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.
6.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Cask conditioned at Blackfriars, Glasgow, as Craigmill Strathaven Avondale. My half pint was near the end of the barrel. Deep golden colour, low head. Aroma of malts and butterscotch, some caramel. The flavour has also malts, butterscotch and caramel, but there is also a noticeable hoppy bitterness throughout. Okay.
Tried
from Cask
on 31 Aug 2007
at 11:48
5.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5
Bottle at RBESG 2007. Amber/red with a thin beige head. Buttery. Too much butter for me. Bit dull.
Tried
from Bottle
on 31 Aug 2007
at 10:03
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Bottle at RBESG 2007. Chill filtered bottle. Deep ruby with good intense dark malt aroma. Nice and warming, brown sugar. Decent , odd aroma, bit of dry malt.
Tried
from Bottle
on 31 Aug 2007
at 09:55
5.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 5.5
Bottled at RBESG ’07. Dark brown. Cardamom aroma. Sweet and fruity with medium body. There’s ash and burnt caramel, tropical fruits and butterscotch. Low bitterness.
Tried
from Bottle
on 31 Aug 2007
at 02:26
5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 5
Bottled at RBESG ’07. Dark amber, small head. Heavy cellary butter aroma. Sweet and caramelly, medium bodied with bold, syrupy mouthfeel, Low bitterness.
Tried
from Bottle
on 31 Aug 2007
at 02:24
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