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.
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Dark brown with a thick rocky head. Quite toasty aroma, light chocolate. Chocolate and slightly toasty palate, with some diacetyl accent, evidenced mainly in a slight slick note on the tongue.
Tried
on 06 Nov 2010
at 15:13
6.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Cask, White Hart, Port Ellen. Brown, somewhat hazy. Mostly caramel nose with some earth. Somewhat juicy, but with toasty character in the finish. Good, mellow and complex.
Tried
from Cask
on 06 Nov 2010
at 15:11
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 7
Bright amber. Chewy, caramel nose with some hop resin. A bit fizzy from the bottle, but mixing nice caramel, subtle fruitiness and a resiny hop bitterness.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Nov 2010
at 15:10
7.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Bottle, Old Kiln, Ardbeg. Dark brown. Chocolatey taste with light roasty notes. Quaffable, evenly-balanced stout. Chocolatey, lightly fudgey aroma.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Nov 2010
at 15:09
5.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Cask, Radical Road, Edinburgh. Amber and hazy. Loose head. Toasty, lightly fruity, complex aroma. Actually a bit strange - some toasty notes but also thin and grainy. Not terribly interesting. Fresh samples on Islay didn’t knock me out either.
Tried
from Cask
on 06 Nov 2010
at 04:11
6.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Bottle @ Papsø-Grand-Tasting, September 2010. Pours dark ruby brown with a creamy white head. Nose is coffee roast and chocolate. Ashy and dusty flavor. Medium bodied. Dry roasted end.
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Oct 2010
at 04:46
6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Bottle @ Papsø-Grand-Tasting, September 2010. Pours cloudy ruby amber with a creamy lasting head. Nose is citrus hops. Medium bodied. Dry flavor with a hoppy touch. Dry short end.
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Oct 2010
at 04:44
5.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5
Bottle @ Papsø-Grand-Tasting, September 2010. Pours unclear golden with a small white head. Citrus and caramel. Sweet malty. Medium bodied.
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Oct 2010
at 02:32
6.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 2
Overall 7.5
clear yellow, smooth yellow head. nice citrussy flowery aroma flavor is nicely bitterhoppy, malts balance well. good bitter ale. well hopped.
Tried
on 24 Sep 2010
at 17:22
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Cloudy golden with a huge off white head. Aroma was dry with pale malt, yeast and hoppy notes. Flavor was dry with plenty of hops, pine, grapefruit and lemons. Finished dry and bitter.
Tried
on 12 Sep 2010
at 12:56