Raise YOUR glass to SOME great Scottish beers. Our Scottish Beer Festival is back. In this handy guide you’ll find every beer’s tasting notes as well as lots of hints and tips to ensure you make the best selection while in store.
Show and share your favourite Scottish beer with us on Twitter @AlidUK
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TASTING BOOK
Scottish BEERS
TOP TIPS INSIDE
Happy s-hopping!
For the Best of Scotland, visit aldi.co.uk/Scotland
AVAILABLE From Thur 10 MARCH While Stocks Last
Not all breweries advertised are SIBA members.
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YOUR GUIDE TO BEER
EarLy Beginnings The origins of beer date as far back as Ancient Egypt where women traditionally brewed it. And then went on to become one of the most common drinks during the Middle Ages in Europe. Now it’s the third most popular drink in the world, after water and tea.
DID YOU KNOW?
Heather, ivy, mugwort, juniper and other herbs were used to bitter beer before hops were introduced in the 14th Century.
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Store Store beer upright in a cool place with a temperature of approx. 13oC
SERVE The ideal serving temperature is between 4oC and 5oC
Fact of
the festival Big Al, the bull from Kinkell Byre Farm near St. Andrews Brewing Co., has built up a bit of a local hero reputation and has even appeared on BBC's Countryfile.
Glasses Matter. MUG:
Weizen Glass:
Golden the handle allows a firm grip and prevents heat transferring from your warm hands to the beer.
Wheat Beer Specifically made to take on volume and head while locking in the swEet, malty and phenol aromas associated with these beers.
thistle GLASS:
Pilsner Glass:
Speciality Captures and enhances the beer’s aroma while it induces and supports large, foamy heads.
LAGER Keeps the head frothy and enhances the lager’s aroma.
Nonic GLASS:
Shaker:
Blonde Easy to drink out of and can accommodate beers with large crowning heads.
Pale Ale the simple cone shape with wide rim allows for good aroma release, the perfect pint glass for a variety of beer styles.
How to
taste beer 1. Give it the visual once over 2. Twirl it 3. Get your nose stuck in And, taste!
A match made in hops heaven. It’s not just wine that cheese works well with, beer and ales are great too! In fact, beers make the perfect pairing at any dinner table. read on For some more suggestions...
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TOP TIP
PALE ALES
To chill or not to chill.
No, never chill your glassware because when beer hits frosted glass condensation will occur and dilute your beer.
Cromarty Brewing Co. Rogue Wave This extra pale ale may look calm and tranquil but as you wallow in its glory your taste buds will be drowned in flavour. ABV 5.7%
SERVE ME WITH:
Cheese. Pale Ales work really well with a range of cheeses, especially Gouda and Cheddar. Just don’t forget the crackers.
SERVE ME in a: shaker
glass
1
£ .49 330ml
£4.52 per litre
Barney’s Beer Good Ordinary Pale Ale
Deeside Brewing Swift American Pale Ale
Generous helpings of English and American hops add citrus and pine notes to the dry, toffee-nutty taste. ABV 3.8%
A crisp, dry American-style pale ale that only uses pale malts. This brings their citrus character to the front for a long, flavourful finish. ABV 3.8%
1
£ .49 500ml
£4.52 per litre
1
£ .49
330ml
£4.52 per litre
Stewart Brewing Ka Pai A light golden beer with a big nose that’s packed with passionflowers and guava. The malting is soft honey-coated cereal bars and the hops are super fruity. A whole host of sweet and citrus fruits make this beer zingy and zesty. ABV 5.2%
1
£ .49 330ml
£4.52 per litre
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DID YOU KNOW? Cairngorm Brewing Callie Ale With a subtle malt background and a long lasting citrus hop bitterness, this ale is smooth with lots of condition. ABV 3.8%
1
£ .59 500ml
£3.18 per litre
Cairngorm Brewery donate 15p per case from sales to the Cairngorm Nature Projects.
Broughton Ales Proper IPA
Eden Mill Brewery Shipwreck IPA
This beer uses a combination of popular West Coast American Amarillo, Cascade and Chinook hops. With its intense spice and pine flavours balanced with a blend of toasted local malts, this beer is not just any IPA. ABV 5.0%
This is a big hoppy number that’s conditioned for a couple of months to balance the tropical fruit flavours with the bitterness of hops. ABV 6.0%
1
£ .59 500ml
1
£ .59 330ml
Isle of Arran Brewery Arran Ale A smooth malty brew with a pleasantly dry hop finish and a fruity hint. ABV 3.8%
1
£ .69 500ml
£3.38 per litre
BrewDog Jack Hammer Ale A huge grapefruit aroma, followed by massive bitterness, caramel notes and a devastatingly bitter finish. ABV 7.2%
1
£ .89
330ml
£5.73 per litre
William Bros. Brewing Double Joker A bold Scottish style Imperial IPA, this is generously hopped and devilishly flavoursome. It’s bittersweet with a big U.S. hop punch. ABV 8.3%
1
£ .89 330ml
£5.73 per litre
£4.82 per litre
£3.18 per litre
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DID YOU KNOW? Laig Bay Brewing Co. Independence IPA Brewed with five different types of malt and three different American hops, added in four hop additions, this gourmet craft beer is a palate pleaser. ABV 6.2%
1
£ .89
Laig Bay brewery is situated on the Isle of Eigg, which is the first island in the world to be completely powered by wind, water and sun.
Strathaven Ales Clydesdale This is a light pale ale with a grapefruit aroma and a sweet malt finish. ABV 3.8%
1
£ .89 500ml
£3.78 per litre
330ml
£5.73 per litre
Knops Brewing Co. East Coast Pale A light aromatic beer with malt and hops in the nose and a touch of spice. Citrus notes are rounded out by a malt and pleasant sweetsour notes. Expect a big mouth feel with a lasting biscuit and dried fruit taste. ABV 3.8%
1
£ .99 500ml
£3.98 per litre
Hebridean Brewing Company Berserker Export Pale Ale Malty with an intense hop to match, this 150 year old recipe is light in colour but strong in flavour. It’s conditioned over a number of weeks to develop its full, complex flavour. ABV 7.4%
1
£ .99 500ml
£3.98 per litre
Spey Valley Brewery Sunshine on Keith
Highland Brewing Company Island Hopping
A hit from its inception, it’s zesty and refreshing. Using citrusy American hops this has all the character of an American IPA but with an alcohol content that will allow you to continue enjoying bottle after bottle. ABV 3.5%
Extra pale in colour and full of hops from New Zealand and America that give this beer a very fruity aroma and taste. ABV 3.9%
1
£ .99
1
£ .99 500ml
£3.98 per litre
500ml
£3.98 per litre
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wheat beers
St. Andrews Brewing Co. Big Al’s Pale Ale A floral nose with hints of mandarin and grass. Gentle bitterness with honeysuckle and citrus flavours supported by a caramel backbone and a long, smooth finish. Thirst quenching, refreshing and moreish. ABV 4.5%
1
£ .49
SERVE ME in a:
WEIZEN glass
SERVE ME WITH: Shellfish. These beers bring out salinity and natural sweetness while cleansing the palate, so it’s no wonder they work well with delicious offerings from the sea.
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330ml
£4.52 per litre
DID YOU KNOW? Named after a local hero, Big Al is an orphaned bullock hand-raised at nearby kinkell byre farm. al and his friends eat their way through all of the spent grain produced by st. andrews brewing co.
HOW TO: Windswept Brewing Weizen A cloudy effervescent Hefeweizen that’s bursting with bananas and caramel. ABV 5.2%
1
£ .49 330ml
£4.52 per litre
DID YOU KNOW?
POUR. 1. Be gentle, pour slowly or you’ll get premature froth 2. A great wheat beer is best enjoyed with a big head 3. Yeast is your friend, swill The last bit in the bottle to loosen it and pour into your glasS
Six Degrees North brewery was named after the fact that the brewery is exactly six degrees north of Brussels, where the founder learned the craft of micro brewing.
Black Wolf Brewery Tundra Wheat Beer
Six Degrees North Wanderlust Wheat Beer
Dry-hopped with elderflowers to give a fresh, citrus and floral flavour with a light dry palate provided by Bavarian yeast. ABV 4.8%
Lustful creamy aromas bounce around with orange citrus, coriander seed, barley sugar and macadamia nut. The palate is balanced, refreshing and carries on where the nose leaves off. ABV 4.6%
1
£ .49 500ml
£2.98 per litre
1
£ .49 330ml
£4.52 per litre
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GOLDEN
SERVE ME in a:
MUG
Sulwath Brewery Galloway Gold
An Tellach Brewery Crofters Pale Ale
Ayr Brewing Leezie Lundie
Kelburn Brewing Cart Blanche
MòR Brewing Calm and Wise
This refreshing brew is made with lager and wheat malts, plus Saaz hops and Galloway’s renowned soft water. ABV 5.0%
A lightly-flavoured, golden ale with a hoppy flavour and somewhat dry finish. ABV 4.2%
Brewed using Savinjski Styrian Golding hops from Slovenia, to produce a fruity, pale golden, thirstquenching ale with a long, refreshing finish. ABV 3.8%
This golden full-bodied ale boasts smacks of flavour. The appearance is enhanced by a touch of wheat malt, giving a wonderfully dry after-taste that won’t be easily forgotten. ABV 5.0%
A golden coloured ale overflowing with zingy hops, expect a pepper and lemon flavour with a very smooth aftertaste. ABV 3.4%
£ .99
£ .99
1
£ .89 500ml
£3.78 per litre
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1
£ .99 500ml
£3.98 per litre
1
500ml
£3.98 per litre
1
500ml
1
£ .99 500ml
£3.98 per litre
£3.98 per litre
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BLONDE Tempest Brewing Cascadian Blonde
SERVE ME in a:
NONIC GLASS
A smooth hoppy blonde with aromas of citrus, floral and pine, it leaves a soft and silky feel on the tongue. ABV 3.9%
1
£ .49 330ml
£4.52 per litre
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Oban Bay Brewery Skinny Blonde
Orkney Brewery Nimbus
Burnside Brewery Wild Rhino
Born in the Borders Foxy Blonde
Oban Bay’s palest ale of all with lager-like nuances and colour. It has a pleasant and surprising fruitiness along with citrus notes. This is a must-try brew. ABV 4.1%
With a malty backbone of fresh bread, this crystal clear straw gold blonde is rich and aromatic. A zesty citrus accent and lemon twist leaves a palate satisfying hoppy finish. ABV 5.0%
A crisp, blonde beer with a zingy, zesty punch, brewed using malted barley, torrified wheat and Styrian Golding hops. ABV 4.5%
Made using brewerygrown barley, this ale houses a complex mixture of hops to create an invigorating brew bursting with citrus and floral flavours. ABV 3.8%
1
£ .49 330ml
£4.52 per litre
1
£ .69 500ml
£3.38 per litre
1
£ .69 500ml
£3.38 per litre
1
£ .79
500ml
£3.58 per litre
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LAGER
PORTER
SERVE ME in a:
PILSNER glass
SERVE ME WITH:
Caledonian Brewery Three Hop Lager
Keith Brewery Larger Keith
This lager combines three of Europe’s finest hops to deliver a crisp and characterful beer with spicy herbal aromas and flavours leaving a lingering lemon finish. ABV 4.5%
Made with rock filtered water from a private source, it makes for a crisp yet smooth golden lager. ABV 4.5%
1
£ .49 355ml
£4.20 per litre
1
£ .49 330ml
£4.52 per litre
The Inveralmond Brewery Rascal Porter
Chocolate. The spicy and mocha flavours of this porter complement the rich, allure of chocolate. We say the darker the better.
SERVE ME in a: TULIP glass
Inspired by the brewing styles of 18th century London, this is a piquant porter with a spicy aroma and sumptuous mocha flavours that are silky on the palate leaving a complex, mellow finish. ABV 5.6%
1
£ .49 330ml
£4.52 per litre
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DID YOU KNOW?
SPECIALITY DID YOU KNOW?
SERVE ME in a:
THISTLE
glass
Some Scotch Ales are often served in a ‘thistle glass’, which is a modified tulip glass resembling our national flower.
SERVE ME WITH: Salty snacks. Allow these Speciality beers to take all the credit and enjoy simple but complementary snacks like crisps and nuts.
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Top Out Brewery Altbier Drawing its inspiration from the brewpubs of Düsseldorf, this ale has an aroma of light malts and soft earth. Below the surface you’ll get subtle hints of sweet malt, figs and Christmas pudding flavours. ABV 4.5%
1
£ .99
500ml
£3.98 per litre
Isle of Skye Brewery celebrated its 20th Birthday last year, making them one of Scotland’s oldest Island breweries.
The Isle of Skye Brewing Tarasgeir A unique ale produced with the help of the Ardmore Distillery in Aberdeenshire, using their peat-smoked malt. This imparts a superb smokiness to a dry and refreshing beer. ABV 4.0%
1
£ .79 500ml
£3.58 per litre
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