A meetup group having drinks in Edinburgh
© VisitScotland / Rob McDougall
Scottish craft beer dates back as early as the Neolithic period. During the early days of production, the beer was brewed in places including Skara Brae in Orkney and the Isle of Rum. To help give the beer its distinctive flavour, Scottish brewers would use local botanicals such as meadowsweet, heather and bog myrtle.
By the 12th century, many monasteries and religious houses were brewing regularly and making the most of the region’s high-quality spring water. Scotland soon became famous worldwide for its beer with Edinburgh and Alloa once major brewing centres. Scottish ales were then exported across the British Empire, and the rest as they say is history.
Since the early 21st century, there has been a major boom in the modern craft beer movement. Thanks to the introduction of the Progressive Beer Duty (now Small Brewers Relief), this lowered taxes for many small-scale breweries to get creative with their beer making. Today, you’ll find a wide selection of craft beers available in shops and bars, and restaurants. There are now even specially dedicated festivals and brewery tours making it a thriving part of Scotland’s food and drink landscape.
