Your Edinburgh experience is not complete without visiting one or two craft beer bars. The city is home to Stewart and Caledonian breweries and hosts the main offices of Innis & Gunn, making it one of the best places to try out craft beer. There has been increased popularity in taking craft beer as it allows beer enthusiasts to enjoy traditional, full-flavoured beers and experiment new beer styles and flavours. With craft beer, enthusiasts are no longer restricted to what is only available from regular manufacturers but can try out their style. Lots of craft beer bars have been set up, and traditional local bars are stocking their shelves with this unique beer. Below are some of the best craft beer bars in Edinburgh:
The Hanging Bat
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It is regarded as the town’s headquarter of craft beers, boasting up to 100 types of beers. The bottled menu is pretty impressive with sections of farmhouse ales (comprises fermented sours, lambics and saisons) and strange brews. The Bat also offers the most recent beers in UK brewing, as well as less popular types like the Sam Smith’s fruit beers. If it is your first time to try out craft beer, the staff here provides tasters to help you identify the most preferred selection of draught beers that include Wild Beer, Kernel, Siren, Thornbridge and Beavertown, among others. Note that the Hanging Bat offers halves and schooner; not pints.
Brewdog
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It makes a great hangout spot for any occasion and offers some pretty impressive choices; the 5 AM Redale, the popular IPA, Lost Lager and the Dead Pony Club, among others. Brewdog describes itself as an oasis of craft beer in the heart of the old Edinburgh town and the selection here will not disappoint you. It was established in early 2011 to retrieve the original version of old bars in the town- a lager-soaked karaoke den. It explains the use of reclaimed furniture, stainless steel items and the exposed brickwork for its décor.
www.brewdog.com/bars/uk/edinburgh
Hollyrood 9a
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This bar and burger spot is another great place to enjoy a Cup of craft beer. The interior has a wood-panelled brown space that pairs up as a hunting lodge and a gentleman’s club. Popular beer selections are from renonwed Scottish breweries like Alechemy, Tryst, Fyne Ales and Cromarty while guest taps and bottles offer the Copenhagen’s Mikkller and Bristol’s Beer. Fuller Thompson, the owner, also runs two other craft beer bars- the Red Squirrel and The Sothern.
Red Squirrel
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Located along Lothian road, Red Squirrel is among the oldest craft beer bars in Edinburgh. It offers more than 20 craft beers and boasts a wide selection of bottled beer too. Most of its beer is supplied by Scottish brewers, including Pilot and Edinburgh Beer Factory. Red Squirrel also offers a decent menu for vegetarians.
www.redsquirreledinburgh.co.uk
Salt Horse
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It pairs up as a shop and a bar, offering more than 350 beer bottles. Salt Horse also provides 12 keg lines of foreign and domestic beer, and you can enjoy the best burger here.
Brauhaus
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This craft beer joint is pretty small but hosts a diverse selection of craft beers from Canada, Germany and Belgium, among others. You will also find a reinvented version of the Snakebite (a 50/50 mix of beer and cider).
