Sinclair Brewery

Sinclair Breweries is the new name for the company that owns two Scottish independents, Atlas and Orkney. Atlas is based in Kinchlochleven in Argyll. It merged with Orkney in 2004 to improve distribution of both breweries� beers throughout Scotland and further afield. It has now regrouped as Sinclair, whose head office is in Cawdor � shades of Macbeth!

Orkney is a long-running craft brewery, founded in 1988 by Roger White in an old schoolhouse in Quoyloo. Roger, as far as I know, is the world's only teetotal brewer. The plant was updated in 1995 with new buildings and equipment and now produces 120 barrels a week. The brewery is run along strict ecological lines, using its own water supply. All waste water is treated through two lakes on the brewery's land, which in turn support fish and several dozen mallard ducks. A visitor centre is planned. Orkney is best known for such prize-winning beers as Dark Island and Skullsplitter.

Atlas dates from 2002 and has a 20-barrel plant in a 100 year-old Victorian industrial building on the banks of the River Leven. The brewery uses Scottish malts, local Highland water and hops from five different countries. Additional fermenters were added in 2006 to increase production. The range of beers from both breweries covers both traditional Scottish styles and paler and hoppier modern interpretations.

Atlas Nimbus Blonde
(5%). Brewed with wheat as well as barley malt, this pale gold beer has a big biscuity malt and rich fruit nose, with a strong hint of sherbet lemons and spicy hop resins. Tangy fruit and creamy malt dominate the mouth, with continuing creamy malt, spicy hops and tart fruit in the long, bittersweet finish. Malt: high. Fruit: moderate to high. Hops: moderate.

Atlas Three Sister
(4.2%). Luminous red/brown in colour. Berry fruits dominate the aroma with roasted grain. Sweet grain in the mouth is balanced by tart fruit and spicy Styrian Goldings hops. The bittersweet finish has rich grain, strong hints of fruit and a lingering hop note. A fine traditional Scottish beer. Malt: high. Fruit: high. Hops: low.

Orkney Northern Light
(4%). Pale bronze beer with a spicy hop, orange citrus fruit and light biscuity malt nose. Hop resins burst across the tongue, balanced by juicy malt and tangy fruit. The long, quenching finish becomes dry but with strong notes of sappy malt, zesty fruit and hop resins. Malt: light. Fruit: high. Hops: high.

Orkney Red MacGregor
(4%). A bronze/red beer with a stunning aroma of raspberries and biscuity malt. Sweet malt, ripe fruit and bitter hops dominate the mouth. The long, complex finish has more raspberry fruit, juicy and malt and spicy hops. An outstanding beer. Malt: moderate. Fruit: high. Hops: moderate to high.

Orkney Dark Island
(6%). Dark russet brown beer with chocolate, tobacco, leather, roasted grain, dark fruit and spicy hops on the nose. The bittersweet palate has cappuccino coffee, smooth dark chocolate, roasted grain and light hop resins. Sweet malt starts the finish but hop resins kick in to balance the grain. There are continuing coffee, chocolate and dark fruit notes in the smooth, mellow finale. Superb! Malt: high: Fruit: high. Hops: light to moderate.

See www.atlasbrewery.com and www.orkneybrewery.com