Burnside

Burnside is based in the Howe o' the Mearns, a farming valley in north-east Scotland. The brewery operates as a small, independent micro-brewery, producing both alcoholic and alcohol-free beers. The decision to enter the AF market came from a clear aim: making the brewery's beers accessible to designated drivers and health-conscious drinkers who might otherwise have nothing from the range to choose from. The AF line runs alongside the core output rather than replacing it.

The alcohol-free beers are brewed using a yeast strain selected for its naturally low alcohol output. This preserves the fermentation character of a traditional ale without the need to remove alcohol after brewing: the low alcohol level is a product of the yeast's biology rather than a post-production intervention.

Burnside's brand identity is shaped by the rugged landscape and local heritage of Aberdeenshire. That character carries into the naming of the AF range. The lineup covers pale ales and IPAs, distributed through specialist alcohol-free retailers alongside the brewery's own direct channels.

Burnside has been brewing independently in Laurencekirk for over a decade. Its AF offering is deliberately narrow, which suits a small family operation where the focus is on quality per batch rather than volume. For a micro-brewery of its scale, a presence through specialist AF retail is a meaningful distribution footprint.