Scotland's ale trail
Scotland's breweries are joining forces to create a national ale trail. Michelle Robertson reports...
While the world over knows Scotland for its whiskies, Hogmanay and Sean Connery, what doesn’t seem to be as widely accepted is that we also have a vibrant and diverse beer scene – why, Harviestoun’s Bitter and Twisted very recently picked up the accolade for World’s Best Ale in this very magazine.
However Scotland’s brewers have decided to join forces to remind the rest of the world – and the Scottish – that we’re not just a nation famous for our whisky, Irn-Bru, shortbread and tartan.
The Real Ale Trail is finally due to be launched this Easter and it is something that’s apparently been “bubbling under the surface for a long time.” It doesn’t take a genius to work out what the Real Ale Trail is – of course, the clue is in the title – but what a lot of people may not realise is that geographically, it actually takes you from one end of the country to the other. So if you were planning to work your way from the borders, the Traquair House Brewery and Broughton Ales at Biggar would be your first stops, then you would plot a northerly path, veering east and west as you headed up the way, until you finally reached the Valhalla Brewery in Shetland.
We know that beer has been around an awful lot longer than whisky, but Scotland’s brewers are yet to gain the recognition that the distillers enjoy. However that’s another reason why the nation’s brewers have put their heads – and their funds – together to launch something that will hopefully give the beers a platform just as promine.....
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By Michelle Robertson
Section : Spotlight
Page number : 52
