Binny’s Beer Collab: Art History x White Oak x Binny’s
A Superlative Scottish Ale
Showcasing Heirloom Malts & Heritage Hops

If you’ve come across a Scottish style ale on the shelf, odds are it was a Scotch ale. Sometimes billed as a “Wee Heavy”, these decadent brews pack a punch, making them well-suited after dinner sipping. While also malt centric and richly flavored, Scottish Export ales are leaner in body and more balanced – the kind of quaffable pour you enjoy by the pint with friends at the pub.

A rarity this side of the pond, we teamed up with two of our favorite breweries - Geneva’s Art History and White Oak Brewing of Normal, Illinois - to craft one using heirloom malts and heritage hops. Both Art History & White Oak craft exceptional pub ales, so we knew their brewers would be up to the task of designing and executing a recipe that could stand toe-to-toe with the best of Alba.

Both England and Scotland are famous for producing some prized heritage barleys. Grown in smaller lots, malts made from cultivars like Golden Promise and Maris Otter are a labor of love, and while they deliver remarkable flavors, they also command a premium price. We wanted to deliver an ale of exceptional quality, so rather than turn to cheaper domestically grown substitutions, this collaborative brew proudly showcases UK grown and malted Golden Promise and Maris Otter barleys. When it comes to the depth and roundness of flavor, the proof is in the pint!

A malt centric style, traditional Scottish Export ales employ hops mainly for balance. The hops used here are East Kent Golding. EKG is the quintessential British hop, prized for imparting a mix of floral, spiced, and herbaceous flavors and aromas.

As for the name and the artwork? It’s an homage to the Scottish sport of the caber toss, celebrated at Highland Games competitions in both Scotland and the United States. Men and women balance and then toss a massive wooden beam (the caber) that weight upwards of 100 pounds! Tosses are scored according to the face of a clock, and an end-over-end toss that lands at 12 o’clock is the highest score.

A big thank you to the teams at both Art History and White Oak for making this brew come to life. Perfect 12 landed right on point! Slàinte mhath!

Art History Perfect 12 collaboration with White Oak & Binny’s 4 Pack of 16oz Cans 182718 $12.99

Pouring copper in color and sparkling in the glass, aromas of biscuity malt, dark fruit, and wisp of floral hops float above the foam. Medium in body, the mix of Golden Promise and Maris Otter malts imparts a deliciously honeyed character that develops into a dark toffee richness, while a touch of oats adds to the soft and rounded mouthfeel. East Kent Golding hops provide just enough balancing bitterness, with lasting hints of allspice, lavender, orange peel, and thyme. Given the depth of malt character here, the finish is paradoxically dry, leaving the palate primed for another pint. A must try alongside a Forfar bridie or fish and chips.