



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. Not only because they love great beer, but 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 7,000 native broadleaf trees, reinstating hedgerows, digging new ponds and creating wetlands.
They were pioneers in organic brewing and still lead the field with what they believe to be one of the most diverse range of organic beers anywhere in the world.
Black Isle Brewery now have 2 bars in Inverness and Fort William and are looking to add more in the future.
BLACK ISLE BREWING CO FOUNDED: Type Beer ABV Size Coupler Style Price
You can also enjoy the Black Isle life with a stay in either their 4-bed boutique hostel, en-suite rooms above the bars, a self-catering flat, and the most fabulous Shepherd’s hut hand built with dead trees from the farm!
Black Isle have one goal - for customers to drink delicious fresh organic beer while at the same time supporting organic growers and producers and the rich biologically diverse and beautiful world we live in.
We’ll drink to that!
FOUNDED BY:
ORIGIN: Edinburgh, Scotland
BRULO launched with a simple promise, to only make beer that they love. It’s all about taste, quality and creativity.
Using the finest ingredients, innovative yeast cultures and modern brewing techniques to create beers that are always alcohol free, vegan and never compromise on taste.
They’re on a mission to shake up the dull and tasteless alcohol free beer of the past.
As a new and independent brewery BRULO are free to experiment, push the boundaries, and that’s exactly what they do. With new unique offerings available each year, they pride themselves on the diversity and range of beer that they produce.
BRULO’s small but mighty team has continued to grow as has the demand for quality alcohol free beers.
Win, win all round!
FOUNDED: 2019
CAN Lust for Life 0.00% 24x330ml Alc Free DDH IPA £39.50
CAN 5 Fruit Gose 0.00% 24x330ml Alc Free Fruit Gose £39.00
CAN Centennial IPA 0.00% 24x330ml Alc Free IPA £39.00
CAN Sabro Galaxy DDH IPA 0.00% 24x330ml Alc Free DDH IPA £39.50
CAN Mango Guava IPA 0.00% 24x440ml Alc Free Fruit IPA - Mango Guava £46.00
KEG Lust for Life 0.00% 30L S Type Alc Free DDH IPA £99.00
KEG Mango Guava IPA 0.00% 30L S Type Alc Free Fruit IPA - Mango, Guava £91.50
Founded in Spring 2019 by James Brown with the desire to create quality, hop forward alcohol free craft beer for the modern world.
SIX°NORTH have been producing modern, artisanal beers in north east Scotland since 2013. In their formative years the direction and output of the brewery was largely influenced by Belgian beer culture + tradition. They now offer a broad range of styles to suit all tastes and palates; producing a core range of beers which is complimented by seasonal releases throughout the year.
ORIGIN:
Stonehaven, Scotland
FOUNDED: 2013
SIX°NORTH also own and operate bars in Stonehaven, Aberdeen and Dundee with each offering a wide selection of SIX°NORTH beers and locally sourced food, along with an excellent customer experience.
Road trip anyone?
Contrary to popular myth, Campervan did not start brewing IN a Campervan. More that it is the metaphor for a different type of life in which control
and direction are entirely flexible Since 2017 they’ve opened a taproom, a bar, an excellent core range, and some serious barrel aged beers.
Gordon Mackenzie and Emma McIntosh decided in 2019 that they wanted to be nearer their families in Scotland. They pre sold the first batches, brewed
for them at The Kernel, and the rest is history. Their residence in Edinburgh has helped raise the profile of superb Scottish beer in the English market.
Founded by Pat and Matt in 2012, Leith’s OG’s are still going strong with a variable smorgasbord of styles. Ahead of their time, they’ve created
a space in to which many have followed. If Leith is the Capital of the Scottish beer scene, then it was Pilot that kicked it all off.
For the past decade we’ve insisted that Rob Hill is the best brewer in Scotland. And now his son Lewis has the task of continuing that legacy.
Originally Highland Brewing Co, they renamed themselves after the breweries home. Orkney Best, Orkney IPA and Orkney Porter are now legendary.
ANSPACH & HOBDAY
BY:
ORIGIN: London, England
Beginning their journey in Bermondsey in 2013, Anspach & Hobday were originally located in the arches of the Bermondsey beer mile. In March 2020 they expanded and moved the majority of their production to their new site in Croydon, allowing them to make three times the amount of beer.
FOUNDED: 2013
One such beer is London Black. Described in their own words as “The true craft alternative to Big Beer Macro Stouts.”
London Black is a session strength Nitro Porter that takes inspiration from their flagship beer, The Porter. Creamy, smooth and truly sessionable.
The beer brings together the rich history and heritage of London Porters, with the modern techniques of brewing nitro beers. The result is a beer that is easy drinking, without sacrificing its character.
Starting out as a brewpub at the Old Tavern in Stapleton, before swiftly outgrowing that site and finding their own industrial unit.
They’re unique among other modern brewers as they pay full respect to the pint format, with their big 568ml cans, making them immediately stand out on the shelf.
With names like Faked Alaska, Why Kick a Moo Cow, and Massive Azacc, there’s clearly an edge of comic genius working behind the scenes too.
ARBOR ALES
ORIGIN: Bristol, England
FOUNDED:
2007
One of the most long established names of UK craft brewing, Arbor have been brewing in Bristol since 2007.
FOUNDED BY:
Theo FreyneORIGIN: Cheltenham, England
From humble beginnings (a home brew kit) to a commercial unit and on-site tap room, DEYA have come a long way since it was founded in 2015.
Freshness and clarity of flavour and aroma are the key parameters to their beers and focus throughout the brewing process.
FOUNDED: 2015
DEYA’s beers are naturally hazy as a result of recipe and process decisions.
Steady Rolling Man was the first ale ever brewed. A pale ale inspired by tasty hoppy beers, DEYA got brewing their own versions while listening to the blues greats.
Incredibly soft and delicate with intense tropical fruit hop aromatics and saturation, this is their vision of the perfect pale ale.
DEYA beers are carefully considered and the result of thoughtful attention to detail...
Hogan’s Cider
For thirty years or so, Allen Hogan harvested local cider apples and made them into cider, inspired by neighbour and early eco-warrior John Stewart.
Those early Warwickshire tipples were the taste of springtime, with the first barrel opening a magical event shared between the two.
Until Allen decided to share it with the world, too.
A stall at Stratford farmers market beckoned, where people gave Allen real hard cash for real, hard cider.
Stuff made the traditional, English way. Moreish, delicious and quenching.
He’s come a long way from that farmers market, but the philosophy remains the same. Proper ciders and perrys, full of flavour. Winning awards all over. So we’re glad Allen didn’t keep it all in his kitchen.
Origin: Warwickshire,England
Founded: 1985
You’d be surprised by the number of UK craft brewers who cite a Kernel beer as their ‘lightbulb’ moment. Until you try one.
The brewery has forged an enviable reputation as one of the founding fathers of London’s progressive brewing scene, setting up shop in Bermondsey in 2010, when the area was just taking off as a pilgrimage destination for beer fans.
It’s no small claim, but so much of what makes British craft beer an internationally unique proposition came from that small Bermondsey outpost, from the uncompromising, upfront hops, to the utilitarian design that adorns the brewery’s brown paper labels. Hoppy American brews sit alongside sours and stouts, all brewed with the same attitude and attention to detail.
Quiet until you try it.
After all, in 1997, when brewing their own beer was still but a glint in the bottom of their schooner, John Gyngell and Christian Townsley laid claim to pioneering Britain’s first craft beer bar on Upper Briggate, Leeds.
The place quickly became an Yorkshire institution, stocking and influencing a new wave of UK craft breweries. But all the while they harboured their own brewing plans.
In 2015, after twenty years of sourcing and serving, they finally made it happen with a 15bbl brewery and 200-person capacity tap-room just half a mile from the flagship bar. A core range, multiple collaborations and whole host of awards later, they’ve not looked back.
And how good is the beer? Well, let’s put it this way: it’s good enough to be stocked by the original North Bar. In craft beer terms, that’s all you need to know. What more, we’re such good pals, that they’ve only gone and made a beer just for us. Atlantis is a 4.1% pale ale, made to be smashable and full of fruity aromatic hops.
NORTH BREWING CO.
ORIGIN: Leeds, England
ONLY AVAILABLE FROM US!
This is a brewery that comes with serious craft brewing chops.
Northern Monk
Origin:
Leeds, England
The idea behind Northern Monk was to create a brewery that would be a union between the traditional monastic brewing practices of ancient Yorkshire, and a modern, progressive approach towards ingredients and techniques. And have it all rooted it all in the spiritual heart of the industrial revolution (which is also known as Holbeck).
With a core range that specialises in IPAs, Northern Monk also boasts a refectory bar at the Holbeck brewery site where people can sample from 16 keg lines, two cask lines, and fridges stuffed with fresh cans.
Northern Monk might not have the history of North Brewing Co., but it’s just as rooted in the heritage of Leeds - and building a reputation for seriously impressive craft beer.
The Thornbridge story began back in 2005 when the founders Jim Harrison and Simon Webster recruited two young brewers to brew on a second hand 10-barrel kit in the grounds of Thornbridge Hall.
In 2009 the brewery moved to a brand new state of the art brewery, built at Riverside, Bakewell. Brewing still takes place today on the original kit beside the Taproom at Riverside, which allows them to experiment with new brews, create bespoke Hall brews and collaborations.
Export of Thornbridge beer was initially to Italy but is now to over 35 countries worldwide including their most recent addition of Brazil!
The brewery further expanded with a new canning line in 2019. And despite Covid pushed ahead with a brand new Taproom including an extensive bar and pizza kitchen, plus a retail shop whilst hosting gigs and The Thornbridge Experience. What an achievement to raise your glass to!
THORNBRIDGE BREWERY
FOUNDED BY: Jim Harrison & Simon Webster
ORIGIN: Bakewell, England
FOUNDED: 2005
The Thornbridge story began in 2005 and since then, they’ve won over 350 industry recognised awards for our boundary pushing craft beer.
Tiny Rebel
Origin: Newport, South Wales
FOUNDED: 2012
Tiny Rebel are on a mission... To bring you good times with a hint of beer.
This award-winning brewery from Newport, South Wales was set up by 2 friends in 2012.
They are the youngest and only Welsh brewery to win Champion beer of Britain and the only brewery to have won gold, silver and bronze in the Champion Beer of Wales competition - in their first year!
They were also awarded SIBA Brewery Business of the Year and International Beer Challenge UK Brewer of the Year in 2016.
But if you ask them who Tiny Rebel are, they’d said they’re “really, just fans of super tasty beer.”
CAN Clwb Tropica Non Alc 0.50% 24x330ml Alcohol Free Fruity Pale £29.50
CAN Easy Livin’
4.30% 24x330ml Session IPA £35.50
CAN Electric Boogaloo 4.50% 24x330ml Fruity Pale - Passionfruit £40.00
CAN Clwb Tropica
5.50% 24x330ml Fruity Pale - Tropical £40.00
CAN Pump up the Jam 5.00% 24x330ml Fruity Pale - Raspberry £44.50
CAN Stay Puft
KEG Easy Livin’
5.20% 24x330ml Marshmallow Porter £40.00
4.30% 30L S Type Session IPA £99.70
KEG Electric Boogaloo 4.50% 30L S Type Fruit Pale - Passionfruit £112.80
KEG Clwb Tropica
5.00% 30L S Type Fruit Pale - Tropical £115.00
Tynt Meadow
Trappist brewing is a closely guarded and exclusive club. One that’s home to only 12 members, each producing some of the world’s finest beer using methods and practices which stand the test of time. ‘New’ isn’t really what Trappist brewing is all about. And it’s all the better for it.
So when the Cistercian monks of Mount Saint Bernard Abbey in Loughborough set aside a living of dairy farming to start brewing, it was bound to cause a bit of a stir. The first ever Trappist brewery in the UK. The exclusive club of 12 became 13.
And what a beer to enrich the Trappist roster.
Rather than mirror their continental cousins, the brothers have brewed an ale imbued with English sensibility.
A critically acclaimed bottle distilled with the techniques and ingredients of nearby Burton-on-Trent as much as Brasserie de Rochefort. Tynt Meadow, named for the field in which the Abbey was founded two centuries ago. Pure bottled history.
Origin: Leicestershire, England
Founded: 2018
VERDANT BREWING CO.
ORIGIN:
Penryn, England
Adam and James were homebrewers who loved hop-forward beers. They weren’t easy to find locally so in 2014 they started Verdant to make their own. Rich joined in 2016.
With a little help from other craft brewers and friends, out poured juicy, hoppy, unfiltered hazy Pales, IPAs and DIPAs, and the brewery thrived thanks to like-minded drinkers everywhere.
FOUNDED: 2014
Being independent enables Verdant to stay ethical, sustainable, and keep pushing the boundaries of taste and quality.
The brewery that changed the scene. Beavertown turned up with some super cool artwork, 330ml cans and the son of a genuine rock star.
Part sold to Heineken in 2018, the Dutch giants completed the sale in 2022 and Beavertown are now one of the biggest beer brands in the UK.
The first Camden beer we bought, was in cask… Way back in 2012. In 2013 Camden made one of the best barrel aged fruit beers the UK has ever produced,
King Crimson, and then they were making colossal amounts of lager. Sold to ABI in 2015, they built a new brewery in 2017 which was 100k sq ft.
Founded by Simon Wright in London as an urban cidery, Hawkes started life on the famous Bermondsey Mile. A majority stake was bought in 2018 by a small
and barely heard of company called ‘BrewDog’. Cider making has returned back to London after a period of being made at BrewDog’s site in Ellon.
Made in Bavaria Germany, by a 400 year old brewery, Lucky Saint is both new and non conformist, and yet steeped in history.
An unfiltered Bavarian lager, with less booze than a fermented banana. Now the UK’s biggest selling independent alcohol free beer brand.
Siren have been the most dedicated to ‘craft beer’ over the past decade.
Brewer Ryan Witter came with a black book of brewing pals and Siren took
to the scene with the Rainbow Project, Project Barista, and an entire series of biscuit beers. Recently they’ve been working to replicate iconic beers.
AUGUSTINER BRAU
ORIGIN: Munich, Germany
1328. The year the Augustiner monks first began brewing beer at their monastery, near Munich. An occupation designed to keep their hands busy, their minds on prayer, and their thirst quenched. And to raise a few coins for the coffers at the same time.
It stayed that way for nearly 500 years, with the result of their efforts sold at the monastery tavern in the city - much to the delight of the locals, who developed quite a taste for the revered beer that flowed from Augustiner’s barrels.
During the 1800s, the brewery had passed into private hands, but that same number still marked each bottle. A reminder of Augustiner’s heritage and history. It’s a tradition that has seen the brewery well into the modern era too, with substantial investment, and an expanded, contemporary brewhouse that’s made Augustiner a bastion of Munich beer culture.
Whether it’s the Lager Hell, the classic Pils, or the celebratory Oktoberfest brew created for the festival each year, an Augustiner beer is an exercise in quality and tradition. So here’s to the next 500 years.
FOUNDED: 1328
There’s a number adorning every bottle of Augustiner.
Bavarian culture doesn’t just emphasise great beer, but celebrates ideals worth striving for. Produced in the picturesque Alpine town of Ayinger, their regional beer styles are the ‘cement’ that binds the community together, helping build deep roots and forge lasting connections. Something we could all do with a bit more of these days.
Traditional-style recipes such as Lager Hell, and unfiltered Kellerbier sit alongside celebrated cult classic Ayinger Celebrator, an award winning, hearty Doppelbock.
Only one in ten Ayinger beers make it out of Germany, making a dark brown bottle of Urweisse or Maibock found lurking behind the bar a prize worth coveting.
FOUNDED BY: Johann
ORIGIN: Aying, Germany
FOUNDED: 1877
In a nation renowned for brewing excellence, Ayinger are one of Germany’s benchmarks. Owned and operated by the same family since 1877, they’re a prime example of the small, industrious brewing enterprise that makes Bavarian beer a touchstone for quality worldwide.
FLENSBURGER BRAUEREI
FOUNDED BY:
ORIGIN: Flensburg, Germany
These are the directions given for visitors looking to reach Flensburger Brauerei.
As Germany’s most northerly brewery, Flensburger are closer to Copenhagen’s innovative beer scene than they are to the beer halls of Munich and Germany’s brewing heartland. The brewery even draws water from a well that’s fed by an Ice Age spring flowing from Scandinavia. Their coastal-grown barley is buffeted by Baltic winds, not Bavarian breezes.
FOUNDED: 1888
But they still brew German classics, like the crisp, hoppy Flensburger Pilsner, or the elegant, floral Flensburger Gold, all sealed with a flip-top stopper which give the beers their famous ‘Plop!’.
A sound, an advertising slogan, and a local nickname for Flensburger themselves.
An outward-looking, maritime spirit infects everything Flensburger does. The brewery’s brand mark features a ship in full sail, setting out to discover the world. Well the world has already discovered Flensburger’s beers, and they can’t stop the ‘Plop!’
BTL Flensburger Gold 4.80% 24x330 Pilsner £36.80
BTL Flensburger Pilsner 4.80% 24x330ml Dortmunder Export £36.80
CAN Alkoholfrei Radler 0.00% 24x330ml Alc Free Lemon Radler £21.00
CAN Pilsner
KEG Lager
4.80% 24x500ml Pilsner £38.50
4.00% 50L A Type House Lager £142.00
Petersen + Dethleffsen Families Type Beer ABV Size Coupler Style PriceIn a city famed for the style, Früh are considered one of the key players, and their brewerrun bars are some of the most atmospheric places to soak up the region’s drinking culture.
Waiters weave their way through packed benches, carrying trays of beers with which they replace any empty glass they see, unprompted. A beermat on top of the glass is the sign of satisfaction that stops the flow. Even the glassware is unique.
Referred to as a ‘Stange’, it’s an elegant, straight-sided vessel which holds an unusual 200ml measure.
As for the beer itself? Kölsch has more subtlety and complexity than a pilsner, without some of the bitter notes and a softer carbonation, which makes for a refreshing, light golden ale.
Keep those beer mats firmly on the table, and keep the Früh Kölsch coming.
FRÜH KÖLSCHFOUNDED BY:
Peter Joseph FrühORIGIN: Cologne, Germany
FOUNDED: 1904
Früh brew a style distinct to Cologne, the Deliciously drinkable kölsch, a clear and crisp beer similar to lager, but with nuanced brewing methods protected by the weighty-sounding Kölsch-Konvention, a historic agreement between brewers in the city that ensures quality and consistency.
HOFBRÄU
FOUNDED BY:
ORIGIN: Munich, Germany
Hofbräu began life as the brewery to the nearby royal residence, and Wilhelm’s son, Duke Maximilian I, gave Hofbräu a helping hand by granting them a monopoly on the production of wheat beer, a style he himself favoured over darker brews.
A couple of decades later, the invading army of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden were all set to burn the place down, but for the gift of some 600,000 barrels of Hofbräuhaus beer and a few hostages. And that only takes us to 1632.
Cut to the mid 20th century, when American GIs returning from service in Munich brought with them iconic mugs emblazoned with the brewery’s ‘HB’ initials, quickly making the Hofbräuhaus Munich’s top tourist attraction, and fuelling demand for beers, bars, and paraphernalia all over Europe.
These days, Hofbräu is part owned by the Bavarian government, making them one of only two breweries in Munich to escape global brewery ownership. A passionate declaration of loyalty by the enterprise most responsible for exporting Bavarian culture the world over.
FOUNDED: 1589
Hofbräu has a lot of history. A big, Bavarian bucket of the stuff, accumulated over the last 400 years (and counting). Originally founded by Wilhelm V, Duke of Bavaria in 1589, the brewery’s original home is now one of Munich’s oldest beer halls.
SCHNEIDER WEISSE
When it comes to wheat beer, there is no brewery more significant than Schneider Weisse. Still owned and managed by the Schneider family, they enjoy a rare combination of historical importance and progressive ‘craft’ credentials considered practically heretical by Bavarian traditionalists.
Georg Schneider I ORIGIN: Munich,
Old and new in one pint glass.
ORIGIN: Mainz, Germany
It’s a world first, and thanks to those fruity flavours and a low ABV it’s become a favourite with everyone from cocktail mixologists to the kind of bars that keep hip rooftop parties well lubricated all summer long.
But don’t mistake Schöfferhofer for one hit wonders.
They’ve been singing the praises of wheat beer since 1978, when the original Schöfferhofer Hefeweizen was produced in its traditional, unfiltered form.
It’s all brewed in Mainz at Binding Brewery, started by Conrad Binding in 1870.
It’s unlikely old Conrad ever thought about blending 19th century wheat beer with grapefruit juice.
To be honest, it’s unlikely he ever saw one of the little pink treats. But regardless, Schöfferhofer Grapefruit is a beer he’d surely have been proud of.
Schöfferhofer. It’s definitely a tongue twister. And it’s a beer - stick with it - that’s designed to twist the tongues of beer lovers too, mixing up German wheat beer and fresh grapefruit juice to produce a uniquely refreshing, tangy hit of sunshine.
21st century Berliner is a crisp pilsner perfect for sipping anywhere from a drizzly British barbecue to a Brooklyn rooftop party.
Every can is adorned by the instantly recognisable Berlin Bear, one of the city’s famous visual markers. You can’t miss it.
The secret lies in the water which is taken from the same well used well over 100 years ago.
Bamberg brewery Schlenkerla are renowned for one particular style, the enigmatic Rauchbier, or ‘smoke beer’.
Tegernsee Helles quickly rose to fame as the ‘thinking consumer’s’ Helles of choice after a handful of British brewers praised it online after
The water is unusually pure and soft allowing more hops to be used and a bitter taste that distinguishes Jever from other pilsners.
Schlenkerla are a thoroughly traditional operation, drying their own malt, which few breweries have done since the industrial revolution.
a visit to Munich. This praise was not misplaced, as the quality of the beer is up there with the legends of Bavaria.
FOUNDED BY: Frank
ORIGIN: Lembeek, Belgium
Based on the lambic style, and synonymous with Brussels brewing, it was a beer that a 21 yearold Frank Boon loved. So much so, that when Oude Geuze started to fall out of favour, he was determined to keep it alive. He bought Rene De Vits’ geuze in 1978, acquiring the building, an arsenal of oak lambic barrels and a whole lot of dust and cobwebs.
didn’t take too long before realised Boon needed more A new brewery hall, built Lembeek, was quickly followed first true lambic brew. from then things went from strength to strength, mastering blending, mixing and ageing are the hallmarks of a truly lambic. The delicious balance of old and young, augmented by fruit if you like, never simple. Never basic.
Traditional geuze brewing got EU protection (with Frank heavily involved!), new warehouses were built and, in 2017, another new brewery hall was built, this time tripling capacity. And all because of one man’s love of geuze.
Dupont is a brewery with deep roots. It all started with a Belgian farm dating back to 1759. The farm became a farm-brewery, producing seasonal honey and saison beers for summer sipping. Then along came Louis.
In 1920, Louis’ father Albert Dupont wanted to head off a potential move to Canada. So he bought his agronomist son the same farm-brewery, and Brasserie Dupont was born, along with their take on the popular farm beer - the now iconic Dupont Saison.
Since then, the old farm has weathered wars and depressions that sunk many a small Belgian brewery. And it gained some shiny kit along the way.
Dupont is still family run, with a line stretching through nephews and daughters, and they still produce the Dupont Saison that’s so beloved by brewers and drinkers worldwide.
An archetypal farmhouse style, true to its rural roots.
ORIGIN: Tourpes, Belgium
FOUNDED: 1920
FOUNDED BY: Scourmont
ORIGIN: Hainaut, Belgium
The monks of Scourmont Abbey have been brewing for over 150 years, producing world-class Trappist beer in their austere, peaceful monastery on a wild plateau in Hainaut, one of Belgium’s southern provinces.
For many years, the work of the monks was the cultivation of their fields but, in keeping with other historic Trappist monasteries, the passing of time increased the demands of self sufficiency.
This led the brothers to develop cottage industries producing cheese and brewing beer, the latter of which flourished into something rather larger in scale.
FOUNDED: 1862
And what beer they brew. Chimay’s recognisable bottles are differentiated by coloured caps, with a red Dubbel, a blue Dark Ale, and a white Tripel, alongside a Gold ‘Patersbier’, intended to be drunk by the monks themselves but now enjoyed by many outside the monastery’s walls.
In their own rather poetic words... ‘Here, in this heaven of peace and silence, where since 1850 Trappist monks have dedicated their life to God, heart
At bottling, Orval is characterised by lemony fresh hops and pronounced bitterness but, as with other Trappist beers, the taste and depth continue to develop as the nectar ferments in the bottle over time. It can pack a punch too, with ABV rising alongside the flavour profile.
But what of the Abbey itself? As legend has it, 1000 years ago an Italian Countess was visiting the region and dropped an ornate, jewelled wedding ring into a bubbling spring.
The ring was returned to her by a helpful trout, leading the Countess to name the area the Val d’Or (Golden Valley), from which Orval derives its name. Funds given in thanks paid for the monastery’s foundation.
And the trout? He didn’t receive
ORVAL
ORIGIN: Abbaye Notre-Dame d’Orval, Belgium
FOUNDED: 1931
BTL Orval Bottles RB 6.20% 24x330ml Trappist Ale £44.00 Type Beer RB ABV Size Style PriceThe monks of Orval Abbey only make two beers, one of which never makes it outside the brewery walls. The other, Orval’s complex, unfiltered Trappist ale, is about as close as you can come to a lowlands cult classic, famous for the ‘Belgian Lace’ of beautiful microbubbles left on the glass as its frothy amber head recedes.
ORIGIN: Brussels, Belgium
Timmermans is a Belgian institution, taking the title of the world’s oldest lambic brewery. Originally founded as De Mol (The Mole), in 1702, Timmermans have been perfecting their craft in the Flemish village of Itterbeek ever since.
After a sideline in exporting artisanal Belgian beer to the Sultan of Constantinople, the brewery became Brouwerji Timmermans in the early twentieth century, when the owner’s youngest daughter married a brewer from the nearby village of Zuun named Frans Timmermans.
FOUNDED: 1702
The region has always been famous for the Lambic style, where malt-heavy beers are allowed to ferment through contact with wild yeast and native bacteria, giving gueuze and kriek their unique sour and wine- or cider-like flavour.
Timmermans have always been famous for fruit-forward brews, using fresh peach or raspberry to cut through the beer’s natural acidity, and recent small-batch bottlings of protected lambic styles like Oude Kriek and Oude Gueuze have taken things to the next level.
In 1900 there were around 300 lambic breweries. A century later there are ten left, so here’s to Timmermans for keeping those sour fires burning.
BTL Framboise 4.00% 24x330ml
BTL Framboise RB 4.00% 24x330ml
BTL Peche 4.00% 24x330ml
BTL Peche RB 4.00% 24x330ml
BTL Kriek 4.00% 24x330ml
BTL Kriek RB 4.00% 24x330ml
BTL Strawberry 4.00% 12x330ml
KEG Strawberry 4.00% 30L A
KEG Kriek 4.00% 30L A
KEG Peche 4.00% 15L A
Lambic Fruit Beer - Raspberry £26.50
Lambic Fruit Beer - Raspberry £48.50
Lambic Fruit Beer - Peach £27.50
Lambic Fruit Beer - Peach £48.50
Lambic Fruit Beer - Cherry £27.00
Lambic Fruit Beer - Cherry £44.50
Lambic Fruit Beer - Strawberry £26.00
Type Lambic Fruit Beer - Strawberry £148.00
Type Lambic Fruit Beer - Cherry £145.50
Type Lambic Fruit Beer - Peach £90.00
FOUNDED BY: Jacobus Walravens TIMMERMANSThe brewery uses mineral water from the abbey’s well, combined with a unique yeast strain and, unusually, a direct flame brewhouse that causes beneficial caramelisation during the brewing process.
1856 saw the introduction of the Westmalle Dubbel, perhaps the monastery’s true claim to fame. A chestnut brown beer with stunning complexity, it is considered the first of its type, a now iconic Trappist style defined by dark candy sugar, which imparts a toffee-like flavour with a surprisingly light body.
But the monks weren’t done yet. From the 1920s, Westmalle beer was sold commercially to support the monastery. In 1934 a strong pale ale Tripel was added to Westmalle’s line-up, another much-imitated beer which has defined its own style and taken its place as another undisputed world classic.
The monk’s first priory was founded in 1794 at a farm named ‘Nooit Rust’, or ‘Never Rest’, a moniker that perfectly encapsulates Westmalle’s innovative spirit.
Westmalle Brewery
Origin: Westmalle, Belgium
Founded: 1836
Westmalle Brewery is a true Trappist trailblazer, an abbey with nearly two centuries of brewing history whose work has done so much to progress the cherished monastic brewing tradition. The brothers of ‘Our Lady of the Sacred Heart’, as the abbey is known, began in 1836, with only a single, low-alcohol recipe on offer for the first two decades.
Chris Bauweraerts, co-founder of Chouffe, says that the question he’s asked the most is ‘What on Earth does Chouffe mean?’. The short answer is,
nothing, it’s a made up word. One of the world’s best recognised beer brands, exported globally, but faithful to its humble Belgian roots.
The modern brewery came into being in the early 20th century, with the Van Honsebrouck family taking over brewing in the local style.
First produced in 1989, the beer harks back to the brewery’s founding in the 19th century and inherits the genes of session beers quaffed by local miners.
Brugse Zot comes in two forms, with the Blond as its flagship, and a Dubbel rounding things out.
A truly special beer. Those that get it, really get it, those that don’t, well, they eventually will.
If you look up Belgian beer in the dictionary you’ll see a dumpy bottle of Duvel. Legend has it, the yeast strain for Duvel came from Edinburgh’s own
The Flemish red-brown brew sits alongside oude gueuze and saison as a signature taste of the area.
Beers that also gave them a fortifying daily dose of essential vitamins B1 and B12. A wholesome start for a beer that’s so damn tasty.
Quintessentially Belgian, the beer has a big body, with fruity banana notes from the yeast blended with complimentary hops.
Duchesse de Bourgogne is a Flemish Red, particularly distinctive for it’s cutting acidity, enormous oak flavours, and deliciously balsamic personality.
McEwan’s brewery in Fountainbridge in the mid 19th Century. With a pronounced hop bitterness, it is distinctly refined and easy drinking.
The best breweries from around the world
FOUNDED BY: Czech-speaking citizens of Budweis
ORIGIN: Ceske Budějovice, Czech Republic
FOUNDED: 1862
Classics are what we do best, and they don’t come much more classic than this. State owned, and able to trace their story all the way back to 1265. A true tale of civic pride, over the years the people of Budějovice have fought hard to keep imposters at bay, and to take ownership of their local brewery.
Today the brewery is an incredible example of the fusion between the ancient and the modern. Wort is produced in a brewery at the cutting edge of the industry, and then once fermented the beer is lagered deep underground in the ice cold ancient cellars for months on end.
With beer this special, we’re committed to making sure we can serve it in the UK just like they would in their home town, and we’re extremely privileged to be their exclusive partner for Sidepull served Nefilter. A truly unique beer experience.
Using over 150 years of brewing wisdom, Hitachino Nest took global influences on board, but stayed rooted in Japanese drinking culture.
Proper Breton Cider in big massive litre bottles. Kerisac are 4th generation family owned, and solely use IGP (special because of where
Mikkeller completely changed the game when they arrived on the scene in 2005; Establishing a globally renowned beer, without actually owning a brewery.
They grow their own hops, and operate brewing labs, taprooms, and restaurants from Tokyo to San Francisco.
they come from) apples. Robust in character, with a dash of bitterness, this is properly brilliant French Cider.
Pioneering in barrel aging, sour beer, and alcohol free technique, the possibilities are endless.
A small but mighty range of craft beers
ORIGIN: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
‘Always good for all the time’.
As uncomplicated as beer comes, but still with an incredible story. Dating back a couple centuries, the Blue Ribbon name refers to the award won at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, so it’s entirely possible that Nikolai Tesla and Thomas Edison drank this beer while showing off their inventions.
FOUNDED 1844
The brand almost went extinct, as prohibition kicked in they were the 2nd biggest brewery in the US, and survived thanks only to a diversion into cheese production, making 8 million lbs of cheese before selling up to Kraft. Legend has it around this time they also invented the six-pack too.
In the modern day they’re known for supporting independent music and art, and collaborating with designers and artists to make incredible merch, covering anything from Rollerskates to earplugs for gigs.
Grabst a Pabst.
Describing Stone as a brewery with attitude is a bit like describing a diamond as ‘fairly hard’. Ever since founders Greg Koch and Steve Wagner opened their San Diego microbrewery in 1996, Stone has been shaking things up and causing trouble, with the beer world’s big hitters clearly in the crosshairs. And they’ve made quite an impact.
BeerAdvocate named Stone ‘All-time Top Brewery on the Planet’. Twice.
Their uncompromising, hopforward West Coast IPAs are amongst the most celebrated of the iconic style that’s taken the beer world by storm, much as lager did for a previous generation. With newly opened breweries in Richmond, Virginia, and Berlin, Germany, those beers are kicking ass on a global stage.
The company’s iconic mascot is a suitably arrogant gargoyle, used for centuries to ward off evil spirits. Since 1996, Stone claim, their gargoyle has been used to ward off ‘cheap ingredients, pasteurisation, and chemical additives… the modern day evil spirits of beer!’
Whether that’s superstition or a true trade secret, the end result is the same: Some of the world’s best beer.
STONE BREWING
FOUNDED BY: Steve Wagner + Koch
ORIGIN: California, USA
FOUNDED: 1996
Resurrected from a historical family business, Bon Accord was revived in 2016, having originally been established in 1903.
Focussing on natural flavours and sugars, and contributing to a better more sustainable planet, with a wide range including cola and tonic mixers.
There are only two European countries where the biggest selling soft drink doesn’t come in a bright red can; Fritz
is made entirely from
Founded by three friends who wanted to give back to the communities where cola nuts are grown, Karma started their mission for fair-trade to nations
natural ingredients, including real Kola nut. 100% vegan, made in plants fuelled by sustainable energy, and totally independent.
like Sierra Leone in 2010. They use their company as a force for good, and are also organic, fair-trade and plastic free.
As Bon Accord say “less fuss, more fizz”. Our curated range of soft drinks allows you to provide a fantastic selection of soft drinks, because the days of ordering a blackcurrant and soda are long gone!
Electric Spirit Co. became the first distillery to open in Leith in 40 years when they opened in 2015.
It’s a gin, but it’s not a gin. Escubac. That was the first spirit to be launched by Sweetdram distillery, now based in Sighthill in Edinburgh.
Now at Port of Leith, on a still a thousand times larger than the one they started out on, picking up worldwide medals and recognition in the process.
Since creating Escubac, they now make a Spiced Rum, Whisky Amaro and an exciting whisky program from an archive of interesting barrels.
Because sometimes people want to drink something other than the best beers in the world (weird, we know!) we thought it best to find some of the best independent spirits and cocktails available in the UK... Enjoy!
By approaching blank canvas to make what the best possible canned cocktail. The Martini blend of Porter’s and lemon zest. robust and virgin oak bitters and brilliantly gin cocktail of Porter’s
NOUVEAU WINE
FOUNDED BY: Charlie & Thom BradleyORIGIN: South Africa
United by a thirst for simplicity, Charlie and Thom Bradley are brothers on a mission to smash down the walls around wine. Working with some of South Africa’s best winemakers to create Nouveau; a 100% vegan, fresh expression of low–intervention wine.
LOVE BITE - A fresh beaujolais-style Cinsault from the Stellenbosch area. These old-vines create a healthy concentration of red fruits, soft tannins and a moreish saline note in this natural wine. Best served chilled.
POT LUCK - A modern take on the ancient winemaking process, petillant naturel, using the classic South African grape Pinotage. Naturally carbonated in the bottle bubbles. Best served straight from the fridge.
WHITE LIES - A clean, skin contact wine, expressing itself as ripe stone fruit with floral notes. Hand-harvested, 3 days skin contact, spontaneous fermentation and four months in old oak. Best served straight from the fridge.
GROWING PAINS - A medium bodied Cinsault from the Stellenbosch area. These old bush vines, combined with ten months in barrel, create a healthy concentration of red fruits and soft tannins. Best served at room temp or slightly chilled.
WINE Pot Luck 2022 11.50% 3x750ml Rosé / Pet Nat (Pinotage Grapes) £35.50