1. Chairman’s Statement:
I start this Newsletter on a sombre note by mentioning the passing of Allan McLean, an active SBAA member for 20 years who contributed greatly with his knowledge of brewing history, which was vast. Please see Allan’s obituary, he will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
I am pleased to welcome Allan’s son, Andrew as a member.
With the better weather the SBAA are planning events for you as members to enjoy. As the City of Glasgow celebrates its 850th anniversary since it gained its Burgh status in the year 1175, we thought it appropriate to hold our annual events in Glasgow to mark the occasion. As discussed at the AGM in November a visit to the Epochal Brewery would be a good idea, as it specialises in Scottish oak – fermented beer and the only brewery in Scotland with a Burton Union. Also, a visit to the archive would be in order for those members who have not been before and to view a selection of brewing artefacts that contribute towards Scotland’s rich brewing heritage. We will contact members in advance when we have agreed dates for events.
The SBAA has been asked if we can provide any information on a brewery in Malta, acquired by Calders of Alloa in 1944. Please write in if you can provide anything on this.
Many thanks to all who have provided a number of interesting articles, not only in this Newsletter but also for this years Annual Journal which will be available in time for our AGM in November
John Martin
2. Allan McLean Obituary (1946-2025)
Allan had three passions during his life: his wife and family, trains and beer.
Allan was educated at the Royal High School on Calton Hill and started his working career as a journalist with several newspapers. Allan continued his career when he joined British Rail, becoming the press officer for the BR Scottish & Eastern region.
Allan returned to journalism when he was the Transport Correspondent and Beer Columnist for the Scotsman in 1979. Allan ended his working career as Virgin Trains’ Public Affairs Manager for Scotland and the North of England. Allan received a Lifetime Contribution to Transport in Scotland award held at the Scottish Transport Awards in 2013.
Those who knew Allan would recognise his enthusiasm for all things he became involved in and he was well respected for his knowledge. He was often asked to give talks on his favourite subjects: trains and beer. Allan was a three times winner of the British Guild of Beer Writers Gold Tankard award as Beer Writer of the Year, in 1988, 1990 and 1992. After his retirement, he was the Scottish Parliamentary Officer and Chairman of the Campaign for Borders Rail.
Allan joined the Scottish Brewing Archive Association and was an active member for 20 years. During that time, he was the editor of the Annual Journal and later followed as Vice Chairman. When visiting breweries, Allan would often give a short speech to thank the hosts for their hospitality.
True to his love of beer, Allan was a member of CAMRA. (Campaign for Real Ale)
Allan’s knowledge of brewing history was unsurpassed, and he wrote several articles for the SBAA with one in particular standing out, titled “The wheels on the train go round and round……” This article linked two of his loves: trains and breweries, exploring the links between the two.
Allan would sometimes reminisce and relate beer to some stories he would tell. The following are two that the SBAA remembers best:
McEwan the cat: Allan lived at the White Horse Close in Edinburgh, a short distance from the Palace of Holyrood House and many breweries that operated in that area, where Allan’s family named their cat McEwan. On occasions when the cat would go missing, Allan would be heard shouting out “McEwan, McEwan”, when outside the Wm. Younger brewery. McEwan’s was a famous beer brewed at the Fountain brewery in Edinburgh. Allan often wondered what people might think when he was shouting out the name of a beer when outside a different brewery!
School project: When Allan was 12 years old, his school started a project to identify Edinburgh’s more famous industries, and the pupils were asked to conduct their own research. Allan completed his work and presented his findings in a folder. Upon opening the folder, the teacher was aghast to find pages and pages of beer labels. The horrified teacher asked “where did you get these labels, boy? You did not visit the breweries in your school uniform?”. Allan replied, saying yes, and went on to mention that many of Edinburgh’s industries are represented in the folder, such as printing, paper making, glass making and of course brewing. The teacher was struck dumb with astonishment.
The SBAA thanks Allan for his valued contributions over many years. It was a pleasure and an honour knowing Allan. Our thoughts are with Allan’s wife Lynda and his family.
Interesting to note that Allan’s son Andrew continues his father’s love of trains, as he is the Head Curator of the National Railway Museum in York.
I think it is appropriate to conclude with a beer label of the beer once brewed at the Caledonian Brewery that brings together Allan’s love of trains and beer.
3. The mystery of James Aitken’s beer labels
SBAA’s Newsletter No 54 contained a query from a member of the Labologists Society regarding 4 early Aitken’s labels from the 1870s – 1880s 3 of which I had acquired at a Perth Auction a couple of months earlier.
So, I followed this up by visiting the Glasgow Archive but unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything to explain these numbers within the Aitken’s records.
However, further research has thrown up an equally interesting back story. The circular pale ale label with a young man holding a lifebuoy (top left), was registered by James Aitken & Co in 1878 for exporting their beer to Australia where it was marketed as Lifebuoy Ale. Two years earlier in 1876 Aitkens had registered their pale ale blue label with the red A, which they had been using since from about 1863, but without the lifebuoy on the lower part of the label. So why did Aitkens start using the Lifebuoy pale ale label rather their own pale ale label? Although again, I could find no written record detailing why, the answer probably lies in Australia. Thomas Aitken, grandson of John Aitken, the founder of the Falkirk Brewery, emigrated from Scotland to Australia in 1842 where he built the Victoria Parade Brewery, Melbourne in 1854 whereupon he started using the same red ‘A’ trademark on the labels for his beers:
John Reade
4. Crown Brewery, Dumbarton
The SBAA thanks Robert Hunter for his memories of the Crown Brewery in Dumbarton.
Robert explains that when he was five or six years old his family moved to Brewery Lane which was the last close before the brewery.
“At the end of our building was the start of the brewery, with a large wooden gate at the entrance.”
Robert remembers how narrow it was for lorries entering and leaving the brewery and hearing the bottles clattering against each other, especially on warm days when the brewery shutters were opened. Robert also remembers seeing beer barrels on the wagons at this time and thought it ironic that some 11 years later became an apprentice cooper at Hiram Walkers Distillery
The light coloured car on its own (left) would be where the outer end of a building wall ended. The lane has been narrowed at the top, it was as wide enought to have 2 narrow pavements.
Delivery lorries were quite narrow, which was just as well.
Gillespie, Sons & Co went into liquidation and closed in 1953.
Years later Scottish & Newcastle brewed a malt stout and named it Gillespie’s in the 1990s but discontinued it in favour of Beamish Stout. It is no longer brewed.
5. Broughton Brewery Awards.
Over the last 5 years, Broughton has won multiple awards from SIBA, CAMRA and the Scottish Retail Food and Drink Association for a number of their beers.
Highlights include a CAMRA Champion Beer Of Scotland for Old Jock in 2023, a SIBA Gold Award in 2023 for Old Jock, a SRFDA Gold for Wee Jock and Silver for Old Jock in 2022, and in late 2024 a SIBA Silver for Hopo 6.2 IPA and Bronze for Old Jock.
All are a great testament to the dedication of the brewing team.
Also, as a follow up to a recent article in the SBAA journal, in the spring of 2025, Broughton will be introducing Wee Jock 90 Shilling in bottles, for Sweden, and releasing another brew of Champion Double Ale. Both beers will be available domestically on the website Scotbeers.com in April.
Well done Broughton Brewery in combining a great story with a great beer.
6. Brewers in Dean Cemetery.
The Dean Cemetery opened in 1845 and occupies a site of 17 acres in Edinburgh. It is the resting place of many notables that includes, lords, philosophers, artists, surgeons, academics and of course brewers and some of their relations. Of the brewers it includes many of the Wm. Younger family in the 19th and 20th centuries.
This plan of Dean Cemetery shows the positions of the headstones for those who may wish to visit the Dean and to locate the graves.
John McEwan was the younger brother of the famous William McEwan brewer. For further information see Journal 2021 – The McEwans.
Charles Dick was the brewer of the Waverley brewery in Edinburgh during the years between 1850-69.
He was also appointed trustee of the Newington brewery also in Edinburgh when the owner was in financial difficulties in 1848.
Gilbert and Hugh Tennent were brothers of Charles Tennent (1863-90 buried in the Glasgow Necropolis) who was the father of Hugh Tennent (1863-90), the person responsible for Tennent’s Lager in 1885.
The Wm. Younger family will be the subject of an article in next year’s Journal.
Many thanks to my friend James Rafferty who informed me that several bewers were buried in the Dean.
John Martin
7. Beer tray collector
The BBC recently carried an article on “the man with the largest collection of beer trays in the World” indeed he has 1500 with 300 on display in his home garage in Rutland.
From the limited photos supporting his collection it was evident that he has a fair share of Scottish historical brewer’s . Arrol’s Ale and Stouts, Jeffrey’s Pilsener Ales, Calder Imperial Stout, Blairs Alloa Ales, Robert Youngers Pale Ale and Stouts can be spotted.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjryvn2pyjxo
10. Last Runnings
Warm welcome to new SBAA members Konstantin Vinogradov from Russia and Andrew Mclean son of Allan and welcome back Katherine Noe and Billy Mather Pleased to report that our journal editor Robbie Pickering has received 8 excellent articles for this years SBAA Journal , as members you can look forward to receiving a copy later in the year.
Remember and send in any articles or interesting photos, next newsletter July
Correspondence to the SBAA Secretary secretary@scottishbrewingarchive.co.uk
SBAA Newsletter No. 63 – April. 2025
