Maclays Brewery

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Maclay's Thistle Brewery in 2003

Maclay's Brewery was a Scottish brewery based in Alloa, Clackmannanshire until 2001.

In 1830, James Maclay (1801-1875) founded the brewery as James Maclay, Ale, Porter, Table and India Beer Brewer of Alloa. James Maclay established himself as a brewer of great repute over the next 39 years and in 1870, James built the Thistle Brewery, which is to this day, is the home of the ales, which bear his name.

James Maclay died suddenly in 1875, leaving his two sons James and John to run the company. The Fraser family, licensed grocers and spirit merchants from Dunfermline took over Maclay in December of 1896 and in December of that year, the firm became a private limited company named Maclay & Company, Limited.

Despite the renown of their Oat Malt Stout, the change in fashion away from dark beers led to difficulties for the company in the 1990s [1] and brewing at the Thistle Brewery ceased in 1999. In 2001 the company ceased using the buildings as their office base.

The company no longer brews its beers directly. On March 10, 1994, the company changed its name to Maclay Inns Limited to better reflect its current business model.