Newbarns Daftmill Barrel Aged Plain Dark Beer

Newbarns feel like the sort of brewery obsessed with lager in a way that quickly becomes convincing once you taste the results. Clean, modern beer with huge respect for traditional European brewing underneath. Very Leith, essentially.

Founded by Gordon and Emma McMeekin after time spent brewing at places like The Kernel and Siren, the brewery settled into Jane Street in Leith and quickly became one of Scotland’s most respected modern beer producers.

The beers lean heavily into pale lagers, pilsners and hop-forward Kellerbier-inspired styles. Crisp bitterness, soft malt character and proper conditioning matter enormously here. Even the hoppier beers usually retain that lean, elegant structure underneath rather than drifting into thick haze for the sake of it.

There’s a noticeable West Coast American influence in parts of the range too, particularly in the aromatic pale lagers and modern pale ales. But the brewery still feels deeply tied to European brewing traditions. Patience, balance and drinkability all come first.

The taproom itself has become part of the wider Leith beer scene now. Relaxed, industrial and full of people quietly drinking excellent lager while pretending they’re not becoming complete fermentation nerds. Which rarely lasts long.