The reason there were so many breweries in that area was the underwater springs delivering water from the Pentland Hills. I worked in Drybroughs when leaving school in 1978 until redundancy in 1984, great memories working with some real characters.

My father was the brewery manager from probably 63 to 68. I remember as a toddler being taken on a Saturday morning, my memory is vague but can still picture a huge vat of beer being hand stirred by a bloke with a large oar.

I joined Ushers of Edinburgh in 1977 as Trainee brewer at St Leonard’s brewery. I did my training at Caledonian in Slateford Road - both breweries being part of Vaux at the time. Ushers was flattened and replaced by Homebase but later redeveloped as housing. Caledonian, now closed became independent for a while and took on the Deuchers brand. It was sold to Scottish and Newcastle (RIP) and then taken over by Heineken who closed it last year. I think Greene King now brew their brands at Belhaven in Dunbar. I worked at Ushers for three years before moving to Allied Breweries in Alloa. Ushers closed not long afterwards despite having rebranded itself as Lorimers. In those days brewers from all breweries would visit each other and even encourage each other in developing the industry for the good of all. A lot of camaraderie. Not quite the same nowadays. I retired from the industry in 2014 but loved every minute of it!

@EdExploresScotland

11 ай бұрын

Thanks John. Incredible the way the brewing industry went through any number of changes. Now a mere shadow of its former self, with very few old breweries left.

I grew up in the 70s in craigmillar ,i think then there was only ushers,and drybrough breweries left,omans was the pub!good video

@EdExploresScotland

Жыл бұрын

Cheers. 👍

I was a brewer at Drybroughs from 1979 to 1983. Great days - an incredibly innovative brewery. My old office is still there - south western end of the blue painted bridge over the yard.

@EdExploresScotland

4 ай бұрын

Difficult to know what exactly will happen to it. I was speaking to someone a few days ago and they said the Caledonian Brewery is to become housing.

@alistairthompson8311

4 күн бұрын

​@@EdExploresScotlandThat's a pity. I think we could do with a museum about the grand old Victorian brewing heritage in Edinburgh.

@EdExploresScotland

4 күн бұрын

@@alistairthompson8311 - Absolutely. Duddingston or Slateford Road. Both sites worthy of a major brewing attraction, and being outside the city is highly desirable.

Impressive drone work! 😊👍

@EdExploresScotland

10 ай бұрын

That's Google Earth, Dave.

There was a guy in Fife under the brand luckies ales that brewed long forgotten beers to old recipes .

A melancholy end there Ed, but I do agree, we have lost such a vast amount of Scottish breweries. With Duddingston being part of the capital now, you'd have thought it would be a prime location to reinvigorate some life into the area by making the brewery a tourist attraction. Ach well, suppose all good things come to an end.

@duncancallum

6 ай бұрын

The Duddingston i knew was a wee Village and the biggest building was Duddingston Kirk, where he is talking about i would say that is Craigmillar, i lived in Bingham back in the late 40's till i migrated in 64 , and sometimes i delivered the mail at Duddingston while a Postie at Porty.

Hi Ed thoutherly enjoyed ure brewery video Agree with u such a shame those old buildings and brewery's are no longer with us shame well done Ed

@EdExploresScotland

Жыл бұрын

Cheers John.

In the 1970’s this was owned by Watneys and was interesting in that it was where they experimented with continuous fermentation. Funnily enough in about 1969 I had my cheapest ever pint. Dryburghs Light at 10p

@EdExploresScotland

11 ай бұрын

The good old days.

@Dunbardoddy

4 күн бұрын

I was the last manager of the Continuous Fermentation plant (CF). It fermented most of the Drybroughs Heavy. It produced a very clean flavour and the excess waste yeast was much sought after by whisky producers to add character to their fermented wash.

Usual interesting video, sir. I would say the Tennent's Heritage Centre in Glasgow covers quite a bit of the heritage of Scottish brewing. I'm a tour guide there and we do tend to talk about the history of brewing in Glasgow, not just Tennent's. Lots of artefacts in the museum going back through the years too. Maybe a bit more focused on the Tennent family, as to be expected, but there is a fair bit of history packed in on the ground floor. Don't have to do a tour to look round the heritage centre, but drop me a line if you're around, sure we can get you a wee tour, even if it's just with me!

@EdExploresScotland

2 жыл бұрын

Many thanks. I'll certainly have to pop into the Tennent's Heritage Centre. I remember Tennent's used to brew small bottles of Fowler's Wee Heavy (once a brewery in Prestonpans); don't know if you can still get it. It was a nice beer.

@zeinno

2 жыл бұрын

@@EdExploresScotland pretty sure Fowler's Wee Heavy is still on the go, we were talking about it the other day. It's similar to the export Scotch Ale that we have in the bar

Hey man! Allready a Subscriber - we are opening our wee music recording facility in part of this building ! this is a great insight into the history of the building !

@EdExploresScotland

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. As someone who makes his own music in the house, I always get excited by phrases like 'music recording facility'. Good luck with the venture.

Hi Ed, great vlogs keep them coming. My grandad worked in Campbells Brewery opposite the Dryburghs, brought back memorys. Can remember the old buildings, before they were demolished to make way for housing, a police station, business park and gypsie site. Shame, lovely buildings, but the place was always dark and dreich.

@EdExploresScotland

Жыл бұрын

I didn't know Campbells were in there. As I said in the video, it's a confusing picture. Many thanks, and all the best Marcus.

@marcuschalmers1861

Жыл бұрын

@@EdExploresScotland He was drayman during the 50's, worked for Dryburghs and Campbells, i think Campbells was the Craigmillar Brewery in the video. In the 70's it was all shut and desolute.

@marcuschalmers1861

Жыл бұрын

As an aside, when you came of the path from the tunnel at Duddingston, you would have turned right to Dryburghs. If you had turned left you would have found (maybe, if you knew) the old Duddingston Camp. A town of prefabs made to accomodate soldiers returning after WW2, some of the foundations still survive, during to the 70's and 80's some were still standing. My mum was born in one of them while my grandad worked at the brewery. There were, i think, three such camps in Edinburgh, Glasgow and other towns probably had them too.

@EdExploresScotland

Жыл бұрын

That's interesting Marcus. I certainly didn't know. So much history all around us if we just take the time to look.

Fantastic intro and outro music Ed. Really enjoy your videos. Thank you!

@EdExploresScotland

Жыл бұрын

Many thanks Neville.

Thoroughly enjoyed this video Ed. I hope they do something worthwhile with the brewery to retain its heritage

@EdExploresScotland

Жыл бұрын

Thanks.

Thanks again for another great video Ed. I learn a lot through your videos keep them coming. Brewery is a beautiful building with an interesting history a pity that it has been allowed to decay. I agree with you that the should be introduced. Brewery visitor center would be a good idea. Take care.

@EdExploresScotland

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Chia.

Did you sit in bennets there at the end? Used to work in there. Deuchars seems to have changed in taste over the years. Nothing seems quite like it used to be. Thanks for all the effort you put into your vids! Love to stick them on to relax and listen to some history

@EdExploresScotland

Жыл бұрын

Yes, that was the tiny snug in Bennets, a stunning old pub interior. Many thanks.

Once again Ed you have surpassed yourself with this great vlog. I love the same land being so different over time. And also having the pictures overlapping showing what our passed looked like. I would imagine that you have so many things to do in the future but i humbly ask you to vlog Duntocher and its past and also the Singer factory. p,s, i love a deuchars great pint. All the best and keep safe.

@EdExploresScotland

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Andy. Certainly lots of history in Duntocher.

Ed , do you remember 60/ shilling IPA a dark Scottish Ale known as a pint of light to do with the low strength not the colour. Tennent’s produce it in draught form for pubs. But I remember McEwans made it too and produced it in bottles called screw tops and in green cans. I used to love McEwans I liked its old fashioned look in a spit & sawdust pub but it’s no longer in fashion anymore or in production. Did you ever try it do you remember it Eddie?

@EdExploresScotland

Жыл бұрын

Don't think I remember that one - vague memory perhaps - certainly recall the light green McEwan's cans. I remember, not that long ago, small bottles of Fowler's Wee Heavy, a strong beer once brewed by Fowler's in Prestonpans, and latterly brewed by Tennent's. Shame so many huge breweries have vanished to be replaced by housing.

@williamlong7188

Жыл бұрын

@@EdExploresScotland I agree it’s a shame they are lost . Brewing ale is an art and skilful process . It’s a shame it’s all been lost by greedy firms only looking out to make money. We are vastly losing our culture at too great a pace. Thanks for the reply and the great video.

@alanfinlayson3274

Жыл бұрын

Scottish and Newcastle beers, Tartan Special, McEwan's export and 80/- are back with a bang in Edinburgh at least. They are readily available in many pubs and supermarkets here. Brewed at Wells & Youngs brewery in Bedford. I worked for S&N pubs as a barman in the 1970s and remember their 60/- with a distinctive light green font.

@Dunbardoddy

4 күн бұрын

I think most if not all of the various Scottish brewers produced Light (keg version) and 60/- (Cask version).

fished the loch for carp years ago

People want beer that excites the taste buds real Scottish beer, unfortunately the big brewers that produce the chemical muck that we buy in the supermarkets control the production and shut down the small brewery's.Edinburgh once dominated the brewing industry Fountain bridge where I grew up has been erased, Scottish brewers are now located in Newcastle. Caledonian was probably the last Scottish Victorian brewery to close its doors. Everthing has been hived off and moved across the border, lager is being made in vast quantities tasteless and soulless pint. Thanks for showing part of our industrial heritage .🤩👍

@EdExploresScotland

6 ай бұрын

Cheers Alastair.

Edc are a joke, prob bulldoze the lot.