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A Brewery That Only Keeps the Beers Drinkers Actually Love
A Brewery That Only Keeps the Beers Drinkers Actually Love
Many breweries commit to a fixed core range regardless of how it's received, treating customer feedback as an afterthought. Cold Town Beer takes a genuinely different approach, built explicitly on the principle that if drinkers don't love a beer, it simply doesn't get brewed again.
A name rooted directly in Edinburgh's own history
Cold Town takes its name from Calton Hill, once known as "Caltoun" — meaning Cold Town — tying the brewery's identity directly to a specific piece of Edinburgh geography rather than an arbitrary brand name.
Born in a genuinely unconventional first home
The brewery started life in 2018 inside an old, disused church on Edinburgh's historic Grassmarket — a distinctive founding location that reflects the brand's willingness to do things differently from a conventional industrial brewery setup.
A range genuinely shaped by drinker feedback
Cold Town specifically describes its beer range as "guided by you" — using direct customer feedback and data to shape which beers continue being brewed, rather than dictating the range from the top down.
Independently recognised, award-winning beers
In 2025, Cold Town's Barrel Aged Imperial Stout was named Beer of the Year – United Kingdom at the London Beer Competition — independent industry recognition rather than the brewery's own marketing claims alone.
A deliberately experimental small-batch line
The brewery's LAB° beers are specifically small-batch, limited-edition, and deliberately experimental — letting Cold Town test bolder, riskier recipes separately from its core, proven range.
A flagship taproom with a genuine, singular view
Cold Town House, the brewery's flagship bar in the Grassmarket, was crowned Scotland's "Best Beer Destination" at the Scottish Beer Awards — offering visitors a direct view of the brewing process alongside some of the best views of Edinburgh Castle in the city.
A broad, continuously evolving range
Beyond its flagship lager, Cold Town produces more than 20 different beer styles — spanning IPAs, session pales, sours, and stouts — giving genuine variety rather than a narrow, repetitive lineup.
A charitable initiative built into the brand
Cold Town's Doddie Beir initiative ties the brewery to a specific charitable cause, with proceeds supporting the fight against motor neurone disease — a concrete philanthropic commitment woven into the brand's identity.
At a glance
Brewery: ** Cold Town Beer
Location: ** Edinburgh, Scotland
Founded: ** 2018
Recognition: ** Beer of the Year UK 2025 (London Beer Competition)
Flagship venue: ** Cold Town House, Grassmarket
Range: ** 20+ beer styles, including a rotating LAB° series
Who it suits
Cold Town Beer suits adults of legal drinking age looking to explore a genuinely varied, award-recognised Scottish craft beer range shaped directly by customer feedback rather than a fixed, unchanging core lineup. Anyone visiting Edinburgh specifically should consider a trip to Cold Town House itself, which offers the added experience of watching the brewing process alongside views of the castle. Shop Cold Town Beer — **
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