★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ade Bro
Great choice of beers and wine. My favorite beer shop ever!!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Alexandre Coates
Great local shop, very friendly staff and delicious drinks. Great selection of non-alcoholic beers as well
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Andrea Pecorelli
I had a great experience at this beer shop. My girlfriend and I came in looking for three beers as a gift for her fat...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Andrew Maudsley
Great selection and prices
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
bala
Great bottle shop with just the nicest person at the shop! Very attentive and helpful. Definitely recommend checking ...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
David pereira
Best bottle shop in Edinburgh, great selection of beers and super helpful staff. My go to for sour beer.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Emily Paul
A phenomenal selection of products that is perhaps only surpassed by how phenomenal their staff is - I went in lookin...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Gezuz Kryst
Great selection with friendly staff.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Giblet Gravy
Absolutely superb selection and even better service. I was given great recommendations that suited my needs, and the ...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Glenn Kent
Dear owner my friend and his wife were there on holiday and found me a bottle of Blantons Gold I have been wanting a ...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
joshua brimdyr
Finest and greatest depth of beers for sale in Edinburgh. The owner is super knowledgeable and helpful. There was a c...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Kenny McCartney
Can't believe I've failed to give a good review of this place before. I've been frequenting this place fo...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Laura Gutiérrez
Una selección muy buena de cerveza. Nos atendió un chico muy amable detallandonos muy bien el producto a pesar de ser...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Lauren
Popped in a few nights ago for some gifts. Great customer experience, they listened to what I was looking for and cam...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Lee Traversari
Spotted on my drive to my last customer, so glad I spotted it. By far one of the best bottle shops I've had the p...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Mark Muir
The Beerhive is simply the best,very friendly knowledgeable staff,always have an extensive range of beers.🍻
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Michael Zenkl
Excellent selection, very kind and knowledgeable co-owner! Thank you, I walked out with 8 exceptional bottles of wine!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
New Fads
Great guys, amazing selection and super knowledgeable! The best.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Owen Frost
Our local bottle shop!Absolutely top service everytime we go in! Team are always so friendly and knowledgeable.Always...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Rachel Wade
Always a pleasure to visit, a real asset to the community, we would be lost without Team Beerhive! Helpful, friendly ...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ross Cooper
Great little beer and wine place
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ross Fraser
Huge selection of quality beers and an execllent local delivery service. I ordered on Thursday night and had the beer...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ryan Collman
Been buying beer from Peter and Richard for nearly 8 years now. Definitely the best beer shop in town.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Seoridh Fraser
Excellent selection across a broad range of price points and styles and thats just the wine. The Beerhive has been ah...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Sian Buchan
excellent wee shop with great staff and wonderful selection - lots of stuff that isn't beer too, picked up a few ...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Steven Halkett
Awesome bottle shop. Totally out of my way but I will return many times
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Stig E
Meget godt utvalg i ØL
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Tara M
Great selection and service with a smile! I was really pleased with their delivery options and frequency. I am cancel...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Tom Hutchinson
An obviously great passion project bottle shop which I'm embarrassed it took me so long to visit. Great selection...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Zera Esham
Great place for exciting craft beers with an excellent wine selection as well. The staff are knowledgeable and friend...

Collection: Traditional Ales

Traditional ales are the styles that shaped British brewing long before craft beer became a movement. Bitters, milds, old ales and strong ales have been poured in pubs for generations, with many still conditioned in the cask where they continue to mature until they're served.

Traditional ales focus on classic British and European beer styles shaped by centuries of brewing history, from cask-inspired bitter and mild to old ale, porter, barleywine and strong Belgian-inspired ales. Unlike many modern hop-driven craft styles, traditional ales are often built around malt balance, fermentation character and drinkability, showcasing flavours of biscuit malt, caramel, dark fruit, toasted bread, spice and gentle earthy bitterness.

Many of these styles were originally brewed for pubs, monasteries and local breweries long before the rise of contemporary craft beer, with brewing traditions deeply tied to regional ingredients, pub culture and seasonal drinking. British brewing in particular helped establish styles such as porter, mild and bitter, while Belgium became internationally known for expressive yeast-driven ales including dubbel and tripel.

Our traditional ale range focuses on beers that respect these classic brewing styles while still offering depth, balance and character, including English bitter, Scottish ale, Belgian dubbel and tripel, brown ale, porter and stronger winter ales. Alongside long-established breweries, the collection also includes modern independent producers brewing classic styles with freshness and technical precision.

Expect smooth malt character, expressive yeast and beers designed for relaxed drinking, pub-style serving and food pairing rather than sheer intensity. Depending on style, flavours can range from caramel, toast and nutty malt to dried fruit, spice, chocolate and warming alcohol.

Whether you're looking for classic cask-inspired beer, rich dark ale or traditional European styles rooted in brewing heritage, this collection highlights the more timeless and enduring side of beer culture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What are traditional ales?

Traditional ales are beers brewed using classic brewing methods and ingredients, typically fermented with top-fermenting yeast and often associated with British-style cask or bottle-conditioned beer.

What makes an ale “traditional”?

A traditional ale is usually made using time-honoured brewing techniques, natural ingredients like malted barley, hops, yeast and water, and may undergo secondary fermentation in cask or bottle.

What styles are considered traditional ales?

Traditional ales include styles such as bitters, milds, brown ales, porters, stouts and English-style pale ales, depending on regional brewing traditions.

How are traditional ales different from lagers?

Traditional ales are usually fermented at warmer temperatures using top-fermenting yeast, while lagers use bottom-fermenting yeast and colder fermentation for a cleaner, crisper profile.

What does traditional ale taste like?

Flavours vary widely but often include malt sweetness, biscuit or caramel notes, gentle fruitiness and balanced hop bitterness, depending on the specific style.

What is cask ale and is it a traditional ale?

Yes. Cask ale is a form of traditional ale that is naturally conditioned in the cask it is served from, allowing live yeast to continue fermentation and develop flavour.