Traditional Scottish Ales

Unit 7c, Bandeath Industrial Estate, Throsk, Stirling FK7 7NP

Phone: (0) 1786 817000

Website: www.traditionalscottishales.co.uk

Traditional Scottish Ales is the latest venture of the ever active Douglas Ross and is a division of Scottish drinks company VC2. A hotelier for over twenty-five years, Douglas started the Bridge of Allan Brewery in 1997 directly behind the Queen's Hotel which he was operating at the time. Douglas had always been a real ale enthusiast and provided an oasis through his pub at the hotel. Once the idea for the brewery firmly took hold, he hired Martin Soden of Total Brewing Solutions in Worcester to design the brewing plant and get him started with the process. The first brew was dubbed Stirling Brig in commemoration of the 700th anniversary of Wallace's famous defeat of the English just up the road at Stirling Bridge in 1297. The demands of brewery final led to the selling of the hotel in 1999.

The Bridge of Allan Brewery is still used for experimental beers and, along with the Visitor Centre, provide a very worthwhile place for a visit to hear about and try the company's beers. It also houses an incredible collection of beer memorabilia. Production brewing is now concentrated at the Stirling Brewery, a former torpedo factory in Stirling, opened by Douglas after the 5-barrel plant at Bridge of Allan became too small to meet demand.

Photo of Douglas Ross, Neil Spake and John McGarva.Many of Traditional Scottish Ales beers today originated at Bridge of Allan Brewery or the first opening of Stirling Brewery. Douglas is particularly proud of his 1488 Whisky Ale. In addition to the beers listed here, the company produces many other regular and seasonal beers, most available in bottle at many tourist sites throughout central Scotland. The company still produces ales for The Lade Inn just outside the beautiful village of Callander, near Stirling, where Douglas operated another small micro-brewery for short time. The Scottish Real Ale Shop is now housed in the building that formerly housed the brewing equipment. This photo of (left to right) Douglas, myself, and owner/brewer John McGarva of Tryst Brewery was taken at the Scottish Real Ale Shop shortly after it opened.

Products:

Ben Nevis - 4% ABV
A ruby red 80 shilling style ale with a malty body and light hop aftertaste. Organic.
Glen Coe Wild Oat Stout - 4.5% ABV
Silky smooth Scottish stout with roasted oatmeal flavor and generous helping of dark roasted malts. Organic.
Lomond Gold - 5.0% ABV
A golden blonde ale with organic hops providing and fruity flavor and citrus finish. Organic.
1488 Whisky Ale
A traditional ale aged for up to twelve weeks in former Tullibardine whisky casks for a rich malty flavor and whisky aftertaste.