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.
Hrabren (9642) reviewed Stillman's IPA from Spey Valley Brewery 7 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5
0.33 l bottle. Thanks Višnja. Hazy dark golden, medium off-white head. No hop character. Malts. Toasty, sweet. Light hop finish. Light body.
MoritzF (10566) reviewed Spey Stout from Spey Valley Brewery 8 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
(bottle, 33cl) Dark brown to black colour with a beige and short foamy head. Mildly roasted malty aroma with notes of bread crust, toffee, liquorice and hints of vanilla. Bitter-sweet flavour, light to medium bodied with a modest carbonation. Mildly roast-malty and slightly earthy taste with notes of caramel, liquorice, molasses, as well as subtle fruity flavours, especially towards the bitter-sweet and delicately tart finish. Likeable. 27.II.18
pivnizub (12821) reviewed Spey Stout from Spey Valley Brewery 8 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Bottle: Deep ruby-amber coloured, smaller stable off-white head; moderate sweet-bitter nose of toasted/roasted malt, liquorice and dried berries; moderate bitter-sweet flavour with a very well hidden secret acidity; medium bodied and soft; lingering drier bitter-sweet toasty and fruity finish. Yes! A goody...
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Can. Dark grey orange, big golden head. Looks oxidized but mostly clean fruity hop notes. Peach, lychee, grassy. Medium light mellow body. On the intersection of a NE and a properly good IPA
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Can. Murky dark orange, almost brown, color with creamy eggshell head. Aroma is tropical fruits, a bit minty, bready, toffee. Taste is the same. Silky mouthfeel with low to medium carbonation. Decent, though not exactly what you'd expect from the name.
Fergus (31329) reviewed Spey's Hopper from Spey Valley Brewery 8 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Bottle shared on Level 42. 2018 kick off session. 05/01/2018. Thanks to Paul for this one. A clear burnt amber brown coloured pour with a halo of light tan head. Aroma is slightly smokey, sticky sweet malts, pine, bark, orange rind. Flavour is composed of dry brown malts, toasted malts, orange rind, pine, . Palate is semi sweet, thin, brown sugars, pine.
Leighton (34941) reviewed Spey's Hopper from Spey Valley Brewery 8 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Bottle shared in London - thanks to Paul. Pours clear gold-brown with a small, creamy tan head. The nose has brown bread, toasted pine. Light sweet flavour, a little oxidized, more pine, brown bread, toasted sugars, mild grassy bitterness. Medium bodied with fine carbonation. A little bland on the finish, more brown bread, oxidation, earth. Interesting. So so.
WingmanWillis (38284) ticked Spey's Hopper from Spey Valley Brewery 8 years ago
Scopey (25115) reviewed Spey's Hopper from Spey Valley Brewery 8 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Bottle shared at L42. It pours deep brown with a medium beige head. The aroma is rich, malt - driven, brown bread, wood, fruit cake and toasty action. The taste is dry, bitter, toasted brown bread, burnt fruit cake, pithy, zesty, charred wood and chewy action with a drying and woody finish. Medium body and average carboantion. A bit chewy and drying. Old school. Fair enough.
madmitch76 (40452) reviewed Spey's Hopper from Spey Valley Brewery 8 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5
5th January 2018
Level 42 Bottleshare. Thanks to Paul. Clear deep amber beer, small pale tan head. Palate is light and dry, reasonable fine carbonation. Thin mellow dark malts, traces of earth and dark chocolate. Mild spicy bitterness. Mild tangy fruits. Litte bitter toffee. Dry finish. Quite drinkable.