweet and owed much of its popularity to being "drawn" by water cistern pumps resulting in a very creamy, smooth texture.

OP - if you like the style of I&G then you really need to find some Tullibardine 1488.

Calling Heavy "Bitter"? Now you're cruisin' fer a bruisin'

😀

OP - if you like the style of I&G then you really need to find some Tullibardine 1488.

Like the sound of that- it was the oaky whisky aftertaste that really stood out for me with the I & G

StirlingCrispin - Member

http://bridgeofallan.co.uk/

All the best rides finish there!

Erm, you forget The Tappit...

[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]

Eden Mill are just up the road and I do like to bolster the local economy...

[img] [/img]

that Spey Stout is very good. colin treat us with some.
arran blonde is nice, islay finlaggan and saligo is gorgeous.
and all the pales from the cairngorm area are very good.

Gentlemen,
Having been in gods country for 8 months now I can happily impart these words......

Joker

Jarl

That is all.....

Erm, you forget The Tappit...

If you're going to climb to get to a bar you might as well really climb...

[img] [/img]
The Sherrifmuir Inn. Also serves Erdinger, and the trails back to civilisation are hilarious after a couple of pints of that stuff.

Jarl

I might just have to pop out to [s]have a swift pint at the Tappit[/s] meet eldest son from band practice. 😉

Worth it for the name alone

Brilliant.

If I could only drink one kind of beer for the rest of my life, from anywhere in the world, it wouldbe Deuchars IPA.

Seriously? Drink more beer.

The Sherrifmuir Inn. Also serves Erdinger, and the trails back to civilisation are hilarious after a couple of pints of that stuff.

I now have a cunning plan for Friday night, when an old friend visits. 8)

The gathering stone descent would be fun afterwards.

The Strava segment down to Darn walk is called "Erdinger Giggles".
Some bugger stole my KOM by being sober!
I'll email you some map grabs...

mmmmmm, mmmmmmm, mmmm
I might just have to pop out to have a swift pint at the Tappit meet eldest son from band practice.

The Hen still there is it?

Arran Red Squirrel is very nice, only ever seen it on draught though. Oh, and 7 Giraffes is Williams not Harviestoun. Williams stuff has always been a favourite, Fraoch is always a good choice if you want something different.

Thank goodness for the recommendations. Relieves the overriding memory of living in Scotland encapsulated in

This spesh is pisch.......

90 Bob for the big night out!

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

There's a lovely winter ale brewed in the big house at the bottom of Innerleithen. Jacobite I think.

[img] [/img]

Squirrelking - get yourself along to the village inn, they've got schiehallion and pivo estivo on draft, mucho brawness.

Black Isle brewery Red Kite Ale and Yellowhammer are v well constructed beers

I recall Diggers when it was as chicken man - and scotroutes - describes. Happy days.
Deuchars IPA was very very good - though I think production has shifted and general quality is a bit less.

[ @NZCol - see I have had a couple of Black Isle beers - some way back - and don't hold to them very much, just an off taste to me. Was in bottles, and a while ago, so maybe just a duff batch ]

Must dig out the labels for David's Not so Bitter / Sunshine on Keith, too.

...
Todd's Tap. Now *that* was a pub 🙂

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/iN4RngUGUUEn7HCucQ7jDoKbhLBMJPaJZilwXDyhfwI=w544-h965-no [/img]

One of my local beers.

[img] [/img]

You lot would hate this

^^^ That Spey Valley glass is very nice. Will have to add one to my collection at some point!

Squirrelking - get yourself along to the village inn, they've got schiehallion and pivo estivo on draft, mucho brawness.

Can't remember the last time I had a chance! Summer now though so hopefully get a few cheeky pints in on the ride home.

From the north......

[img] [/img]

Heavy has changed completely in the last few years My default used to be McEwan's heavy,or if they had it,a pint of number 3.Now you can't tell the difference between the McEwan's and the generic John smiths pish.

Ahh...Youngers Number 3...takes me back. Haven't had it for years.

[img] [/img]

Now you can't tell the difference between the McEwan's and the generic John smiths pish.

Bleh, Caledonian Best comes to mind.

For proper old man drink though:

[img] [/img]

I find Innis and Gunn original isn't what it used to be. Doesn't taste as fresh or as bitey somehow. Granted the quality is more consistent (every bottle tasted different) but it has lost something. Used to be 7.2 as well if I remember correctly.

Their Scotch Whisky Porter is absolutely lovely, as is the Irish Whiskey Finish. Oh and the Blonde too. Not a fan of the Rum though.

If I could only drink one kind of beer for the rest of my life, from anywhere in the world, it wouldbe Deuchars IPA.

Everyone raves about it in every pub you go into in Edinburgh, I found it bland at best.

Im a big fan of Orkney Beers, although Skull Splitter made me rather poorly once.
This look interesting....
[img] [/img]

After a decent length ride on my local trails, I quite like something a bit more refreshing than a real ale. As much as I didn't like the idea of a JDW opening in town, they offer the following on draft that all do the trick, hard bit is not having one of each!.

Innis and Gunn IPA
Innis and Gunn Lagery stuff
Brewdog this is lager
West St Mungo
Devils backbone IPA

All cold and good. Flame me for the lager, care I do not!.

Loch Fyne ales are probably my favourite - they've a few lovely beers. Surprised they've not had more of a mention.

Loch Fyne Jarl..nomnomnom

I remember trying some Innis and Gunn, I think after seeing a recommendation on here. Thought I'd picked up an alcopop by mistake, it was so sickly sweet - disgusting stuff. And that's the way most Scottish beer used to be. Thankfully, improvements in transport have introduced the hop to Scotland and things are improving.

Anything from Williams Bros. and Loch Fyne breweries.

Also the Lade Inn is a great place to stock up!

[url= http://www.scottishrealales.com/ ]They do online orders!![/url]

without joining in the 'mine's more obscure than yours' malarkey up there...

[img] [/img]

is fantastic and you can drop in and get your Growler filled from the taps in the shop. Thoroughly recommend it if you are passing by Bilston on the A701.

😉

[img] [/img]

In all seriousness, I'm thinking of getting a brewery set up in Dumfriesshire. Watch this space (for 5 years or so...)

Edit: wondered when Stewart's would get a mention!

I remember trying some Innis and Gunn, I think after seeing a recommendation on here. Thought I'd picked up an alcopop by mistake, it was so sickly sweet - disgusting stuff.

Local offi sells the Wlliams Bros stuff. Really nice range. Especially like 'Birds and Bees' and joker IPA. The did a collaboration with Brooklyn Lager. That was interesting!

Ah yeah had that Joker IPA too and liked it - forgot about that.

Unfortunately most Scottish beer is like it's food i.e. poor compared to what you'd get south of the border. Cairngorm, Bitter & Twisted and Deuchers are decent, but most of the rest is just meh or worse. Inns & Gunn is horrific stuff, stay well away.

Ceasar Augustus is probably my favorite of the Williams Bros ones (7 giraffes also very good)
Sheihalllion always hits the spot
Loch Fyne Jarl and Hurricane Jack also excellent
But Black Isle Yellow Hammer is probably my favorite of them all

Atlas Brewery (of Kinlochleven) used to be widely available and did a brilliant beer called Nimbus Blonde but I've not seen it recently

Williams Bros stuff is all good I like their Midnight Sun and Birds n Bees

[img] [/img]
@dragon - pathetic attempt 3/10 you will have to troll harder than that.

@dragon - pathetic attempt 3/10 you will have to troll harder than that.

Did used to be true in a lot of cases IME, and I've travelled around Scotland pretty extensively over the years. Not really the case any more though.

Scottish beer is fantastic these days, some really adventurous brewing going on. Forget brew dog etc

Easily found from the supermarket - Black Isle Brewery Red Kite, their other beers are great too though I'm biased as it is just down the road from where I grew up.

Loch Fyne Jarl is ace and in the supermarket too

Lots of small breweries that you'll probably only easily get up here, my memory fails me but:

http://www.cromartybrewing.co.uk/beer - Red Rocker is a fantastic Rye beer but their others are absolutely superb.

Top Out The Cone IPA - http://www.topoutbrewery.com/

Pilot Brewery - Blond is great but some of their others are really unusual http://pilotbeer.co.uk/?page_id=244

Fallen Dragonfly and Grapevine are fantastic, not tried the others yet http://www.fallenbrewing.co.uk/our-beers/

Also some good ones from http://www.lochnessbrewery.com/#!regularbeers/cwvn

I'm sure there are more I've had but I forget

And if you live in Edinburgh you absolutely need to go here http://www.growlerbeersuk.com/ to take home great beers straight from the keg/cask

Top Out (Brewery) Schmankerl.

Do it

Tempest Brewery in Kelso

Unbelievably good

^^^^ +1 ^^^^

I was just going to say 3 pages and no one has mentioned Tempest Brewery. Disgraceful.

Their Brave New World IPA is seriously good. On par with the likes of Buxtons Axe Edge, Magic Rocks Cannonball, etc, etc.

Interesting, I'm a big fan of Magic Rock Canonball - will have to check out Tempest's beers. Thanks!

+1 for Fallen - probably the best small brewery in Scotland at the moment. Pilot and Cromarty also do great stuff.

Of the slightly bigger players, Tempest and Fyne ales are generally great and don't forget Brewdog.

RichMTB - Atlas went under (or almost) and was bought by the Orkney guys. The brewery in KLL is closed but at least some of their beers appear as "Atlas range" or something like that.

This thread is the like the lidl beer isle! 😆

There's a beer isle? where does the ferry leave from?!!