Cold Town Beer

Cold Town Beer takes its name from Edinburgh’s Calton Hill, which was once known as Caltoun, meaning “Cold Town”. The name reflects the brewery’s connection to a city that has been associated with beer production for centuries.

Edinburgh has been recognised as an important brewing centre since at least the 16th century. Its naturally suitable water, access to locally grown barley and established trading links helped create the conditions for a thriving brewing industry. Cold Town Beer builds on that heritage while bringing a contemporary and adventurous outlook to Scottish brewing.

The brewery is based in Edinburgh’s Canonmills area, close to Leith Walk, where its beers are produced with a focus on quality, creativity and approachability. Its range spans easy-drinking lagers, pale ales and more expressive hop-forward beers, united by the belief that good beer should be enjoyable and accessible rather than intimidating.

That philosophy is summed up by the brewery’s ethos, “Brewed by us, picked by you”. Cold Town creates beers across a variety of flavours and styles, allowing drinkers to choose the beer that best suits their own taste.

Cold Town House, located in Edinburgh’s historic Grassmarket, provides a showcase for the brewery beneath the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. Beer is served from tanks within the venue, allowing visitors to enjoy it close to where it was brewed. The site also acts as a creative testing ground, where new and experimental beers can be trialled before selected recipes move into wider production.

Alongside its brewing activity, Cold Town Beer has supported charitable initiatives including Doddie Beir, created in honour of Scottish rugby player and campaigner Doddie Weir. A portion of the beer’s proceeds supports work related to motor neurone disease, reflecting the brewery’s commitment to its community as well as its craft.

Rooted in Edinburgh’s brewing past but shaped by modern tastes, Cold Town Beer represents a fresh interpretation of Scottish beer culture: inclusive, inventive and closely connected to the city it calls home.