About Islay Ales:
The Islay Ales VC and Taproom is now open from Monday to Saturday, 10am-5.30pm.
The Tap Room serves Draft Beer from 11:00 and last orders are 17:15 (Just enough time to grab a pre-evening flight Pint). We serve our Core range of Beers on Tap alongside a selection of the Islay Boys whiskies. Perfect to while away an hour or two. The Tap Room is also Dog friendly.
Take a tour and learn more about the process from hop to glass with an in-depth tour and tasting in the Visitor Centre. The daily tours are priced at 19.95 per adult, and children are welcome as long as accompanied by a responsible adult. (we do not charge for children). The tour includes a tour of the Brewery, Whisky bottling site Followed by a beer and whisky tasting. It takes around an hour. The tour times are 11:00, 14:00 & 16:00. (private group tours may be possible outside these hours – contact the brewery for more information)
Islay Ales was founded back in 2004, and originally opened in a former carriage house building in Islay House Square. Demand for their products, including their core brands Big Strand Craft Lager and Finlaggan IPA, outgrew the premises and the founders – Mackay Smith and Donald MacKenzie, both from the Rhinns of Islay – have built a new state-of-the art brewery opposite Islay airport, on the same site as Islay’s eleventh distillery, Laggan Bay.
You’ll find these Islay-produced beers from Islay’s only craft brewery in bars, restaurants and Spar shops across the island on tap or in cans and now you can take a look at where and how they are made.
We Are offering Tours of the Brewery daily. The Tours are priced at 19.95 per adult, and children are welcome as long as accompanied by a responsible adult. (we do not charge for Children). The tour includes a tour of the Brewery, Whisky bottling site Followed by a beer and whisky tasting. It takes around an hour. The tour times are 11:00, 14:00 & 16:00.
However, if a private group would like to arrange a tour at a different time that is totally possible.