Islay Ales
Microbrewery
in
Bridgend,
Argyll and Bute,
Scotland 🏴
Associated Venue: Islay Ales
Established in 2004
Contact
Islay House Square, Bridgend, PA44 7NZ, Scotland
Description
Islay Ales was founded by Paul Hathaway, Paul Capper and Walter Schobert in 2004. The brewery has a 4 barrel brewing plant that produces all their ales in cask and bottle-conditioned format; therefore, the beers are never pasteurised or filtered.
In July 2018 Donald MacKenzie and Mackay Smith - ''The Islay Boys'' - took over the brewery with one goal in mind: to reconquer the hearts and minds - and tastebuds! - of the good people of Islay, and of course the many visitors to the island, by brewing straightforward, taste-upfront beers. We rely on experience, taste and aroma to guide our brewing process.
In July 2018 Donald MacKenzie and Mackay Smith - ''The Islay Boys'' - took over the brewery with one goal in mind: to reconquer the hearts and minds - and tastebuds! - of the good people of Islay, and of course the many visitors to the island, by brewing straightforward, taste-upfront beers. We rely on experience, taste and aroma to guide our brewing process.
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Can via a swap with customer. He bought it at the brewery.
Appearance - opaque matt black. Foamy beige head.
Nose - molasses, cinder toffee, liquorice, honeycomb and general roast.
Taste - chewy molasses, cinder toffee and honeycomb.
Palate - medium bodied, sweet but roasty.
Overall - good ale!! Body and richness defies the low alcohol.
Appearance - opaque matt black. Foamy beige head.
Nose - molasses, cinder toffee, liquorice, honeycomb and general roast.
Taste - chewy molasses, cinder toffee and honeycomb.
Palate - medium bodied, sweet but roasty.
Overall - good ale!! Body and richness defies the low alcohol.
Tried
from Can
on 30 May 2026
at 19:10
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Can thanks to a customer swap.
Appearance - murky yellow with a big foamy white head.
Nose - dank, yeast, apple and possibly pineapple.
Taste - tangy apple and lemon, bready and biscuity.
Palate - close to medium bodied, bitter and zesty finish.
Overall - decent.
Appearance - murky yellow with a big foamy white head.
Nose - dank, yeast, apple and possibly pineapple.
Taste - tangy apple and lemon, bready and biscuity.
Palate - close to medium bodied, bitter and zesty finish.
Overall - decent.
Tried
from Can
on 30 May 2026
at 18:39
6.8/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Can thanks to a customer who bought it at the brewery.
Appearance - hazy yellow with a foamy white head.
Nose - dank, light citrus and biscuit.
Taste - lemon, orange and biscuit.
Palate - light bodied, dry finish.
Overall - ok, not as much of the promised tropical as expected.
Appearance - hazy yellow with a foamy white head.
Nose - dank, light citrus and biscuit.
Taste - lemon, orange and biscuit.
Palate - light bodied, dry finish.
Overall - ok, not as much of the promised tropical as expected.
Tried
from Can
on 30 May 2026
at 18:15
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Can swap with customer who picked it up at the brewery.
Appearance - golden and clear with gentle carbonation and an off-white head.
Nose - dank, vegetable oil, green beans and biscuit.
Taste - more vegetables and bread. Some caramel.
Palate - light bodied, some malt bitterness but could do with more hop bitterness.
Overall - ok.
Appearance - golden and clear with gentle carbonation and an off-white head.
Nose - dank, vegetable oil, green beans and biscuit.
Taste - more vegetables and bread. Some caramel.
Palate - light bodied, some malt bitterness but could do with more hop bitterness.
Overall - ok.
Tried
from Can
on 30 May 2026
at 17:56
7.6/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 8
Can thanks to a very kind customer. He's off to Islay soon and hopes to bring me back some more of their output. It cost me a swap for a Cromarty Not The Foggiest.
Appearance - pale yellow with a big fluffy white head and steady carbonation.
Nose - lemon, pineapple and peach.
Taste - more of the same, citrus and tropical.
Palate - light bodied, dry finish.
Overall - good.
Appearance - pale yellow with a big fluffy white head and steady carbonation.
Nose - lemon, pineapple and peach.
Taste - more of the same, citrus and tropical.
Palate - light bodied, dry finish.
Overall - good.
Tried
from Can
on 01 May 2026
at 17:43
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Bottle: Poured a golden with a white head. Aroma is hoppy, earthy, floral, perfume. Taste is bitter hops, malty balance, light floral, and biscuit.
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Apr 2026
at 02:34
7.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Can from the Oban Beer Seller. Pours clear yellow gold with a thin white head. Aromas of light tropical fruit and biscuit. Taste is light melon, light lime, more biscuit. Light bitter finish.
Tried
on 16 Mar 2026
at 12:11
6.1/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Can from the Oban Beer Seller. Pours clear yellow gold with a short-lived thin white head. Aromas of malt and faint green beans. Taste is honeyed malt sweet, faint herbal hops. Light sweet finish.
Tried
on 15 Mar 2026
at 16:53
6.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Fass 1 pt (0,568l) @Jura Hotel - Bar/Pub, Craighouse: Helles Gold, deutliche Trübung, mäßig stabiler mittelporiger Schaum; frische + fruchtige Nase, leichte fruchtige Süße, florale/grasige Hopfenaromen, kräftige Zitrusnoten, grüne Früchte, Limetten, Malz, Hefearomen, fruchtig-malzige Bitterkeit; frischer + fruchtiger Körper, kräftige florale/grasige Hopfenaromen, Zitrusnoten, Limetten, Grapefruit, Malz, Getreide, cremig, deutliche Kohlensäure, Hefearomen; fruchtig-malziger Nachgang
Tried
from Draft
on 12 Sep 2025
at 07:07
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 7
Overall 7
Old rating - 500ml bottle, pours pale golden with a white head. Aromas & tastes of orange, lemon, cereal, toast, earth & hops. Moderate body. Light bitter finish
Tried
from Bottle
on 31 Jan 2025
at 09:34