Stewart Brewing
Stewart Brewing started the way many good ideas do: on holiday. Steve and Jo Stewart visited Boston in 1996, came home inspired by American craft beer culture, and spent years brewing in their dining room and eventually a coal shed before launching their first commercial beers in 2004. Within months they had six Edinburgh pubs stocking their cask ales, and the brewery has been growing steadily ever since.
Based in Loanhead just south of Edinburgh, Stewart moved into a purpose-built facility in 2013 complete with a 50HL brewing system. The site has expanded further since, adding canning lines and warehouse space to meet growing demand. With around 50 people on the team, it sits comfortably in the middle ground of Scottish craft brewing: serious about quality, not precious about accessibility.
Their alcohol-free range goes under the Scot Free banner. The Scot Free Lager is brewed with Saaz, Magnum, and Tettnanger hops for a clean, crisp finish, while Scot Free Pale leans into American hop varieties including Mosaic, Simcoe, and Citra, giving it a tropical, citrus-forward character. Both sit at 0.5% ABV. It's a modest AF range by modern standards, but the beers are well made and clearly draw on the same craft attention as the main range.
Beyond the brewery itself, the Loanhead site runs tours, a taproom, a beer and pizza kitchen, and a brew-your-own experience. Stewart Brewing is as much a destination business as a production brewery. Scot Free products are available through their own online store and various specialist AF retailers across the UK.
At a Glance
- Price Point
- Mid-range
Available at
The Collection
2 drinks
At a Glance
- Price Point
- Mid-range
Collection
2 drinks
