Belhaven

Commercial Brewery in Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Owned by Greene King
Associated with 6 Venues

Established in 1719

Contact
Brewery Lane, Dunbar, EH42 1PE, Scotland
Description
Established in 1719, Belhaven is Scotland’s oldest working brewery. With abundant local barley, fine water from the brewery well and access to markets up and down the coast, Belhaven was the perfect place for a brewery back then, and it still is today. In 1719, Dunbar market gardener John Johnstone erected a brewery close to Belhaven Bay and founded a brewing dynasty which was to last for 250 years and a brewery which would last much longer. The brewery and maltings persevered through the wars and upheavals of the early 20th Century and was eventually sold by John Johnstone’s descendants in 1972. In 2005 is was taken over by Greene King who kept the Brewery open in Scotland.

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6.8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Poured w/mild head. Malt flavory. A caramel taste. Some hops but mine was weak in them. Drinkable.

Tried on 20 May 2025 at 00:52


6.8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6

Bottled. substantial head. Some caramelness and malts to taste. A nice hoppy bite in the end.

Tried from Bottle on 20 May 2025 at 00:46


7.8
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7.5

It is a really sweet ale, a good one for the spring or autumm. The taste is malty, vanilla, side of oak, few hop, 05.07.2017, drinking it at Prélaz, Lausanne, buying it at the closed shop Grain d'Orges, Crissier

Tried from Bottle on 18 May 2025 at 12:05

gave a cheers!

5.9
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5.5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 5

Pours amber colour liquid with modest head. Aroma of grain, burnt rice, honey, herbs. Medium body. The taste is pretty bitter growing up & lasting through the finish to the aftertaste. A bit overhopped to me. Not a highlight both of style & brewery.

Tried on 16 May 2025 at 19:21


7
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 6.5

Deep copper, moderate off-white head. Toffee, caramel, nuts on nose. Similar taste. Light bitterness giving balance. Medium body. A pleasant one

Tried on 16 May 2025 at 19:18


6.9
Appearance - 9 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 6

Deep brown, beige bubbly head. Medium body. Nose of roasted barley & coffee, maybe leather. Sweet taste with some bitterness at finish. Decent beer.

Tried on 16 May 2025 at 19:16


6.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5.5 | Flavor - 5.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 6

Clear brown ale. Moderate beige head. Caramely nose. A hint of hops. Light-bodied. Sweetish taste. Caramel, molasses. Light hoppiness.

Tried on 16 May 2025 at 19:12


7.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6.5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 9 | Overall - 6.5

Red-brown body with creamy head. Nose of bread, chocolate, syrup. Esters. Medium body. Sweet and bitter notes in taste. Smooth bitter finish as well as aftertaste. Decent

Tried on 16 May 2025 at 19:10


6.9
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

330ml bottle. Clear, dark auburn colour with small to average, dense, creamy, moderately lasting, minimally lacing, dark beige head. Sweet-ish, sugary and slightly spicy, caramel malty and minimally fruity aroma, notes of caramel, some treacle, hints of cherry, raisin, toffee, a touch of rye malt-like spiciness. Taste is sweet-ish, minimally toasty and spicy, caramel malty, mildly bitter and minimally fruity hoppy, notes of caramel, some toffee, a touch of cherry, raisin, dried fruit; minimally dry, papery and minimally alcoholic finish.
Oily texture, smooth and soft, minimally cloying palate, fine, mildly prickly carbonation.
Rather sweet but still balanced, fairly rich but not overly complex - nice.

Tried from Bottle from REWE Markt Mumme on 15 May 2025 at 18:23


6.4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6.5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Van tap bij Beehive Inn in Edinburgh gedeeld. Zoetje, citrustonen, hoppig, lichte rooksmaak. (10-5-2025).

Tried from Bottle at Beehive Inn on 10 May 2025 at 15:24