The Beer Kitchen
Ashton Lane
What is it: Following on from opening Beer Kitchens in Edinburgh, Dundee and St Andrews over the last couple of years, Innis & Gunn, the owners of The Beer Kitchen brand, opened the doors to their first west coast location on the cobbles of Aston Lane last week. Occupying the whole three floors of what was Ketchup at the end of Ashton Lane, The Beer Kitchen promises a venue that than can hold up to 400 beer lovers, 17 keg taps, three cask taps and more than 50 packaged beers. This venue is also the first of the bars to have its own onsite micro-brewery, meaning loads of new and innovative beers on tap for us to try. Plus the head brewer is called Digger Robinson, so you have to give it a try.
Interesting fact: Innis & Gunn starting making award-winning beer back in 2003, when industry veteran Douglas Scott left his family business after tasting beer that had been aged for a small period of time in Whisky barrels. This inspired him to create Innis & Gunn. It was the perfect time to do so, on the wave of the “second beer revolution” which saw the arrival of craft beer in the UK. The beer, which was packed with flavour due to the barrels, was an instant hit and has gone from strength to strength, with 40,000 cases sold in their first year. In 2016 they sold around three million cases all over the globe.
Verdict: I have a soft spot for Innis & Gunn. I like their beer, I like the bars they have opened so far and most of all they are Scottish. I’ll be honest though, when I heard they were starting their own bars I was worried. However, I needn't have. They have recruited some great people from the industry in order to get it right, which they have in my opinion. Obviously it's always tough for a bar just a week into its opening, but the staff were great and well trained in the offering. A more than welcome addition to the Ashton Lane set.
Drink: This doesn’t feel as serous as some of the other beer-focused places that I've been to. They seem a bit more relaxed about their beer and don't go into super beer geek mode when trying to offer you something, not that there is anything wrong with that if you are really into your beers. It's not just about the beers here with a good wine list and even cocktails on offer. I enjoyed a bottle of Innis & Gunn IPA for £4.50.
Food: The food is not an after thought either, with a gastro-style offering from brunch, lunch and dinner all covered. I ate from the bar menu and opted for the smoked chicken and vegetable pie with slow-smoked chicken and seasonal vegetable pie, with smoky tomato and butterbean puff pastry, served with buttered green beans for £12
Prices: All about right for the west end crowd, however those used to paying £2.50 for a pint might be put off a bit, but you get what you pay for here.
Children: Kids allowed in if eating with adults.
Alfresco: Enough space on the cobbles for a few tables and chairs in the summer months.
Perfect for: If, like me, it has been a while since you last ventured down Ashton Lane, The Beer Kitchen offers something new to an area that was in need of a bit of a boost. So get some friends and go drink some great beer.
Avoid if: You would think I would say if you didn't like beer but actually they have most bases covered even if you're not that into your hops.
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