TOP RATED INDEPENDENT BREWERIES IN SCOTLAND
Scotland’s brewing and distilling sectors play a vital role in the Scottish economy. With many distillers and brewers being based in rural communities it’s not only important for direct jobs but also indirectly through generation of tourism, linkages to agriculture, and wider supply chain impacts.
There has been a rise in breweries in the last few years in Scotland with the growing popularity of craft beer. Many breweries also own bars so they can serve their own range of beers.
FIERCE BREWING (ABERDEEN)
Born from a desire of escaping the oil and gas industry, Fierce would become the end result of a chance meeting of co-founders Dave Grant and Dave McHardy during a brewing course in Sunderland. From this newly formed brewing friendship along with continued positive feedback from many of their homebrews they both decided to put all their focus, drive and passion for beer into starting a brewery.
Nearly six years on since that first commercial brew, Fierce Beer have more than established themselves within the craft beer industry resulting in capacity growing rapidly year on year since those homebrew days. They are now capable of brewing 800,000 litres of beer a year and at last count currently exporting to 15 countries including Europe and Asia.
With a strong focus on producing great, flavour packed beers ranging from traditional pilsners, juicy hop bombs, fruity sensations right through to luscious barrel aged stouts and tart sours Fierce Beer went on to win ‘Breakthrough Brewery’ at their first awards in 2017 and as of 2021 are officially ‘Scottish Brewery of the Year’.
As well on focussing on releasing the best beers we can we’ve also been able to collaborate and release brews with some of the best breweries in the world such as Amundsen, Dugges, Devils Peak, Verdant, Tiny Rebel, North, Thornbridge and Track, BBNO.
We’ve also now opened bars in two of our favourite cities in the UK – In the Scottish capital we have Fierce Bar Edinburgh on Rose Street and also our newest bar Fierce Bar Manchester located on Thomas Street, Manchester in the Northern Quarter. If you’re in either of these cities be sure to pop in past and get looked after by our amazing teams.
FYNE ALES (ARGYL)
Founded in 2001, the aim was to bring prosperity – jobs, industry and tourism – to the quiet, isolated corner of Scotland that their founders’ call home. As a proud modern, rural farm brewery they use their stunning, rustic Argyll estate not only for sustainable farming, but as a base for producing the highest quality progressive beers that are enjoyed all over the world.
In 2012 despite running their small brewery at maximum capacity of nine brews per week the team was unable to keep up with the demand for their beers. With a growing feeling that expanding was important for long term success they began work on a second brewery in 2013.
The brewer was founded by John and Tuggy Noble on what was Tuggy’s family land with the first recipe, a traditional full blooded amber called Highlander was brewed on St Andrews day 2001
EDINBURGH BEER FACTORY (EDINBURGH)
This family run, independent brewery launched in 2015 by the Dunsmore family with the aim of making people think about beer again.
Paolozzi Lager has won UK’s Best Helles Lager in the World Beer Awards 4 years in a row (2016-2019), whilst Paolozzi Unfiltered won Silver in 2021, and Untitled IPA won Silver in UK’s Best English Style IPA (2021).
DRYGATE BREWING CO (GLASGOW)
Drygate Brewing Co has been brewing beer in the historic heart of Glasgow since 2014. They work with idea of open doors and open minds, believing good beer and good food should be accessible to everyone. Collaboration with the community is at the core of what they do; showcasing creators of beer, food, art, design, music, comedy, poetry and more.
Housed in a converted box factory under the distinctive seven peaks of the roof, their building reflects Glasgow’s industrial past while the experiential brewery inside invites visitors on a journey of brewing and discovery.
Housed at 85 Drygate which was built in 1964, originally as a box assembly and screen printing factory using brick, steel and concrete. The design concentrates on existing eccentricities of the building, bearing traces of all its previous incarnations: box factory, printworks, bottling plant and storage unit.
The original structure and details of the building have been preserved including the restoration of the original seven peaks of the sawtooth roof, exposed brick walls displayed behind newly installed panes of glass and the preservation of paint marks on the concrete floor, celebrating traces of the building’s functional heritage.
Drygate Brewing Co has been brewing beer in the historic heart of Glasgow since 2014. They work with idea of open doors and open minds, believing good beer and good food should be accessible to everyone. Collaboration with the community is at the core of what they do; showcasing creators of beer, food, art, design, music, comedy, poetry and more.
Housed in a converted box factory under the distinctive seven peaks of the roof, their building reflects Glasgow’s industrial past while the experiential brewery inside invites visitors on a journey of brewing and discovery.
Housed at 85 Drygate which was built in 1964, originally as a box assembly and screen printing factory using brick, steel and concrete. The design concentrates on existing eccentricities of the building, bearing traces of all its previous incarnations: box factory, printworks, bottling plant and storage unit.
The original structure and details of the building have been preserved including the restoration of the original seven peaks of the sawtooth roof, exposed brick walls displayed behind newly installed panes of glass and the preservation of paint marks on the concrete floor, celebrating traces of the building’s functional heritage.
CAIRNGORM BREWERY (AVIEMORE)
This craft brewery opened in 2001 within the Cairngorms national park in the Highlands. They have 20 barrel brewhouse capable of producing 6500 litres of ale each day. Their full range includes several permanent and seasonal cask beers to suit all tastes throughout the years.
This diverse selection can also feature a light continental style beer or a Scottish milk stout which come in both keg and bottle. The team aims to only use the finest ingredients to craft their beer with clear water from Cairngorm Mountains.
They have accumulated a number of accolades over the years winning Champion Beer of Scotland in 2016 and 2017
LOCH LOMOND BREWERY (DUMBARTON)
This brewery started life in 2011 in a kitchen in Luss on the shores of Loch Lomond as a family had a desire to brew beer and create a business that would allow the whole family to get involved.
Now brewing from a state of the art 35hl brewery in 12,000 sq feet of space near Dumbarton and canning in-house where they continue to produce an ever evolving beer range where there is certainly something for everyone.
Their core range includes several IPAs and pale ales with different fruit flavours available in can or keg. Having brewed a number of award winning beers including CAMRA Champion Beer of Scotland in 2017 and SIBA Supreme Cask Champion of the UK in 2016.
VAULT CITY BREWING (EDINBURGH)
Founded in 2018 this brewery is famous for creating modern and innovative sour beers with flavours including Iron Brew, Cloudy Lemonade and Rhubarb and Custard.
They recently made a deal to have their products made available in more than 600 Tesco stores across the country.
As well as the brewery they also operate the tasting room and bottle shop The Wee Vault in Haymarket. It includes custom-built 24 tap set-up serving modern sour beers and a full food menu. They’re set to open their latest bar in Portobello High Street after a successful crowd funding campaign.
ISLE OF SKYE BREWING COMPANY (SKYE)
As one of only eleven island breweries from Scotland, the Isle of Skye Brewing started after a conversation in a pub one night in 1992. A conversation about how a good brewery would help the lack of quality beer.
They won their first of over 60 awards in 1997 with CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Champion Beer of Scotland. This recognition helped them when they went full time in 1998.
The team of 3 Brewers use only the most authentic ingredients in their ales.
That even means milling their own grains giving them complete control over flavour and freshness and when an ale calls for a little extra bitterness, they simply hand-pick local berries and plants.
Their website has a range of Skye Ales with info about the origin of their names and recommendations of what food goes with the Ale. After three years of development they’ve launched their first artisan gin, Skye Gin.
OVERTONE BREWING CO (GLASGOW)
Brewing since 2018, Overtone has quickly established themselves across Scotland by encouraging a new thirst for New England style IPAs. Despite new releases every week, they’ve maintained a high standard and consistency that’s got the craft beer scene talking.
From experimental hop combinations to exciting fruited sour blends, Overtone is showing no signs of slowing down. Overtones take inspiration from the culture of music with the aims to bring people together and make memories through the enjoyment of beer.
The head brewer Dan Miller, all the way from New Hampshire, brings with him knowledge of American style beers. This has allowed Overtone to consistently produce award winning New England IPAs loved by craft beer fans nationwide. Charlie, the assistant brewer, also comes with an array of talents, previously brewing for a local Scottish brewery and being an avid home brewer.
Brewing since 2018, Overtone has quickly established themselves across Scotland by encouraging a new thirst for New England style IPAs. Despite new releases every week, they’ve maintained a high standard and consistency that’s got the craft beer scene talking.
From experimental hop combinations to exciting fruited sour blends, Overtone is showing no signs of slowing down. Overtones take inspiration from the culture of music with the aims to bring people together and make memories through the enjoyment of beer.
The head brewer Dan Miller, all the way from New Hampshire, brings with him knowledge of American style beers. This has allowed Overtone to consistently produce award winning New England IPAs loved by craft beer fans nationwide. Charlie, the assistant brewer, also comes with an array of talents, previously brewing for a local Scottish brewery and being an avid home brewer.
Brewing since 2018, Overtone has quickly established themselves across Scotland by encouraging a new thirst for New England style IPAs. Despite new releases every week, they’ve maintained a high standard and consistency that’s got the craft beer scene talking.
From experimental hop combinations to exciting fruited sour blends, Overtone is showing no signs of slowing down. Overtones take inspiration from the culture of music with the aims to bring people together and make memories through the enjoyment of beer.
The head brewer Dan Miller, all the way from New Hampshire, brings with him knowledge of American style beers. This has allowed Overtone to consistently produce award winning New England IPAs loved by craft beer fans nationwide. Charlie, the assistant brewer, also comes with an array of talents, previously brewing for a local Scottish brewery and being an avid home brewer.
BLACK ISLE BREWING (MUNLOCHY)
From brewing in a cart shed in 1998 to building a new brewery ten years later, Black Isle has always been about making world class organic beer. This is because they love great beer, and looked to make a statement that it can be done using naturally grown barley and hops, supporting organic farmers and growers who also care for the environment.
On their small 130 acre farm they have worked to increase biodiversity, planting over 7000 native broadleaf trees, reinstating hedgerows, digging new ponds and creating wetlands. They were pioneers in organic brewing and still lead the field with the most diverse range of organic beers.
