Highland Brewing Company, Birsay, Orkney
01856 721700
www.highlandbrewingcompany.co.uk The Highland Brewery has taken the champion beer of Scotland crown at the Scottish Real Ale Festival f
or the past two years with their Dark Munro and this year Scapa Special. Orkney Blast is the strongest ale in the brewery’s range and although it may be classed as a strong bitter, it is just as easily drinkable as a session ale of half the strength.
2 YELLOWHAMMER (ABV 4 per cent) Black Isle Brewery, Munlochy, Ross-shire
01463 811871
www.blackislebrewery.com A refreshing hoppy golden ale brewed in the heart of the Highlands. All of the Black Isle Brewery’s beers have Soil Association Certification. Yellowhammer and the full range of ales can be found in bottle form every Saturday at the Edinburgh Farmers’ Market. Also have a look-out for their Jack Russell.
3 PRIEST’S WHEEL (ABV 4.3 per cent) Windie Goat Brewery, Failford Inn, South Ayrshire
01292 540117
www.windiegoatbrewery.co.uk An amber best bitter using three different varieties of American hops. The brewery is named after an area of local woodland, with the beer names derived from fishing pools on the River Ayr. The Failford Inn, home of the Windie Goat Brewery, was voted Scottish pub of the year by Camra in 2006.
4 TRADEWINDS (ABV 4.3 per cent) Cairngorm Brewery Company Ltd, Aviemore
01479 812222
www.cairngormbrewery.com A past champion beer of Scotland (back in 2004) and this year’s SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) UK Champion Best Bitter at the 2008 national beer competition. This speciality ale has massive citrus fruits and hops to taste and elderflower on the nose. The brewery shop is well worth a visit if passing through Aviemore.
5 SEVEN GIRAFFES (ABV 5.1 per cent) Williams Brothers Brewing Company, Kelliebank, Alloa, Clackmannanshire
01259 725511
www.heatherale.co.uk From the brewery that also brought us Fraoch Heather Ale, this speciality golden ale has a strong malt taste and again is another ale with a refreshing hop and elderflower overtone. The bottled version of this beer was the winner of a major supermarket chain’s best bottled beer in 2007.
• David Quate is a member of Camra (the Campaign for Real Ale), Edinburgh & south-east Scotland branch.
www.camra.org.ukThe full article contains 401 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
