Beer in Edinburgh

The history of beer in Edinburgh is perhaps the lengthiest of any region of Scotland. Throughout the history of Edinburgh, brewing takes its place as one of the most important and oldest industries. The origin of brewing goes back to the 12th century monks of Holyrood Abbey, who took advantage of the clear spring water for the production of their ale.[1] The brewing industry certainly contributed to Edinburgh's earned moniker of "Auld Reekie" so named due to all the smoke produced by coal and wood burning furnaces and boilers. This is evidenced by the fact that at the turn of the 20th century, Edinburgh had no less than thirty-five breweries churning out this smoke from its maltings and brewhouses. This haze may not have been so noticeable were it not for the density of the buildings and population in such proximity.[2] There are two lists below, one for defunct and one for operational breweries & microbreweries in Edinburgh. All breweries listed have an EH postcode.

Operational Breweries

Name Location Established Website Notes
Alechemy Livingston 2012 http://www.alechemybrewing.com/
Archerfield Ales Archerfield Estate, Dirleton 2012 http://www.archerfieldwalledgarden.com/brewery/ Brewed by the Knops Brewing Company
Barneys Beer Summerhall Pl, Edinburgh 2012 http://www.barneysbeer.com/
Black Metal Brewery Bilston Glen Industrial Estate 2014 http://www.blackmetalbrewery.com/ Currently brewing at Top Out Brewery
Caledonian Brewery 42 Slateford Rd, Edinburgh 1869 https://www.caledonianbeer.com
Innis & Gunn - 2003 http://www.innisandgunn.com/ Brewed in Glasgow at Wellpark Brewery
Knops Brewing Company Archerfield Estate, Dirleton 2012 http://www.knopsbeer.co.uk/
Liquid Brewery - 2013 http://www.liquidbrewery.co.uk/
Natural Selection Brewing - 2011 http://www.naturalselectionbrewing.com/ Brewed by students from Heriot Watt University Stewart Brewing
Pilot Brewery Jane St, Edinburgh 2013
Stewart Brewing 42 Dryden Rd, Loanhead 2004 http://www.stewartbrewing.co.uk/
Top Out Brewery 6 Dryden Rd, Loanhead 2013 http://www.topoutbrewery.com/

Closed Breweries

Name Established Closed Notes
McEwans 1856 2008 Bought out By Heineken in 2008, then by Wells & Young's Brewery in 2011[3]
Youngers 1778 1931 Merged with McEwans

See also

References

  1. Edinburgh in the 1950's. Jack Gillon. 1988. Retrieved 29 Jul 2014.
  2. "Edinburgh's Real Ale Breweries". CAMRA. 1999. Retrieved 15 Dec 2013.
  3. "Fountain Brewery The home of Edinburgh's Beers". John D Martin. 2012. Retrieved 29 Jul 2014.