Strathaven Ales
Microbrewery in Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, Scotland 🏴
Established in 2005
Closed in 2022
Contact
Sandford Road, Craigmill Strathaven ML10 6PB, Strathaven, Scotland
Description
Strathaven Ales is the pinnacle of traditional real ale brewing with our stone clad brewing kettle and well used brew-house based in an old mill dating back to the early 1800s. The mill originally manufactured crushed barley for the brewery trade and flour for the local artisan bakers and it sits next to the river Avon near the market town of Strathaven.
We consider our beers to be very traditional, our brewing, unlike modern facilities is a hands-on labour intensive process crafted by three generations of the same family.
Manufacturing in an old building brings its challenges and we have retained many of the original mill features and a large part of the original gearing. Although this often gets in the way we feel it is part of what ensures the beer has a character not achieved in modern production units.
We consider our beers to be very traditional, our brewing, unlike modern facilities is a hands-on labour intensive process crafted by three generations of the same family.
Manufacturing in an old building brings its challenges and we have retained many of the original mill features and a large part of the original gearing. Although this often gets in the way we feel it is part of what ensures the beer has a character not achieved in modern production units.
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Cask at the White Lady. Pours amber, nose is biscuit, toffee, taste is dry, crisp, floral.
Tried
from Cask
on 08 Dec 2014
at 23:26
5.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Cask at the Crystal Palace. Pours light amber, nose is dull toffee, taste is similar.
Tried
from Cask
on 08 Dec 2014
at 23:25
5.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 5.5
Cask gravity at the Watford beer fest 2014. Dark ruby red coloured pour with a thin tan head. Aroma is fruity berry, dries fruit and alcohol. Flavour is composed of mild roast barly and sharp apple, lingering roasted nuts. Palate is medium light, low carbonation. OK.
Tried
from Cask
on 06 Nov 2014
at 12:49
6.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Cask at the Back of Beyond (JDW), Reading. Amber with a tight cream head; aroma of ground ginger and cinnamon; sweet in the mouth with some gentle ginger and spice; and nicely bitter with a malty ginger parkin finish. I’m not usually a fan of ginger beers, but this one was quite drinkable.
Tried
from Cask
on 31 Oct 2014
at 10:23
6.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Cask @ Stick or Twist, Leeds. Dark golden with a creamy head. Has a fair amount of ginger with a medium spiciness for it. Bitter in style.
Tried
from Cask
on 31 Oct 2014
at 04:24
6.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Cask at the Willow Walk, JDW - London. Pours clear, yellow-gold with a frothy white head. Certainly some ginger in the nose, along with pale bread and lemon zest. Medium sweet flavor with sugary white bread, moderate spicy ginger, crackers, straw. Light bodied with fine carbonation; decent condition. Sweet finish with some doughy biscuits, juicy ginger, mellow spicy zing, some citrus notes. It gets the job done.
Tried
from Cask
on 28 Oct 2014
at 11:33
8/10
Tried
on 26 Oct 2014
at 05:54
6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 6.5
Cask at JDW Briar Rose; clear golden amber pour with a creamy white head, quite a floral spicy aroma, taste has a hit of ginger along with some caramel and mashed digestive.
Tried
from Cask
on 26 Oct 2014
at 05:14
6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Bottle at home. Pours clear golden, nose is spicy ginger, taste is sweet toffee, ginger.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Oct 2014
at 13:18
6.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 4
Overall 7
Cask handpull Crosse Keys Spoons. Clear dark gold thin white head. Slight perfume slight smoke aroma. Not great condition. I quite like the flavour development. Perfume ti spiciness. Not terrible. It’s ok some ginger. Not my favourite but it holds together and the bitterness on the finish is good.
Tried
from Cask
on 25 Oct 2014
at 01:22