Windie Goat Brewery

Failford Inn, Failford, Ayrshire, Scotland KA5 5TF

Phone: (0) 1292 240117

Website: www.failfordinn.co.uk/brewery/

This is by far the brewery most painful for me to move to this category to date. It is truly sad that Scotland has lost this great brewery and its wonderful brewer, Michelle Kelsall, then the only female brewer (brewster) in Scotland. Now there are none (female brewers, that is) and I'm sure all that became fans of her beer are also very saddened by this closure.

The Windie Goat Brewery was resident within the Failford Inn in Ayrshire. It was much more than simply a tiny pub brewery. Like every great pub, it was the heart of the community but more than that, the Failford Inn was an award-winning pub with an inviting atmosphere, wonderful food and, most important, great beer brewed on premises. The Failford Inn is now under new ownership and management and the brewery has gone. Hopefully, it will continue as the great pub it has been for many years.

 

Publican Michelle Kelsall and her partner decided in 2005 to apply for planning permission to turn an old store room at the pub into a micro-brewery. Michelle saw to the installation of a 2.5 barrel brewing plant and went off to Brewlab at Sutherland University during the summer of 2006 for training as a brewer.  Michelle quickly put her newly acquired knowledge to work producing some great beers. I had the pleasure of visiting Windie Goat in the early spring of 2007 having tried "The Dubh", a smooth and nicely roasty dark ale (hence, the name) as well as having a great meal. Michelle also gave me a quick window tour of the small brewhouse - my personal thanks for her hospitality!

Windie Goat beers were available on tap at the Failford Inn as well as at many beer festivals throughout the UK. They also offered them "to go" in 10 and 20 liter polypins so enthusiasts can enjoy their real ales at home in the manner that they are meant to be served.

Products that were brewed:

Priest's Wheel - 4.3% ABV
Named after a fishing pool in the River Ayr near the Failford Inn, Priest's Wheel is an amber colored ale brewed with Maris Otter pale malt and Crystal malt and three varieties of US hops.
Peden's Cove - 3.5% ABV
A pale bitter ale brewed with Maris Otter pale malt and traditionally hopped with Fuggles and a late hop addition of Goldings. It is named after an area where Alexander Peden is reputed to have preached from.
The Dubh - 4.6% ABV
A rich chocolate porter delicately hopped with Fuggles. Very smooth and full flavored with plenty of roasted malt character but still well balanced.
Sheep's Linne - 4.5% ABV
A ruby red and malty ale with a spicy finish from Challenger hops.          
Gutter Slab - 5.5% ABV
American style IPA loaded with Cascade hops for that citrusy sometimes grapefruity flavor and well asserted bitterness.