Beers from Scotland
Scotland has a long and proud brewing tradition that dates back centuries, producing some of the world’s most iconic beer styles. Known for its malt-forward brews, Scottish beer offers a broad spectrum of flavours, from light and refreshing pale ales to rich, robust ales with complex malty sweetness. In recent years, Scotland has also seen a flourishing craft beer scene, with new breweries experimenting with both traditional recipes and modern styles such as IPAs and stouts. Whether you’re a fan of classic ales or modern craft brews, Scottish beers have something for every palate.
Types of Scottish Beers
Scottish Ales
Scottish ales are malt-heavy beers with a focus on deep, rich flavours. These ales are brewed at relatively low temperatures, which allows the malt to dominate the flavour profile, resulting in a smooth, sweet beer with minimal bitterness.
80 Shilling (80/-): One of the most famous styles, 80 Shilling, also known as Export Ale, is a medium-bodied beer with caramel and toffee notes, balanced by a slight roastiness. It has a moderate ABV, usually between 4.5% and 5.5%, making it a well-rounded beer with a satisfying malty depth.
60 Shilling (60/-): Lighter and more sessionable, 60 Shilling is a lower-alcohol beer that is malty but with a lighter body. It has a gentle sweetness and low bitterness, making it an easy-drinking ale.
Scotch Ale (Wee Heavy)
Scotch ale, also known as Wee Heavy, is a stronger version of Scottish ale, with an ABV typically ranging from 6% to 8%. This beer is dark and malty, with rich caramel, toffee, and sometimes smoky flavours. It has a full body and a warming finish, making it ideal for sipping during colder months.
Belhaven Wee Heavy: A classic example of the style, this beer offers bold malt flavours of caramel, dried fruit, and a touch of smokiness. It’s full-bodied and slightly sweet, with a long, smooth finish.
Traquair House Ale: Brewed at one of Scotland’s oldest breweries, this Scotch ale has a deep, rich flavour with notes of dark fruits, caramel, and a subtle hint of oak.
Pale Ales and IPAs
While malt is a dominant theme in Scottish brewing, pale ales and IPAs have gained popularity with the rise of the craft beer movement. These beers are often more hop-forward, with bright citrus, pine, and floral aromas.
Innis & Gunn Original: A unique pale ale aged in oak barrels, Innis & Gunn Original has a smooth and slightly sweet flavour, with hints of vanilla, toffee, and oak. It’s a complex beer with a rich, malty base and a light hop bitterness.
BrewDog Punk IPA: One of Scotland’s most famous modern beers, BrewDog Punk IPA is a hop-forward beer with bold tropical fruit flavours, including pineapple, mango, and citrus. It has a well-balanced bitterness, making it refreshing and flavourful.
Stouts and Porters
Scottish brewers have also produced excellent stouts and porters, offering rich, roasted flavours with notes of coffee, chocolate, and dark fruits.
Black Isle Organic Porter: This organic porter is brewed using sustainable ingredients and offers smooth, roasted flavours with hints of coffee, chocolate, and a slightly smoky finish.
Harviestoun Old Engine Oil: A rich and full-bodied stout, Old Engine Oil is known for its velvety texture and flavours of dark chocolate, espresso, and roasted malt. It has a slight sweetness balanced by a robust bitterness.
Flavours of Scottish Beers
Malty and Sweet
Scottish ales, particularly 80 Shilling and Scotch ales, are known for their malt-forward flavour profiles. These beers offer a combination of caramel, toffee, and biscuit-like sweetness, often with a slight roasted or smoky undertone. The emphasis on malt over hops results in a smoother, sweeter beer with low bitterness.
Bold and Robust
Scotch ales and stouts from Scotland are often full-bodied and rich in flavour, with strong notes of caramel, dark fruit, chocolate, and roasted malt. These beers can have a warming alcohol presence, especially in higher ABV styles like Wee Heavy.
Hoppy and Refreshing
While hops are less prominent in traditional Scottish ales, the craft beer movement has brought hop-forward beers into the limelight. Beers like BrewDog Punk IPA and Innis & Gunn pale ales feature bright, refreshing flavours of citrus, tropical fruits, and pine, balanced by a malty backbone.
Popular Scottish Beers Available in the UK
Many of Scotland’s iconic beers are widely available across the UK, making it easy for beer enthusiasts to enjoy them. Belhaven offers a range of traditional ales, including their 80 Shilling and Wee Heavy. Innis & Gunn beers, known for their barrel-aged characteristics, are popular across the UK, as are modern craft beers from BrewDog, such as Punk IPA and Elvis Juice. For those looking for rich, malty stouts, Harviestoun Old Engine Oil and Black Isle Porter are excellent choices that can be found in supermarkets and specialty beer shops.
Conclusion
Scottish beers offer a diverse range of flavours and styles, with a strong emphasis on malt-forward ales that provide rich, sweet, and complex profiles. From the traditional 80 Shilling and Scotch ales to the bold and experimental brews of Scotland’s craft beer scene, there’s something for every beer lover to enjoy. Whether you’re after the deep, robust flavours of a Wee Heavy or the hoppy brightness of a modern IPA, Scottish beers continue to impress both locally and internationally. Many of these brews are readily available in the UK, allowing beer enthusiasts to explore Scotland’s rich brewing heritage from the comfort of their own home.
