Thistle Brewery at beer Collections

European Breweries History: Thistle Brewery

Maclay's Brewery was a Scottish brewery based in Alloa, Clackmannanshire until 2001.

In 1830, James Maclay (1801-1875) founded the brewery as James Maclay, Ale, Porter, Table and India Beer Brewer of Alloa. James Maclay established himself as a brewer of great repute over the next 39 years and in 1870, James built the Thistle Brewery, which until 1999, was the home of the ales, which bore his name.

James Maclay died suddenly in 1875, leaving his two sons James and John to run the company. The Fraser family, licensed grocers and spirit merchants from Dunfermline took over Maclay in December 1896 and in December of that year, the firm became a private limited company named Maclay & Company, Limited.

Despite the renown of their Oat Malt Stout, the change in fashion away from dark beers led to difficulties for the company in the 1990s [1] and brewing at the Thistle Brewery ceased in 1999. In 2001 the company ceased using the buildings as their office base. The Thistle brewery has since been demolished and replaced by retail units and flats. Only part of the brewery survives and is now a pub called The old brewery, owned by Belhaven.

The company no longer brews its beers directly. On March 10, 1994, the company changed its name to Maclay Inns Limited to better reflect its current business model.

Maclays beers are now brewed under licence by Belhaven Brewery and by Sleeman Breweries in Canada.

	Thistle Brewery Cooperage Way Business Village Alloa, Scotland FK10 3LP	To Brewery Page
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