h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Interestingly there are a range of scottish brewed beers available only here in Belgium. The folk myth is that they are too strong to sell in Scotland.

They most readily available are sold under the brand name Gordons and start at about 9% by volume.

There are a number of other brands of "Scottish Ale" sold here - all starting at the 8% by volume sort of mark.

The phrase 'marketting ploy' springs to mind... They are brewed in Belgium, by a subsidiary of Scottish Courage, the idea is to have a 'British' beer that would appeal to a European market.

Oh, and there are stronger British beers.... Thomas Hardy's Vintage is at a nice round 12%ABV.... Now that's real beer.

Indeed there are also stronger Belgium beers as well.

There are also numerous good premium strngth British beers available in the UK and brewed in the UK.

I would however, have to correct you on the bit about where they are brewed, certainly the Gordons brand state clearly on the label "brewed in Scotland".

I'll check up on where it's brewed, we get the same beers in France but a lot depends on the small print on the bottle.
It is theoretically possible that they brew the stuff in Fountains, Edinburgh, but it is exclusively for export. There's also a McEwans that's to be found exclusively on the continent, as well as 'Douglas' and 'Gordons'.

Gordons and Douglas 'Scotch Ales' are both brewed at Scottish Courage's Fountainbridge Brewery in Edinburgh. They are, I believe, the same beer. These are excellent and 8 or 9% alcohol, dark brown and malty. There are special christmas versions of both (again similar). Gordons Gold is a blond, strong, nasty concoction, which I am reliably informed is Kestrel Super Strength Lager in a fancy bottle. Most other scotch ales in belgium are brewed in the style by Belgian brewers (eg MacChouffe) or were originally brewed under licence from Scottish or British Brewers (many now defunct) eg Campbell's Scotch (No Relation)or Whitbread Scotch.
I'm not sure about the McEwans you mention - McEwans is one of the brewers who have combined over the years to make the Scottish Courage conglomerate, and are the brewers at fountainbridge. A strong McEwans ale is brewed under licence in the Carribean, but I'm not sure if a belgian version would be from Edinburgh or Belgium.

Thanks Campbell,
The McEwans I found over here was a keg bitter, very dark in colour and six or seven percent ABV... It didn't resemble anyother S&N/McEwans/Youngers/Courage beer I've ever tasted in the UK.

By the way, a nice bit of Trivia for beer lovers... Breweries generally use the same kegs for all their beers, just washing them out before re-filling them and then sticking a label on the keg telling you what's inside the barrel....
Working in a pub in the lake district I've come across kegs with the remains of labels for both McEwans Export (The old red can) and Newcastle Brown Ale - Has anyone ever seen these things for sale on draught?

Yes. Often to be seen in Glaswegian pubs was McEwans Export. Nookie Broon was available on tap in our student union too.
I am so hoping for the update facility to come online soon, I really want to revamp this article.

You're Most Welcome (b)
McEwans brew a stronger ale in a similar style for the british market, available in bottles in Safeway. I think its called McEwans No 1 Champion Ale or somesuch - not unlike the belgian ales, but a bit lower in alcohol at 6 or 7% I think. I think I've had it as a cask conditioned ale a year or two ago. McEwans Export is still available as a keg beer in Scotland. They have in the past also released a cask real ale version. I haven't seen Newcastle Brown, but it might be available in the Newcastle area.
Scottish Courage don't really market their Real Ales in Scotland and I've only seen McEwans 80% recently. 70%, 60% and most 80% is now keg - for the real thing look for Handpumps or old fashioned tall fonts with the words 'Cask Conditioned' on the label.

Incidentally you might be interested to know that the yeast for Duvel (a strong, very light coloured belgian ale) was isolated from a strain used at Fountainbridge!

You're Most Welcome (b)
McEwans brew a stronger ale in a similar style for the british market, available in bottles in Safeway. I think its called McEwans No 1 Champion Ale or somesuch - not unlike the belgian ales, but a bit lower in alcohol at 6 or 7% I think. I think I've had it as a cask conditioned ale a year or two ago. McEwans Export is still available as a keg beer in Scotland. They have in the past also released a cask real ale version. I haven't seen Newcastle Brown, but it might be available in the Newcastle area.
Scottish Courage don't really market their Real Ales in Scotland and I've only seen McEwans 80% recently. 70%, 60% and most 80% is now keg - for the real thing look for Handpumps or old fashioned tall fonts with the words 'Cask Conditioned' on the label.

Incidentally you might be interested to know that the yeast for Duvel (a strong, very light coloured belgian ale) was isolated from a strain used at Fountainbridge!

You're Most Welcome (b)
McEwans brew a stronger ale in a similar style for the british market, available in bottles in Safeway. I think its called McEwans No 1 Champion Ale or somesuch - not unlike the belgian ales, but a bit lower in alcohol at 6 or 7% I think. I think I've had it as a cask conditioned ale a year or two ago. McEwans Export is still available as a keg beer in Scotland. They have in the past also released a cask real ale version. I haven't seen Newcastle Brown, but it might be available in the Newcastle area.
Scottish Courage don't really market their Real Ales in Scotland and I've only seen McEwans 80% recently. 70%, 60% and most 80% is now keg - for the real thing look for Handpumps or old fashioned tall fonts with the words 'Cask Conditioned' on the label.

Incidentally you might be interested to know that the yeast for Duvel (a strong, very light coloured belgian ale) was isolated from a strain used at Fountainbridge!

oops. Sorry about multiple postings.