Pilot

Microbrewery in Leith, Midlothian, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Associated with 2 Venues

Established in 2013

Contact
Unit 4B, Stewartfield, Leith, EH6 5RQ, Scotland
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.

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7.4/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 7.5 Flavor 7.5 Texture 8 Overall 7
Can from Appellation Wines.
Appearance - cloudy amber to orange. Foamy, snow white head.
Nose - raspberry and red cherry. Light funk.
Taste - sour red fruits, mainly raspberry. Some creaminess from vanilla.
Palate - light bodied, tart and funky finish.
Overall - good example of the style.
Tried from Can from Appellation Wines (Comely Bank) on 26 Jul 2025 at 18:50

7.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 7 Overall 7
Can from Appellation Wines.
Appearance - pale yellow and fairly clear. Thin white head.
Nose - peach and apricot, some herbs but not massive on the elderflower side of things.
Taste - sweet orange and peach again with elderflower following it in.
Palate - light bodied, sweet middle and dry finish.
Overall - interesting!
Tried from Can from Appellation Wines (Comely Bank) on 26 Jul 2025 at 18:19

7.4/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 7 Flavor 7.5 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Can from Great Grog. Hazy golden body with a thin white head. Low carbonation. Patchy lacing. Aroma of orange and waxed lemon. Flavour of grass and grapefruit. Thin to medium body with a slick texture. Soft fizz. Crisp and juicy.
Tried from Can from Great Grog Bottle Shop on 24 Jul 2025 at 22:06

7.8/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 8 Flavor 7.5 Texture 8 Overall 8
keg at Vessel ...hazy amber ..thin white lacing soft sweet floral oranges fruit ..juicy fruits ..soft sweet juicy fruit ..soft ..dry zezty
Tried on 23 Jul 2025 at 17:30

7.4/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 8
keg at Vessel ...golden amber ..thin white lacing ..soft sweet floral fruit nose ..soft juicy fruit ..soft dry elderflower
Tried on 23 Jul 2025 at 17:14

7/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
From cask at The Bow Bar, Edinburgh. Soft apricot and biscuity malt, some caramel, ripe fruit, hint of coconut. Moderate bitter, light sweetish. Very nice, has plenty going on.
Tried from Cask at Bow Bar on 03 Jul 2025 at 23:24

6.4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 6 Texture 7 Overall 6
33cl can from Beer52.
Thin white head. Hazy golden pour. Light bitterness.
Tried from Can from Beer52 on 24 Jun 2025 at 16:58

7.3/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 7 Flavor 7.5 Texture 7 Overall 7.5
Cask at The Green Goddess, Blackheath Royal Standard. Nose is mango,pineapple, dessert pear, peach. Taste is grapefruit, tropical fruit, oats. Fruity sweet with a sharp bitter edge.
Tried from Cask at Green Goddess on 21 Jun 2025 at 20:50

7.4/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Can from Appellation Wines.
Appearance - a deep rose wine colour. Steady bubbles and a quickly disappearing head.
Nose - tangy sour grapes with a biscuit underlay.
Taste - more of the same, can get the malt base as well as the fresh acidic grape juice.
Palate - light bodied with persistent as acidity and great linger with the combo of fizz and acidity.
Overall - well perceived and executed.
Tried from Can from Appellation Wines (Comely Bank) on 16 Jun 2025 at 16:20

7.5/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
cask at the bow bar ...odd light brown ...thin white lacing .liggt raspberry fruit nose...sweet coconut ..odd chocolate king soft sweet fruit
Tried on 21 May 2025 at 17:11