The Clan Brewing Company, a partnership between Craft Beer Clan of Scotland and Williams Brothers, is to focus on the speciality beer market with four whisky barrel-aged beers.

The four beers, brewed at Williams Brothers, have used barrels from Speyside, Highlands, Lowland and Islay.

The beers are already exporting to markets in Japan,Singapore, Beijing and Hong Kong.

Clan Brewing Company is headed by craft Chris Miller who grew Harviestoun Brewery and has more than 20 years’ experience in the sector and has launched the world’s first co-branded whisky-finished beer, Ola Dubh.

His new venture is formed with Scott Williams, founder and brewmaster of Williams Brothers Brewing Co, as well as international whisky ‘guru’ Charles PB MacLean.

Miller explained: “This series of four whisky barrel-aged beers shows off Scotland’s regional whisky variations, the variety and depth of beer styles and the brewing excellence of Scotland’s craft brewers.”

He said  that the second and third batches of the four brews – double the size of the first – are now maturing in whisky barrels and will be packaged later this year to meet demand.

Around 80% will be exported to key markets internationally where there is a strong demand in Scotch whisky and Scottish brewing, owing to partnerships already established by the Craft Beer Clan, and the support of Scottish Development International (SDI) and Scotland Food & Drink (SFD). 

He added: “With the help of SDI and SFD, we’ve worked hard over the past two years to showcase Scottish craft brewers and their beers to international markets such as China, Hong Kong, UAE, mainland Europe and South America.

“We’ve enjoyed great success, helping Scotland’s craft brewers export and expand, benefiting their local economy but also the Scottish economy overall.”