Sheepshaggers Gold, Cairngorm Brewery Company

Up north again. Spey side this time, taking up a bottle from the small, 20 barrel, brewhouse only a stones throw from Cairn Gorm itself, in the popular Aviemore. I visited their base of operations with my girlfriend in summer 2016. It’s was a short little tour, with a much longer tasting session, they do things the right way round in Scotland. Our guide was Bruce, a rugged Scotsman with a love of beer and whisky with stories to go with it. If you visit Bruce will entertain and enlighten.

During the tasting, which we left a little wobbly legged, we worked our way through their full range, but this week I only have one.

Brewery: Cairngorm Brewery Company

Brew: Sheepshaggers Gold

Type: Golden Ale

ABV: 4.5%

Here we have Sheepshaggers! Yes I thought it was Welsh at first as well....anyway. We’re not really told too much about this brew except it could be “The best beer baa none!”. The pun is strong.

It’s a continental style beer, and by appearance, the style could be like a Kölsch, the style of beer from the Köln region of Germany.

Starting with looks, as always, it pours out a light golden straw colour. So far Sheepshaggers is true to the label. As it settles there is a fluffy but thin froth left on the surface. This hangs about like a Scottish mist. The smell is dry, light, and doesn't really give too much away, a sullen scot, not really ready to open up just yet.

I’ve liked it to a Kölsch already, and for those that don’t know, that style of beer is typically an ale, slightly under 5% ABV, (tick), gold in colour (tick), and with a fairly even balance of a bready malt, an obvious hop note and a delicate fruitiness.

The first taste of Sheepshaggers is a very bready (tick), wheat flavour. This is complimented by the sharper, but not overpowering citrus comping through behind it (tick). Its not a perfect balance, the citrus flavour brought through from the hops is a touch on the sharper side. There isn’t much of a fruit flavour after that. A little bitter, but easy to drink, a medium beer that is suited to Scottish summers (I know this because I’ve drunk it in Scotland, in the summer). The bitterness that lingers on your tongue is distinct but it den’t blow my kilt up.

Over all, it may not be as wild as Bruce’s tales, or as the Hog riding sheep on the bottle, but you take one and then another and not regret it later. A solid take on a continental style, and while the four key elements are in there, the bread its a bit floury and the citrus a bit too sharp.

Enjoyable, will likely have many more when I can, but this Hog hasn’t quite been ridden over but its a high end 3/5.