REAL ALE SPECIAL
Here’s a run-down of a few of the independent breweries who operate around the Central Belt and whose beers are available at a bar near you now. While by no means exhaustive, it will give you a taster of the
variety of locally made ales on offer.
I Belhaven Brewery Company Limited Dunbar, Lothian. Ol 368 862734. Quite possibly the oldest brewery in Scotland. Belhaven produces a number of core and seasonal cask ales including the recent Jaggy Bunnet. brewed to coincide with summer’s Euro footie shenanigans. Their 8()/- was described by the Emperor of Austria as ‘the Burgundy of Scotland.‘ Nowadays. drinkers say ‘That 80 was well tasty. Another pint please.’ It’s not as eloquent but the sentiment is the same. There’s a shop at the brewery and group tours can be arranged in advance.
I Broughton Ales Limited Broughton. Peebleshire. Set in the rolling hills of the Borders. Broughton Ales brewery looks like a romantic. little cottage industry. but underneath the rustic veneer there’s a serious business. Big enough to brew in volume yet small enough to handcraft each of their beers, Broughton has recently expanded their range to six core beers, each with a character of its own based on local figures from legend and history.
I Caledonian Brewing Company Limited Edinburgh. 0131 337 l286. A legend in Edinburgh. the Caley is perhaps symbolic of the revival in interest in real ale. Poised for closure in l987 then saved by a management buy-out. the Caley has gone on to become one of the big players in the Scottish independents
Deuchar’s IPA or ‘nectar trom Paradise' as we call It round here
scene. Their range of beers is extensive and they keep on picking up awards left, right and centre. If you ever intend tojust try one real ale in your life. go for their Deuchar’s IPA. Tours by arrangement.
I Harviestoun Brewery limited Dollar, Clackmannanshire. In business since [985, Harviestoun are typical of the new breed of micro-breweries springing up. Started by two
enthusiasts, the brewery has grown and expanded, picking up accolades on the way. Special mention for their Schiehallion brew which could possibly be the world’s first cask conditioned lager.
I Heather Ale Limited Glasgow. Bruce Williams is Heather Ale Ltd. He brews two beers: Fraoch Heather Ale and Fraoch Pictish Ale. He brews the beers himself using Maclay’s equipment from, you guessed it. heather. Heather ale comes from an ancient Celtic recipe which Williams revived for the first time in three hundred years.
I Maclay and Company limited Thistle Brewery, Alloa, Clackmannanshire. Another of the Scottish independent big boys, Maclay’s has been around since 1830 and still uses direct-fired coppers to boil the mash in. It’s also the brewery that has, to a certain extent, led the way in promoting Scottish beers in Scottish pubs. Not that English real ales are crap, but it seemed like a good idea to rekindle interest in Scotland’s distinctive brewing styles. Try their Wallace IPA.
I Traquair House Brewery Innerleithen, Peebleshire, 01896 830323. This brewery is set in a wing of Traquair House and uses original and traditional equipment that is over a hundred years old. Brewing at Traquair was revived when the then laird, Peter Maxwell Stuart found the old equipment in a disused part of the House in 1965 and tried his hand at the brewer’s art. Traquair House Ale at a whopping 7.2 per cent ABV plays a welcome part in the proceedings of the annual fair at Traquair House. Seasonal visits by arrangement.
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TRADITIONAL ALES - GOOD FOOD MUSIC AND COMEDY
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AS NQT AVAILABLE HERE WHERE OUR TRADITIONAL ALES ARE ALWAYS
sophisticated these days "
HAND PULLED
MERCHANT CITY - 1055 SAUCHIEHALL STREET 0 1534 POLLOKSIIAWS ROAD 0
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with apologies to Private eye I G L A S G O W G l
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