Pilot
Microbrewery
in
Leith,
Midlothian,
Scotland 🏴
Associated with 2 Venues
Established in 2013
Contact
Description
Pilot was born when Matt Johnson and Patrick Jones met while studying for masters degrees in Brewing & Distilling at Heriot-Watt University in 2012. A shared view that there was something different to be done in brewing – not traditional real ales, but not just another U.S. craft beer clone either – led to home-brewing together, which eventually led to buying a second-hand brewhouse and moving to the heart of cosmopolitan Leith, commencing brewing right at the end of 2013.
We’ve never done things the easy way. We dismantled the plant ourselves. We moved it to Leith and rebuilt it ourselves. We dug out the drainage (pro-tip: pay real men to do that), installed the flues and built the cooling system ourselves. We design, brew and drink the beer ourselves. We are Pilot.
We’ve never done things the easy way. We dismantled the plant ourselves. We moved it to Leith and rebuilt it ourselves. We dug out the drainage (pro-tip: pay real men to do that), installed the flues and built the cooling system ourselves. We design, brew and drink the beer ourselves. We are Pilot.
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 8
Pint at Vessel. Pours clear golden with a thin white head. Aromas of banana, bread and spice. Taste is white pepper, dough and banana again. Dry finish.
Tried
on 07 Jun 2026
at 09:01
8.3/10
—
Appearance 9
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Can from Cornelius. Hazy pale golden body with a thick white head. No visible carbonation. Faint lacing. Aroma of cucumber, minerals and cigarette butt. Flavour of nettles and waxed lemon. Medium body with a smooth texture. Soft fizz. This is exquisite and exceeded expectations.
Tried
from Can
from
Cornelius
on 04 Jun 2026
at 20:35
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7
Can from Appellation Wines.
Appearance - pale yellow and pretty much clear. White head.
Nose - lemon and biscuit.
Taste - more citrus and generally bready.
Palate - light bodied, dry finish.
Overall - does very much what it says on the tin!
Appearance - pale yellow and pretty much clear. White head.
Nose - lemon and biscuit.
Taste - more citrus and generally bready.
Palate - light bodied, dry finish.
Overall - does very much what it says on the tin!
Tried
from Can
from
Appellation Wines (Comely Bank)
on 30 May 2026
at 17:34
7.3/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7
Can from Appellation Wines.
Appearance - pale lemon yellow in colour with a light haze. Very foamy white head.
Nose - candied lemon, almost foam bananas, fresher lemon, some yeast and ester action going on, for sure.
Taste - more lemon and banana, black banana actually, something herbal, maybe thyme.
Palate - close to medium bodied, despite the low ABV, zesty and tangy.
Overall - not quite what I was expecting, but two of Scotland's top brewers, and a good beer.
Appearance - pale lemon yellow in colour with a light haze. Very foamy white head.
Nose - candied lemon, almost foam bananas, fresher lemon, some yeast and ester action going on, for sure.
Taste - more lemon and banana, black banana actually, something herbal, maybe thyme.
Palate - close to medium bodied, despite the low ABV, zesty and tangy.
Overall - not quite what I was expecting, but two of Scotland's top brewers, and a good beer.
Tried
from Can
from
Appellation Wines (Comely Bank)
on 29 May 2026
at 19:43
7.6/10
—
Appearance 9
Aroma 8.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
Tried
from Can
on 22 May 2026
at 16:43
7.5/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Can from Cornelius Wines. It pours clear yellow - gold with a medium fluffy white head. The aroma is sour, zingy, tangy, lactic, salty cracker, zesty, grapefruit peel, sherbet, must and damp grain. The taste is crisp, dry, snappy, puckering, zingy, zesty, grapefruit, savoury, salty cracker, lemon peel, pomelo, lactic and natural yoghurt with a clean finish. Average body and moderate+ giant carbonation. Quenching and moreish.
Tried
from Can
at
Cornelius Leith Walk
on 22 May 2026
at 15:47
7.3/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7
Can from Appellation Wines.
Appearance - fluffy white head over a hazy yellow head.
Nose - funk, salt and grapefruit up front. not getting the pepper yet.
Taste - big grapefruit and salt again, with just an edge of the warmth of the pepper.
Palate - light bodied, salty and an edge of funk, some sour notes extend into the finish.
Overall - good stuff.
Appearance - fluffy white head over a hazy yellow head.
Nose - funk, salt and grapefruit up front. not getting the pepper yet.
Taste - big grapefruit and salt again, with just an edge of the warmth of the pepper.
Palate - light bodied, salty and an edge of funk, some sour notes extend into the finish.
Overall - good stuff.
Tried
from Can
from
Appellation Wines (Comely Bank)
on 09 May 2026
at 17:40
6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Very dark brown pour, minimal head. Smells of roast malt and coffee. Flavor of roast malt and coffee. It’s okay but it’s a little thin and bland to my tastes.
Tried
from Cask
on 08 May 2026
at 04:34
7.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Tall font pour at Bow Bar. It pours clear rich amber with a decent white head. The aroma is sweet, sticky, golden syrup, crunchy biscuit, toasted oats, dessicated coconut, cracker and brown bread. The taste is dry, retrained bitterness, pithy orangey citrus, tropical, coconut, syrup biscuits, oatcakes, toasty spice, wood, kick of booze, green, grassy, touch of tannin, wood and slight soapiness. Finish is bone dry and warming. Medium body and fine carbonation. Novel, yet remains quaffable.
Tried
from Cask
at
Bow Bar
on 07 May 2026
at 12:15
7.8/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Keg at Vessel. Pours lightly hazed yellow gold with a thick white head. Aromas of pink grapefruit, light funk and lemon. Taste has light salt and light heat, juicy grapefruit. Light sour tangy finish. Very nice.
Tried
on 03 May 2026
at 09:29