The Highland Brewing Company

SEVEN MEDAL HAUL AT SIBA REGIONAL 2010
Sunday, July 25 2010

We are pleased to announce our seven medal haul at the SIBA regional competition 2010. With 98 beers entered from all over Scotland, the judging took place at the Scottish Real Ale Festival (Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh) on Friday 25 June. The judging panel consisted of individuals selected by SIBA and was separate to that of the CAMRA Champion Beer of Scotland award, which we had proudly won overall the day before.

Of the seven awards, four were gold, two were silver and one was bronze - including silver and bronze overall. Orkney Blast (6.0% ABV), recently crowned ‘Champion Beer of Scotland 2010’, won its category of ‘Strong Ales’ and also placed third overall. At the other end of the alcohol-strength spectrum, Orkney Best (3.6% ABV) won its category of ‘Bitters and Pale Ales’ and placed second overall. Dark Munro won in ‘Milds’, and Orkney IPA won 'Premium Bitters'. We're especially pleased that such varying styles of beer have all done so well, especially against such testing, generally well-established, competition.

Full breakdown of results (click here for full competition results):

As it turned out, Rob, owner and head brewer at the Highland Brewing Company, was at the festival making a top up delivery of Orkney Blast when the competition results started being announced. After hearing the brewery name read out seven times, and subsequently being called to the stage four times, he admits he was almost embarrassed.

It’s the third year in a row Orkney Blast has placed first in its category at the SIBA competition – we’ve got the hat trick! In our opinion, this, coupled with the fact that we’ve taken the Champion Beer of Scotland title for the third time in four years, highlights our ultimate commitment to the consistent quality of our beers. We’re immensely proud.
 
Order cask beers by contacting the brewery, buy bottles from your local stockist or buy bottles online now.

CHAMPION BEER OF SCOTLAND 2010
Friday, June 25 2010

Orkney Blast has been voted Champion Beer of Scotland 2010 - the third time in four years we’ve won the title. Judged at the Scottish Real Ale Festival (Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh) on Thursday June 24, the judging panel consisted of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) members along with selected brewers and beer writers from around the UK. We also won the accolade in 2007 with Dark Munro and in 2008 with Scapa Special.

It’s absolutely fantastic for a beer of this strength to win a major CAMRA award – we’re delighted to receive the recognition – we feel it is well deserved.

Orkney Blast is 6% ABV (alcohol by volume) and really has everything you could ask for in a glass of beer - full in flavour whilst not overpowering; it achieves a clean maltiness with a luscious, spicy hop middle that builds to a refreshing hoppy finish - leaving you wanting more!

The pump clip design for the beer is part of the masthead from the original ‘Orkney Blast’ newspaper which was published in Orkney for the Forces during the Second World War.

Life’s a Blast

Buy Orkney Blast in cask by emailing here; have the beer delivered to your door by ordering here, find your local stockist here

OLD NORWAY - A NEW BEER
Sunday, January 31 2010

The first news of the New Year is the announcement of our new beer: Old Norway. At 9% ABV it sits nicely beside our Orkney Porter, also 9%, and is the first time we've brewed a barley wine. A lovely deep amber in colour, we loaded it full of American hops - and then we put some more in! All in the interest of balance, it also contains a small mountain of Maris Otter pale malt.

At the moment it is only available on draught; bottles are hopefully coming soon. So far we have made deliveries to The Anderson at Fortrose, The Newcastle Arms in Newcastle and The Bacchus, also in Newcastle.

If you'd like to try Old Norway in your local, please ask for it by name and tell them we deliver direct!

lewis@highlandbrewingcompany.co.uk

THE YEAR IN REVIEW
Thursday, December 31 2009

2009 has been a great year for the Highland Brewing Company.

We have doubled the number of employees (from one to two), we've managed to brew two new beers (we'd have loved to have made more but didn't have the spare capacity), we've doubled the number of casks we have in circualtion, we've beaten all of our growth targets (not because we underestimated) and we've bought a new van (sort of by default). The most exciting event, however, was the inaugural brew on our new 20BBL brewplant, thus increasing production by four times and giving us lots to look forward in the coming twelve months.

For now, wishing you a happy and prosperous 2010, Lewis and Rob.

BUMPER NEWS UPDATE
Thursday, November 26 2009

A bumper news update for you!

Our festive beer is now available: Christmas Light, at 3.8% ABV, is a wonderfully hopped ale at a sensible strength. Our stock didn't last long last year, so don't delay - place your order now! Call 01856 721 700.

Orkney Porter 2009 vintage has almost matured enough for bottling - be excited, be very excited, we certainly are! In the meantime, you can still snap up the last unspoken for 2008 vintage bottles from Cornelius Beer and Wine, Edinburgh, or online here: www.thefinewinecompany.co.uk. This beer just keeps getting better and better.

Get daily, usually real-time, updates of what's going on at the brewery, including news on new beers, delivery updates and everything else, follow Lewis on Twitter: twitter.com/HighlandBrewLew.

SPECIAL BEER AT CLOISTERS BAR EDINBURGH
Saturday, November 14 2009

We recently delivered two nine gallon casks of a never-seen-before, unnamed, blend to Cloisters Bar, Edinburgh.

The good people at Cloisters have named the beer 'Staff Pint' and tell us the first nine gallons sold in under two hours! Cask number two will be on soon - don't miss it! We'd like to hear your thoughts.

The Cloisters, Edinburgh

HIGHLAND LEWIS ON TWITTER
Monday, October 19 2009

In a change to what was previously advertised, you can now follow Lewis on Twitter, as opposed to general Highland Brewing Company Tweets. Change your bookmarks - twitter.com/HighlandBrewLew

BAG A DARK MUNRO WHENEVER YOU WANT
Wednesday, October 14 2009

Teuchters Bar Edinburgh now have our Dark Munro on a permanent line. Make sure you pay them a visit on William Street, Edinburgh's West End, and let us know what you think.

Related:

www.aroomin.co.uk


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GREAT BRITISH BEER FESTIVAL 2009
Tuesday, August 4 2009

Dark Munro (4%) has been awarded Bronze in the Great British Beer Festival, Milds category. Based on year round local tasting sessions and regional competitions, the final judging took place at Earl's Court, London. Dark Munro was amongst sixty ales in the competition, with the overall title being awarded to Rudgate Brewery's Ruby Mild, our congratulations to them. Dark Munro was the only Scottish beer to receive an award.

The festival runs until Saturday, 8 August, and has at least 450 beers on offer. Try our Dark Munro at bar W4 (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland & Channel Isles). Also, you can try our Orkney Blast at bar B1 (SIBA Champions Bar), following being awarded National Champion Strong Ale in February this year. It is also a chance to try the very last cask of Orkney Porter (2008 vintage) at the Volunteer Arms bar (working CAMRA members only!). We will also be manning the SIBA bar (B1) all day on Friday, 7 August, feel free to come along and have a Blast with us.

RECENT AWARDS
Tuesday, August 4 2009

We're pleased to have been awarded Beer of the Festival for Scapa Special at the CAMRA Aberdeen & North East Beer Festival. Thanks to everyone who voted for Scapa and also to CAMRA for organising the event.

Also, in the SIBA Scotland Competition, we're proud to have received the following:

Milds (up to 4%) - Dark Munro - Silver
Best Bitters (4.1-4.5%) - Scapa Special - Bronze
Premium Bitters (4.6-4.9%) - Orkney IPA - Gold
Strong Ales (over 5.6%) - Orkney Blast - Gold

This was another good year at the festival for us, adding to an already impressive collection of gratefully received awards.