The company was founded in 2007 by a distiller, David MacDonald, and a local farmer, Innes MacPherson, who set out to produce world-class beers on the farm in Mulben. Initially brewing from a tiny pilot plant, for the first four years the brewery survived on the owners’ day jobs and focused exclusively upon getting the recipes and the products right. Distribution was deliberately confined to a limited number of informed, local buyers and it wasn’t until 2011 that the first commercial casks arrived on the market.
The first product – Spey Stout – was enthusiastically received by consumers and critically acclaimed throughout the wider brewing world. Encouraged by this early success, the company expanded production in 2012 and began distributing more widely throughout the North East and further afield. In early 2016, production moved to a dedicated unit – still on the farm! – that has seen Spey Valley Brewery become the largest brewery in the local area.
Brewery closed in 2020 and relaunched in Summer 2023 with a different beer lineup.
CloakedDagger (37227) reviewed Sunshine on Keith from Spey Valley Brewery 6 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Bottle 50 cl. Clear deep golden, with an off-white head. Vague nutty, light body. Discreetly hoppy. No way a Session IPA as the bottle claims - this is a straight well made Bitter. 240719
cagarvie (40076) reviewed Spey's Software from Spey Valley Brewery 6 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5
Bottle at home... Golden amber... Small white head.. Soft herbal light vegative nose... Soft sweet toffee fruit.. Light vegative bitter fruits
eurosoba (18570) ticked David's Not So Bitter from Spey Valley Brewery 6 years ago
Mabuzzer (2123) reviewed Spey's Hopper from Spey Valley Brewery 6 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
330ml bottle from Aldi. Black with a foamy off white head. Aroma is roasted malt and a hint of liquorice, flavour is similar with a big dollop of dried fruit. Metallic aftertaste
Scopey (25115) reviewed Winter Sunshine from Spey Valley Brewery 6 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Keg at Craftsman Company, Aberdeen. It pours clear pale hay yellow with a small white head. The aroma is perfumed, soft stone fruits, persimmon, sweetish, floral and straw, The taste is crisp, dry, kick of bitterness, straw, floral, grassy, pithy citrus action and perhaps a touch of soap with a drying finish. Light to medium body and fine, prickly carbonation. Quenching. Not too shabby.
jamestulloch (9642) reviewed Spey's Hopper from Spey Valley Brewery 6 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Bottle from Aldi. Clear ruby/brown body with a beige head. Steady carbonation. Good lacing. Aroma of coffee, toast and ash. Flavour of brown bread, chocolate orange and pear. Thin body with a slick texture. Soft fizz. Well balanced and easy to drink. I think this would be ace on cask.
lore (7878) reviewed Stillman's IPA from Spey Valley Brewery 6 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 4.5
Opalescent golden colour, medium sized not too stable off-white head; aroma of overripe peach, floral, tropical fruity, some earthy-wine cellary and caramel notes; taste of a fruit juce with some addedd bitterness - not that good
Scopey (25115) reviewed Spey's Software from Spey Valley Brewery 6 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Cask at the Redgarth, Oldmeldrum. It pours hazy orange - amber with a thick, bubbly white head. The aroma is sweet, some stone fruit, bready malts, cake and marshmallows. The taste is dry, good biter of bitterness, green, weedy, grass, pine needles, pithy, grapefruit peel and a touch of peppery spice. Light to medium body and soft carbonation. Moreish. Works quite well.
Olut (21769) reviewed David's Not So Bitter from Spey Valley Brewery 7 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5
Bottle from Wrekin Whiskies, Shrewsbury. Copper-gold, but a bit more of the former, with a head. Fairly sweet bitter with an nice easy texture in part from its smoothness in the palate.
fonefan (84534) reviewed Spey's Software from Spey Valley Brewery 7 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Cask (gravity) @ #RHBCF2018 🧙🍻🇬🇧 [ The 11th Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival (The 43th. Nottingham CAMRA Beer and Cider Festival) ], The Motorpoint Arena, Bolero Square, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England NG1 1LA.
[ As Spey Valley Spey's Software ].
ABV: 4.0%. Cloudy - hazy matt medium yellow colour with a average, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, off-white to white head. Aroma is moderate malty, pale malt, dough - minerals, moderate hoppy, citrus, fruity hops. Flavor is moderate sweet and bitter with a long duration, citrus, fruity malt, fruity hops, minerals, pineapple notes. Body is medium, texture is oily to watery, carbonation is soft to flat. [20181017]
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