There are several stages in the brewing process: the mash, the sparge, the boil, addition of the hops, pitching of the yeast and fermentation, plus casking or bottling.

This is the first stage of the brewing process and involves mixing various ingredients with hot water in the mash tun.

  All the potential fermentable sugars cannot be extracted from the mash in the first stage, so the second stage, the sparge is carried out. This process involves spraying water at a higher temperature onto the mash and allowing the resultant juice (wort) to flow from the mash tun to the Kettle.

When all the available wort has been collected in the Kettle, it is then boiled for 1 1/2 hours. Hops are added at various stages of the boil. The first hops added are the bitterness hops, which gives the ale the sharp initial taste. Hops added later in the boil contribute to the aroma or nose and also to the aftertaste of your pint.

When the boil is complete, the wort is transferred to a fermentation vessel (f.v.). Once the yeast is pitched, fermentation can start, which usually takes 3-4 days. The next stage involves the ale being chilled for a couple of days before being transferred to casks as casked conditioned ale, or transferred to a conditioning tank to await bottling.

  When the ale has chilled down in the conditioning tank for a couple of days, it is pumped through a filter to remove any yeast still remaining. It is then pumped into a bright beer tank connected to the bottling plant where the 500ml bottles are filled.

After the bottles are dried, the labels are attached on a single bottle labelling machine before being put into cases of 12 ready for distribution in Shetland and far beyond.

Truly a handcrafted process – producing ales that are not to be missed!

Experience the brewing process first hand and try our ales! Guided tours of Britain’s most northerly brewery are currently available by prior arrangement. Please call +44 (0)1957 711658 for details.