Port City Brewing Bringing Back Tartan Ale
Press Release
Alexandra, Virginia — Bill Butcher, founder of Port City Brewing Company, located at 3950 Wheeler Avenue in Alexandria, VA is pleased to announce the re-release of his special edition Tartan® Ale available for Spring 2014. Crafted by Head Brewer Jonathan Reeves, this deep, copper-colored Scottish Ale will be produced in the 80-shilling style and offer a slightly fruity flavor to enhance the luscious malty caramel and hop aroma. The limited production Tartan Ale is the spring seasonal beer produced by Port City Brewing Company. Tartan Ale will be sold at select retail, restaurants and bars in Washington, DC, Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina starting March 1, 2014. This beer will be in limited supply as Port City Brewing Company is only brewing 90 barrels with a suggested retail price for a six-pack of $11.99.
The 11,000-square-foot craft brewery is dedicated to bringing great quality, innovative, handmade craft beers to the DC and Mid-Atlantic market. Port City produces world-class quality beer, brewing five year-round beers along with rotating seasonal selections. Alexandria’s two Scottish founders, Captains Philip and John Alexander, inspired Port City’s launch of a Scottish Ale in the DC area. Scottish beers in the 1800’s were taxed on their strength, with the strong and better quality beers costing more. Customers developed the habit of asking for them by the tax ratings, or shilling names. The 80-shilling style was one of the stronger types that could be purchased, containing 4.0-5.5% alcohol. The 80-shilling beers are traditionally malty, without much hop character, as hops did not grow in Scotland, and were expensive to import.