Broughton Ales Limited

Broughton Ales Limited

Broughton Ales was established in 1979 by David Younger and James Collins in a former abattoir just outside Biggar in the Scottish Borders. It was one of the first initiated and few remaining smaller brewing operations opened at the time in an attempt to renew Scottish enthusiasm for cask conditioned ale. Younger was a former Scottish & Newcastle executive as well as coming from the long line of famous Edinburgh brewing Youngers. Collins was a member of the family owning the famous Scottish publishing company. They succeeded where many other similar ventures at the time failed. Despite this, the company fell into receivership in 1995 but was rescued by Giles Litchfield of Derbyshire's Whim Ales which he had opened two years previously. He continues to participate in the daily workings of the brewery. Alistair Mouat, now retired, came to Broughton in 1994 as Managing Director and Head Brewer, having worked for Belhaven Brewery since 1972. Alistair started his brewing career at the Heriot Brewery (formerly Jeffrey's Brewery) in Edinburgh at the age of 18 and eventually graduated from Heriot-Watt University with a degree in brewing. The original 40-barrel brew plant was designed by Stirling Gardiner, former Head Brewer/Production Director at the historic Holyrood Brewery (last owned by Scottish & Newcastle) and is still in use but has been upgraded and expanded. Roughly 200 barrels are produced weekly with an annual output of about 4000 barrels. At present, the brewery is using Optic malted barley grown in the UK and malted by Greencore. Many different varieties of UK hops are used as well as organic hops from both New Zealand and the UK, all in pellet form. Ale yeast is Broughton's own strain originating from Vaux of Sunderland and a dried lager yeast is also used. All beers utilize a single step infusion mash. About 200 outlets in Scotland are supplied by Broughton in both cask and bottle sales. The company also exports to a number of countries outside the UK. In addition to their Beers With Character line that are all offered in bottled format as well as in permanent or occasional cask format, there are a few additional permanent cask ales as well as a significant number of regular seasonal and occasional cask ales available throughout the year.