<![CDATA[Beer & Brewery Tours by SCOTBEER Tours - Blog]]>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 18:55:01 +0000Weebly<![CDATA[Festive Opening Hours 2024]]>Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:13:36 GMThttps://www.scot.beer/blog/festive-opening-hours-2024Christmas is almost upon us! If you are looking to get out of the house around the festive season, don't worry, we are here to help.  We have invited some bars, pubs and taprooms to leave their opening hours on our social media posts so that it makes it easy for you to find somewhere to have a drink this Christmas with your family and friends.  So, without further ado, here are some of Glasgow and Edinburgh's pub and bar festive opening hours! Scroll down and click on the linked Instagram posts and have a look through the comments to find out the local festive opening hours!

Edinburgh Opening Hours

​Glasgow Opening Hours

Looking for last minute Christmas gifts?

Not to worry! Why not give the gift of beer this Christmas with our gift cards? As well as giving a loved one a memorable experience in one of Scotland's great cities, this gift will arrive immediately, no need to wait around for delivery time! 

Want to splurge a bit more on your loved ones? Give the gift of food and drink with our EatWalk food and drink tours gift card.

Merry Christmas

The team at ScotBeer wishes you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
]]><![CDATA[Get out the House this Christmas]]>Wed, 18 Dec 2024 12:10:52 GMThttps://www.scot.beer/blog/get-out-the-house-this-christmas3189261Picture the scene, it is the 27th of December, the turkey is almost finished and you are about ready to stop sitting around. This happens every year and there is almost always a family debate about what you should do. This year, why not skip the debate and head out to one of Scotland's freshest beer bars, taprooms or kitchens and extend the festivities just that wee bit longer.
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Uile-Bheist Brewery and Distillery, Inverness

Located on the banks of the Ness River in Inverness, this new brewery and distillery opened in 2023, making it the first distillery in Inverness for over 100 years.  Visit this innovative 'brewstillery' for a tour and then enjoy a drink or two in their taproom which offers a wide range of whiskies from around Scotland as well as their own beers from the in-house brewery.  

From being a sustainable craft brewery and distillery, to their passion for storytelling through sharing the myths and legends of the Scottish Highlands, there are many perks to visiting the Uile-Bheist brewstillery.  

Take a sunset wander along the Ness River with your friends and family, enjoy the calm atmosphere of the riverbank walk, then pop into the Uile-Bheist taproom for a dram or a pint (or both!) when it gets dark.
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Uile-Bheist Website

​Tempest Brewing Co. Taproom, Scottish Borders

Sporting 16 taps of fresh beer right from their brewery, Tempest's recently opened taproom is the perfect place to head out during the cold nights in December.  We already love Tempest's craft beer, so what better way to enjoy it than straight from the tap.

There's a beer for everyone! If you like a sweet, rich, warming brown ale, All the Leaves are Brown is the one for you - an imperial brown ale re-fermented with sticky maple syrup.  Looking for a lighter, more refreshing pint? Grab a Pale Armadillo, a zesty, tropical session IPA that will hit the spot. 

Getting out to the taproom couldn't be easier.  Hop in the car and head to Tweedbank, or if the designated driver wants a break, grab a train to the Tweedbank railway station and from there it's a short 8 minute walk.
Tempest Website

Fierce Bar, Edinburgh

If you live in the capital, take a gander over to the New Town to visit Fierce Beer's Rose Street bar.  It's no surprise that Fierce Beer repeatedly brings out amazing craft beers.  Enjoy the Rose Street bar's cosy atmosphere while sampling their newest releases (as well as their tried and tested classics).

You'll be sure to find a drink for you.  Equipped with a total of 20 taps, their staff are more than happy to help you find your perfect beer.  Fierce is especially great if you are looking for gluten free and vegan beer.  Explore their vegan and gluten free core range.  You can't go wrong with a Rhubarb Fruit Pale Ale, Hometown Lager or a Fancy Juice IPA, the list goes on...
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Fierce Website

Bellfield Brewery Taproom, Edinburgh

Are you based in or around Edinburgh? Get yourself along to the Bellfield Brewery Taproom and Beer Garden in Abbeyhill this Christmas.  As well as making top-notch, drinkable, delicious beers which happen to be the perfect accompaniment to food (which they also serve), Bellfield pride themselves on producing gluten-free, Coeliac Society UK certified beers. This means that if you are Coeliac, you don't have to miss out on the beer fun this Christmas... Pop down around the holidays to enjoy their delightful range of IPAs, lagers and ales; there's something for everyone!
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Bellfield Website

Brewdog Cowgate, Edinburgh

Enjoy a festive drink and a pizza at Edinburgh's oldest BrewDog taproom.  Savour some BrewDog classics like Hazy Jane or Black Heart, while enjoying the buzz of Edinburgh's central Cowgate area.  If you are struggling to choose from their 20+ taps of beer, the friendly staff are there to give you a helping hand and find you your ideal beer for the night.

Take your pick from the tasty menu options available.  Split a charcuterie or cheese board with your friends and family before moving on to pizzas and hot dogs, with plenty of vegan and veggie options.

BrewDog Cowgate will be closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day, but then open from 12pm to midnight everyday except Fridays and Saturdays when you can enjoy their taproom until 1am.  As always, dogs are welcome at BrewDog so bring along your family pet so they can be a part of the festivities as well!
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BrewDog Cowgate Website

Blackfriars of Bell Street, Glasgow

Do you live on the West Coast and looking for the perfect cosy, friendly and festive pub?  Head to Bell Street in Glasgow's Merchant City to visit Blackfriars.  You and your family and friends will love the festive decor, from the brightly lit Christmas trees to the fairy lights adorning the windows. While you're there, make sure to grab a pint of cask ale, you won't be disappointed with their choices. 

Have a look on their website to see what's on at Club_45, their basement events space which regularly holds shows ranging from stand up comedy to music.

If you're in Glasgow, don't leave without stopping by!
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Blackfriars Website

​Looking for more festive fun?

We hope that this Christmas is one to remember, filled with great food, awesome family time and even better beer.

Bring the family along on our EatWalk food and drink tours to enjoy the very best of Scotland's culinary scene.

If you're struggling to think of the perfect present for the beer lover in your life, look no further than our ScotBeer Gift Cards. Redeemable on any of our tours, they make the perfect present for anyone looking to find out about beer, history and great bars.  If you're coming to Edinburgh, why not gift a brewery tour at Pilot Brewery?
]]><![CDATA[Food and Drink Gift Ideas from the Scottish Borders]]>Sun, 15 Dec 2024 09:45:54 GMThttps://www.scot.beer/blog/food-and-drink-gift-ideas-from-the-scottish-bordersThe Scottish Borders does not always spring to mind when you think about the best Scottish food. A lot of people probably think of Aberdeen Angus beef, some fresh Perthshire veg or Edinburgh Gin. Well, here at ScotBeer, we love The Borders, and we are here to give you food and drink recommendations from the Scottish Borders that should be on your 2024 gifting list.
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Bulldog Bakes

This lovely little bakery operates from Galashiels.  As well as making a wide range of delicious home-bakes and chocolate, Bulldog Bakes is also environmentally conscious, partnering with Ecologi who plant trees around the world funded by organisations.  Bulldog Bakes have already funded 10,298 trees (at the time of this blog post being written)! They even have ensured that all of their packaging is biodegradable and do not use any single-use plastics.  Choose from their tasty-looking variety of cookies, traybakes, chocolates and cakes as the perfect accompaniment to a festive gift this year!  Visit their BakeHouse in Galashiels to get some baked goods in time for Christmas...

Selkirk Distillers

This family-led gin distillery is nestled in Selkirkshire in the Scottish Borders and produce several unique and enticing gins.  Locally-inspired from all fronts, the Selkirk Distillers source their ingredients seasonally and locally, employ local artists, as well as supporting multiple charities along the way.  From using gorse, to bannock, to coffee to flavour their gins, do not give these guys a miss if you are looking to surprise the gin-lover in your life this Christmas.

You can visit their website online, or if you're in the area, pop into their new shop art 26 Market Place, Selkirk, to browse some of their range!

Left Field Kombucha

If you are looking to stray away from the stronger alcoholic drinks which come out during the festive season, how about considering kombucha as an alternative? First of all, what is kombucha? Well, it is essentially tea, sugar and water that has been fermented by yeast and bacteria.  With trace amounts of alcohol, kombucha is a great low sugar, low calorie, healthy soft tea drink which contains health-beneficial nutrients.  Left Field Kombucha provide a fantastic range of different flavours and styles of kombucha which have been made with particular focus on taste and quality. We definitely recommend checking Left Field Kombucha out if you are looking for new and different gift ideas this year. 

Left Field Kombucha was founded in 2016 in the Scottish Borders.  Inspired by the Canadian kombucha scene, beer brewing and food fermentation, this company began producing their own delicious kombucha.  They have been so successful that they now brew in Livingston in a bigger establishment, but will always have their roots in Eyemouth where they were born.

Choose from many options on their website or their stockists, purchase a taster pack or even treat someone you love to a subscription box! Order online by the 19th December for Christmas delivery.

Boxed Delights Bakery

Based in Galashiels down in the Scottish Borders, Boxed Delights Bakery offers plenty of mouthwatering cakes and baked treats.  Whether you're looking for a Christmas gift, a festive snack, or perhaps a personalised festive birthday gift, Boxed Delights Bakery are the ones to go to!  Scroll through their social media pages to see just how beautiful their cupcakes, cakes, cookies and brownies are... To order, you can send them a direct message via Facebook.  You can also find them on Etsy, or if you're in the area, head over to the monthly Heart Land Market where they make regular appearances.  Don't miss out on ordering in the run up to Christmas, especially if you've got a sweet tooth!

Gift Ideas from ScotBeer and EatWalk

If you are looking for gift ideas from your local area, why not give the gift of food and drink?  ScotBeer and EatWalk provide tours around Scotland, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and St Andrews.  Delight the food and drink-lover in your family this Christmas with a gift card for a Food & Drink tour or a Pub History tour!
]]><![CDATA[Where to go in Edinburgh for this Year's Christmas Lunch]]>Sun, 01 Dec 2024 09:52:48 GMThttps://www.scot.beer/blog/where-to-go-in-edinburgh-for-this-years-christmas-lunch4044594It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
It is getting towards that time of year... Emails are flying around the office and family WhatsApp groups are lighting up about where to go in Edinburgh for Christmas lunch.

Well, have no fear, ScotBeer are here. We have collected Christmas lunch menus from restaurants and bars around Edinburgh that we love. There is something for every office party and family gathering from the traditional turkey and trimmings at the Salisbury arms, to a vegan nut roast at Henderson's.

Here is our Edinburgh Christmas Lunch map featuring the top places to go for your office, family or friend Christmas lunch including pricing and links to the menus.

Heading out for a drink after?

If you are searching for the ideal venue for your Christmas work night out, check out our Edinburgh Beer Map.

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On the hunt for other group activities?

Why not book your group onto our Pub History tour, Food and Drink tour or our Brewery Tour?

We host tours in Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews and Aberdeen.
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