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A Bit Of History…
Okay confession time, I drink… a lot sometimes, but I had never heard of Tennent’s Lager (or any Tennent’s beer for that matter) before visiting Scotland. I love a good brewery tour though, so I thought I would check out this tiny brewery in Glasgow.
However, turns out that this “tiny” brewery is a household name in Scotland with a brewing history that goes back more than 450 years. There was even a time when Tennent’s was the largest exporter of bottled beer in the world.
Today Tennent’s is known as Scotland’s Favourite Lager, occupying about 60% of Scotland’s lager market, but originally the Tennent family brewed stouts and strong ales. It wasn’t until the 5th generation of the Tennent family brewers, Hugh Tennent, spent some time in Bavaria and decided to bring German style lagers back home to Scotland. The rest, as they say, is history.
Today, you can tour the Wellbark Brewery, home of Tennent’s beer in Glasgow for only 7.50GBP and it even comes with a pint of you favorite Tennent’s at the end. Tours take about an hour and a half and our offered 3-5 times a day (depending on day) seven days a week, so there are plenty of opportunities to get a behind the scenes look at the Tennent’s Brewing process.
I’ve been on many brewery tours. It’s one of my favorite things to do in a new city. I can tell you, this is a serious tour. They make you suit up; neon safety vest, hairnet, ear plugs, the works.
This is the kind of tour that would be a law suit waiting to happen in the USA. There are loud noises, slick floors, uneven surfaces, moving parts, heavy machinery and very narrow staircases. Honestly, it’s refreshing to experience that level of trust not to be an idiot.
The facility is huge! They even rent out the brewery to other beer companies to help with import costs. While I was there they were brewing Stella Artois in addition to Tennent’s beers.
The tour also consist of a museum section of sorts, showcasing some of Tennent’s oldest and most memorable bottling and canning campaigns.
Including the famous “lager lovelies” pin-up series that ran from the 60’s-90’s and is apparently still quite popular with collectors on ebay.
The Tasting…
Everyone’s favorite part of any brewery tour! The Tennent’s tour includes not just samples of beers, but an entire pint of your favorite! Today’s offerings were Tennent’s Extra, a high gravity beer weighing in at 9.3% ABV, Tennent’s Stout, Tennent’s Whisky Oak Aged, and Lemon T, a lemon shandy, and of course the classic Tennent’s Lager.
And of course now that I was good and liquored up, I couldn’t leave without a silly photo op!
I hadn’t heard of Tennent’s before, but they made a fan out of me!
~
I was helped in the planning of this trip by Colin Mairs of Excursion Scotland. As well as guided tours in 4 languages, Excursion Scotland offers a travel consulting service to help you plan your perfect self-guided tour of Scotland. Learn more at www.ExcursionScotland.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ExcursionScotland .
Wow, I never knew that Tennets had such a long history. If you’re in Scotland and you love beer you should consider stopping by Brewdog, they do fantastic beer https://www.brewdog.com/brewery/brewery
Carly recently posted…San Andres a tiny slice of Caribbean paradise
I didn’t get to explore too much, but I was able to stop by the BrewDog in Glasgow for a quick pint. I was impressed!
Brewery tours are a great activity – education AND beer, what’s not to love?! If you’re ever in Toronto, make sure you don’t miss out on the SteamWhistle brewery!
Prianka recently posted…Top 5 Cheap, Awesome Things to do in Singapore
I have heard so much about Toronto’s food and beer scene lately. I may need to plan a trip!
My husband would love this tour! And I will go with him!
Beer is always better with company (not that I’m above drinking alone 😉 )
Awesome! I agree with you, sometimes the “safety measures” in the States are just exhausting. I know I should be grateful, but doesn’t everyone want to experience life without safety railings sometimes? I’m not a big beer drinker myself (I prefer ciders), but 7.50 for a tour, samples AND a pint seems like an unbeatable deal!
Beth | Adventuring the Great Wide Somewhere recently posted…Becoming a Maniac at Halloween Horror Nights 25
They didn’t have any ciders while I was there, but they change their sample offerings all the time so you might get lucky. They did have a shandy, not quite the same, but still good!
Awesome Place. Loved pin-up series collection. Thanks for sharing this.
Himanshu recently posted…My Tryst With Kunzum Pass: Road trip From Kaza To Kunzum Top
Well, if you still have any of the pin-up series lying around, seems like you could make a killing on Ebay!
Hmmmm additional place to do while in Scotland 🙂 beer tasting im in 🙂
Anne Klien ( MeAnne) recently posted…Enchanting beauty of Bratislava
There is so much to see and do in Scotland that it’s hard to narrow it down, but I would put this on the short list.
Looks like I missed some fun in Glasgow… maybe next time… 🙂
Traveling Rockhopper recently posted…USA – Hummingbird
It’s always good to have a reason to go back!
My husband is a beer brewery himself, so we love going to tours to see how different companies do it. Plus, it never hurts to get free samples of beer!!!
Economical Excursionists recently posted…Iceland Tips and Tricks: What you need to know before going
How lucky are you!? I gotta find one of those!
This made me laugh! I went to university in Edinburgh and practically lived on this stuff! My family are Scottish but I’ve only ever really drank it there, it isn’t so popular around the UK. Seems like a fun tour!
dannielle recently posted…11 National dishes to try before you die
I had honestly never heard of it here in the States, but I was quite impressed!
Not that I am a beer expert but I had never even heart of these guys and you say they are 60% of Scottish Lager? wow – you always learn something new
Mar recently posted…Soneva Kiri review, Thailand’s most exclusive resort
I was really surprised too. I had never heard of them either. Apparently they are huge in the Scottish market, but not far outside it.
I think this is the most appropriate activity in Scotland! Thanks for sharing! Xx
Trisha Velarmino recently posted…How To Create Original Content for Your Blog: Good Writing Practices
When in Scotland right?!
Love the lager ladies pin ups! I would definitely enjoy this tour!
Erica recently posted…A Letter For The Traveler Wannabes
I can say with certainty that it’s the most fun I’ve ever had wearing a hairnet!
WOW, his really does sound like an authentic tour. I would love to get to Scotland for this experience – that’s the nice thing about traveling outside of the USA – there’s a level of trust everywhere else in the world which allows tourists behind the scenes to see the real thing which doesn’t exist anymore in the USA.
Thanks for the review!
Meg Jerrard recently posted…Why You Should Travel UNTIL You Retire. Don’t Wait 65 Years Until You Do.
It is incredibly refreshing when someone trusts me not to stick my hand into moving machinery.
I love Tennent’s lager (OK I love all lager) but nonetheless, for that price (I’m impressed it’s that cheap) it sounds like a perfect day out!
Alice Teacake recently posted…What A Trickster! Travel Scams In Asia
I never met a lager I didn’t like…. Well, that’s not quite true, but most of them are okay by me!
[…] even a time when Tennent’s was the largest exporter of bottled beer in the world.” – READ MORE from Mags on the […]
I’m not much of a drinker, but I know my husband would LOVE this!
Revati recently posted…Comment on The Taj Mahal, Agra – Do you believe in eternal love? by The Glittering Tomb of Itmad Ud Daulah – The Other Taj Mahal
Well someone has to tag along and take pictures right? 😉
“Honestly, it’s refreshing to experience that level of trust not to be an idiot.”
This made me LOL!
It’s true. I live in a country where we have to print “not a toy” on every plastic bag 🙁
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