Traquair House Brewery has been a consistent gold medal performer at the World Beer Championships
Traquair House near Innerleithen in Scotland, is this year celebrating its 900th anniversary. It's more than just another historic house, it’s a symbol of Scotland’s turbulent and bloody past. “It’s a house of lost causes, a house of memories, or simply the most romantic house in Britain.” Where else would you find one of the oldest working breweries in the country?
Traquair House brewery is located beside the house and was known to be producing beer during the visit of Mary Queen of Scots in 1566. Almost two centuries later, a 200-gallon copper, part of the brewing equipment, was installed in the brew house although at that time it was only a domestic brewery producing beer for the estate workers and visitors.
It went out of use sometime around1800 and the equipment lay undisturbed until re-discovered by Peter Maxwell Stuart in 1964 and brought back into production. Now, two full-time brewers using the original vessels produce Traquair ales including Jacobite Ale, Bear Ale, House Ale and the Laird’s Liquor which are now sold around the world.
The brewery currently produces around 600 barrels a year; this allows 200,000 bottles while the rest is sold as draught.
Traquair House Ale (ABV 7.2%) is a, “Serious winter ale, a deep reddish – golden colour with an strong, earthy flavour, described as a, “World classic.” It has consistently been a gold medal performer during the World Beer Championships over many years.
One of the great pleasures in life for blue cheese lovers (particularly Stilton) is to soak the cheese in House Ale before enjoying. Other suggestions are to serve with Pate de Foie Gras or simply with coffee.
Jacobite Ale (ABV 8%) brewed to celebrate the 1745 Jacobite rebellion; it is based on an eighteenth century recipe and flavoured with coriander. Like the House Ale a strong performer in recent world championships.
It was described as, "A rich warm biscuity aroma balanced by hops and a herbal note from the coriander. A bittersweet finish with hints of chocolate, winey fruit and coriander."
Bear Ale (ABV 5%) Traquair’s original ale is lighter than the others and has a, "Rich malty nose and a full malty palate, attractive fruity hops appearing on the finish. A big well-flavoured ale from a tiny brewery."
Laird’s Liquor (ABV 6%) is a rich dark ale with a liquorice flavour recently launched in 1995.
In this the 900th anniversary of Traquair House a 900th Birthday Brew has been produced. It has a stunning ABV of 9% and is packaged in a specially designed silk-screened bottle. “It's pretty strong, so you really need to be sitting down at the end of the day to enjoy it," said Lady Laird Catherine Maxwell Stuart.
