Belhaven Brewery facts for kids
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Alcoholic drink |
| Founded | 1719 |
| Headquarters | Belhaven, Scotland, UK |
| Products | Beer |
| Owner | Greene King, CK Asset Holdings |
Belhaven Brewery is a famous place in Belhaven, Scotland, where they make beer. It's one of the oldest breweries around, starting way back in 1719! For a long time, it was the biggest and oldest independent brewery in Scotland. In 2005, another company called Greene King bought Belhaven. The buildings where they make the beer are very old and special, listed as 'Category A' because of their history.
Contents
The Story of Belhaven Brewery
How Belhaven Started Brewing
Belhaven Brewery says it began making beer in 1719. Around that time, the nearby town of Dunbar added a tax for brewers. This money was used to improve the town. Belhaven's location was just outside Dunbar's border. This meant they didn't have to pay the tax. So, the 1719 date might be when an older brewing business moved to this spot.
In the early 1700s, there were over 24 other small and large breweries nearby. Most of them didn't last very long. Only three survived until the mid-1800s. Belhaven was the only one that kept going through the 1900s. This was partly because it made smaller amounts of beer. It also had a bigger ability to prepare the grains needed for brewing.
Brewing History in Dunbar
The history of making beer in Dunbar goes back much further. As early as the 1200s, Benedictine monks from the Isle of May had a place there. They used it for farming, preparing grains, and brewing.
The Manager's House
The house where the brewery manager lived was built around 1790. It was made bigger several times over the years. For at least 50 years, this house has been separate from the brewery. It is now owned by a private person. In its garden, there's a small decorative building. It was built to hide the brewery from the house. The gates to the house used to be made from whale jawbones. You can also find these at nearby North Berwick Law. But over time, these gates have worn down to stumps.
Changes in Ownership
By 2005, Belhaven was the biggest and oldest independent brewery in Scotland. In November 2005, a company called Greene King bought Belhaven for £187 million. Greene King is based in Suffolk, England. They promised that Belhaven would keep its own brands and brewery after the sale.
In 2019, a company from Hong Kong called CK Assets bought Greene King. This meant they also became the owner of Belhaven. Experts believed that CK Assets saw the pubs owned by Greene King as a safe investment. This was especially true during times when the economy might slow down.
Belhaven's Beers
Belhaven makes about 20 different kinds of beer. They sell these beers in Scotland and in other countries. Their most popular beer in Scotland is Belhaven Best. It was first made in 1991. By 2001, it became Scotland's best-selling ale. It still holds that spot today. You can find Belhaven Best in many pubs and in cans across Scotland.
Different Types of Belhaven Beers
The brewery also makes other beers, like:
- Belhaven Black Scottish Stout
- Traditional Scottish ales such as 80 Shilling
- St Andrew's Amber Ale
- Belhaven IPA
- Robert Burns Brown Ale
In 2014, Belhaven started making special craft beers. These include Twisted Thistle IPA and Speyside Oak Aged Blonde Ale. They also make Craft Pilsner, Scottish Oat Stout, and Belhaven Scottish Ale. You can buy these in bottles, and some are also available on tap in pubs.
New Beer Styles
In recent years, Belhaven has launched many new beers. This is because the "craft beer" trend has made people want new and different beer styles. Since 2015, they have launched beers like Intergalactic Dry-Hopped Lager. They also made Bridge to Nowhere Pale Ale and Twisted Grapefruit IPA. Many of these new beers have more hops and are often stronger. This is different from the traditional beers Belhaven used to make.
In the past, Belhaven brewed many types of stouts and porters. They also made brown ales and special beers for anniversaries. Even longer ago, they made "harvest ales" and "2d ales" as their main products.
Modern Brewing Equipment
A new brewing system was put into the old brewery in 2012. The old equipment was replaced with a modern system. This new system allows them to make many more types of beer. It also means they can now brew lagers as well as ales. Princess Anne officially opened the new brewhouse on January 18, 2013.
Selling Beers Around the World
Belhaven has become very good at selling its beers overseas. Important countries for their exports include the USA, Russia, Sweden, and France. In 2016, Belhaven won the "Exporter of the year" award at the Scottish Beer Awards.
Belhaven Pubs
Belhaven Brewery also owns and manages over 150 pubs. These pubs operate under the name Belhaven Pubs.
Sports Sponsorships
Belhaven sponsored the football team Dundee United. They supported the team for six seasons, from 1987 to 1993.
Innis & Gunn Beer
Innis & Gunn is a special type of beer. It is aged in oak barrels. Belhaven used to brew and bottle this beer for Innis & Gunn. This partnership lasted until 2011.
The Belhaven Bursary for Music
Since 2018, Belhaven has given out an award called The Belhaven Bursary for Innovation in Scottish Music. The winner is announced each year at the Scots Trad Music Awards. The prize is £25,000. The winner also gets a beer brewed with their name on it. They get to perform at an event during Tartan Week in New York. Plus, their music is used in a Belhaven advertising campaign. This cash prize is the biggest music prize in Scotland. Only the Mercury Prize offers a similar amount.
Past Bursary Winners
- 2018 (first award) - Elephant Sessions
- 2018 - Talisk
- 2019 - Kinnaris Quintet
