The Caledonian Brewery – in pictures
It’s easy to look at the British brewing scene through craft-tinted spectacles, claiming that now is the best time there’s ever been. As we romp towards eighty breweries in Scotland, with new arrivals every week, keyboard superheroes* like myself get to make bold proclamations that we are living in the moment; that it doesn’t get […]
Black Isle go Cold Turkey
Back in late 2010, the Government announced they were to raise alcohol duty on all beers over 7.5%abv, ostensibly to tackle ‘problem drinking’. At the same time, they revealed a plan to cut duty on beers brewed at 2.8% or under – to promote lower strength alternatives. I wondered at the time if any of […]
Scotland to get first Belgian-style brewery
Every brewery in Scotland is exciting. I hope we tick a few boxes others have not, and head off in a direction suited to our expertise, passion and the UK drinkers’ palate/interest. The words of Stonehaven-based Robert Lindsay, who is about to launch yet another brewery into the Scottish market. That direction he was talking […]
Armageddon – strongest beer in the world, or not?
Back in September, we previewed the opening of another of Scotland’s new breweries – Brewmeister, who were just about to begin production in the Deeside village of Kincardine O’Neil. Writing introductory posts for start-up brewers is one of the best parts about blogging – there are certainly plenty to record these days (I’ve got two […]
Deuchars – due an abv cut?
It was announced yesterday by Heineken that the abv of John Smith’s Extra Smooth will be decreasing, effective from the 4th of February – from 3.8% to 3.6%. The reports surrounding this statement mention several familiar excuses – high duty, rising costs, the recession. Heineken are quoted in the BBC article as wanting to pass […]
Our brewery of the year – Fyne Ales
By my reckoning, we have just reached the figure of 75 breweries in Scotland (I’m trying to get hold of the rumoured Bangour Brewery in West Lothian to run a feature – if they exist, they’ll be the 75th). That number includes 59 production facilities, 8 brewpubs and another 8 that contract elsewhere to make […]
