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.
5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 4
Cask at Three Judges, Glasgow. Copper colour.Roasty and caramelly. Light bodied, ashy and fruity with medium bitterness. Cellary and quite dull.
Tried
from Cask
on 31 Aug 2007
at 02:16
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7
Cask at Standing Order, Edinburgh. Nut brown. Buttery malt aroma. with pleasant roasty elements. Swet and malty with rounded mouthfeel, Mildly peaty with buttery finish. Mild and pleasing.
Tried
from Cask
on 31 Aug 2007
at 01:46
6.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6
Cask at Blackfriars, Glasgow. Deep golden. Sweet and fruity, medium bodied. A buttery and lightly grassy easy going summer ale with flowery bitter finish.
Tried
from Cask
on 30 Aug 2007
at 05:51
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Cask conditioned at The Three Judges, Glasgow, as "Craigmill Brewery Strathaven Ales Duchess Anne Light Ale". Golden colour, moderate head. Surprisingly malty aroma with notes of butterscotch, and some unusual notes of dishwater and sweat. Smooth and malty flavour, butterscotch again, noticeable hops in the finish.
Tried
from Cask
on 28 Aug 2007
at 12:51
6.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Live at the Guildford Arms, Edinburgh: Golden, white foam sticks to the glass, distinctive fruity and flowery hoppy nose with a grainy touch; light bodied, solid bitter, slightly sweet flavour; short fresh bitter-fruity finish with a grainy touch. Light, but pleasant session beer......
Tried
on 26 Aug 2007
at 12:20
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Cask handpull at Three Judges, Glasgow. Gold, lasting white head. Odd ashy, buttery flavour. Gets better as the half went down. Decent citrus flavours, bit over oxidised.
Tried
from Cask
on 24 Aug 2007
at 04:02
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Cask handpull at Three Judges, Glasgow. Gold, lasting white head. Decent golden beer, some good hop but a little dusty on the end.
Tried
from Cask
on 23 Aug 2007
at 04:49
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Standing Order Edinburgh... Red ale.. Light brown , smooth mouth feel ... odd grassy back bone to this, common to lotsof Strathaven ales ... some fruity malts ... little caramel andlight hop. It grew on me. Was also a bit cold.
Tried
on 28 Jul 2007
at 03:50
6.3/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle at home ... Golden yellow ... sharp citrus hop nose ... fruity lighyt fresh hop ... little sherbert.
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Jun 2007
at 01:39
6.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 7
Medium, light beige head over red-amber, clear beer. Nice nose, like a nutcake (Brazil nuts?), dowsed by a rich, concentrated caramelized syrup and baked with fresh hops. Lightly smoked, ashes taste, and a bit of caramel, but generally watery. Ending on a light-bitter hoppy flavour, a bit metallic and roasted. Very watery in impression. It probably ISN’t so thin, but the rich nose promises such a voluptuousness for the mouth, that reality is harshly deceiving. Deserves better - like boiling away about yet another half of the water... Thanks a lot to Craig for finding me this one!
Tried
on 06 Jun 2007
at 13:35