St Andrews’ Favourite 19th Hole Launches Unique Jigger Ale

The Jigger Inn, located adjacent to the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews, has launched its own eponymous ale, Jigger Ale, which is destined to become a hugely popular tipple in St Andrews’ favourite 19th hole where it is now on tap on an exclusive basis.

The local Belhaven Brewery was charged by Herb Kohler, owner of the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa and The Jigger Inn, with the task of creating a brew in the style of a classic Scottish Ale that would be as unique as The Jigger Inn itself and available for consumption only within the pub’s ancient walls.

Belhaven Brewery, a core supplier of beer to the Jigger Inn for many years, is like the Jigger Inn steeped in history. Whilst The Jigger Inn dates back to the 1850’s, the Belhaven Brewery, once the oldest Independent Brewery in Scotland, was founded in 1719.

“The Jigger Inn holds a special place in the history and personality of the Old Course Hotel as well as in the hearts and memories of the thousands of regulars that cross its door every year,” comments Debbie Taylor, Managing Director, Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa.

“The creation of Jigger Ale will mean that future visits to this unique pub will make the experience even more special as this is the only public house where you will be able to enjoy this moreish new brew.”

Originally built as the station master’s lodge around 1850, The Jigger became part of the Old Course Hotel in 1974 when it became a pub though structurally nothing much has changed since its construction as the Inn is a listed building.

“Having been directly involved in brewing for 36 years and supplied the Old Course Hotel with ale for many years, the Belhaven Brewery was delighted to be awarded the challenge of developing a beer specially for The Jigger Inn,” said George Howell, Director of Brewing, Belhaven Brewery.

“During the development process, several options and beer styles were presented for tasting and evaluation, but it was the current Jigger Ale recipe that met with the resounding approval of Mr Kohler and his team. It is a unique beer for a unique place and I am sure visitors to the Jigger will enjoy many, many pints in the years to come.”

Jigger Ale Characteristics:

 - Jigger Ale (3.9% ABV) delivers a delicious fusion of Golding and Challenger hops which create a backdrop to subtle tones of nuttiness and toffee.  

 - Its ingredients comprise: malted Barley with some roasted malts, traditional UK grown hops, Belhaven’s own ale yeast and own well water.

 - The Barley often referred to as “The Soul of Beer”, is 100% Scottish grown and is a variety called “Optic”.

 - The hops which contribute flavour, especially bitterness and aroma are varieties called Challenger and Golding.    These have been blended to produce just the right balance of bitterness to produce a fine, quaffable ale.

 - The Belhaven yeast is unique to Belhaven and has been cultured and selected to produce typical Belhaven house flavours.

 - The water is pumped from 120 feet down in our sandstone well.   The water is then filtered again in the brewery before using in our Brewhouse.