Beer And Haggis: The Perfect Pairing

Haggis is a savoury Scottish dish, often served with whisky on Burns Night. But what if you're not a whisky drinker? Well, you could try wine or beer.

If you're a wine drinker, you might want to opt for a red over a white, as haggis is likened to a red meat. A full-bodied, medium to dry red wine is a good choice, as is a darker bitter ale.

If you're a beer drinker, you could try a Scottish ale, porter, stout, or wee heavy. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, you could try a haggis-flavoured beer.

The world's first haggis spiced beer

The world-famous haggis producer, Macsween, has been making haggis for nearly 70 years, and the recipe has been passed down through three generations of this family-run business. While the specific ingredients are a closely guarded secret, James Macsween, the managing director and grandson of founders Jean and Charlie Macsween, hand-delivered a pre-mixed batch of spices used to create this unique haggis spiced pale ale.

The Cold Macsween Beer is a full-bodied, balanced pale ale brewed with Scottish malted barley and oats, along with a pinch of the Macsween's secret spice blend. It has subtle pepper notes and a rich mouthfeel, making it a surprisingly versatile sipping drink. Even if you're not a fan of haggis, this beer is worth a try if you have a curious palate or enjoy exploring new flavours.

The limited-edition Cold Macsween Beer (4.3% ABV) is available exclusively from the Flavourly website. It costs £19.99 for 6, £29.99 for 12, or £49.99 for 24 cans, including free delivery. So, if you're looking for a unique way to celebrate Burns Night, why not give this innovative beer a try?

Beer, wine or whisky?

When it comes to what to drink with haggis, there are a few different options to consider: beer, wine, or whisky.

Beer

Haggis-flavoured beers have been launched in time for Burns Night, which is celebrated on 25 January. The world's first haggis spiced beer was created by Flavourly, Macsween, and Cold Town Brew. The beer is made using a top-secret haggis spice blend from the family-run business Macsween, which has been making haggis for nearly 70 years. The result is a smooth, full-bodied drink with subtle pepper notes.

Wine

If you're looking for a wine to pair with haggis, consider a red wine over a white. Haggis has a savoury, spicy sausage-like flavour, and red wines tend to complement these notes better. Look for big, jammy reds such as Australian Shiraz (there's even one appropriately named Bobbie Burns Shiraz). Northern Rhône syrah and grenache/syrah/mourvèdre (GSM) blends from the southern Rhône, the Languedoc, and Australia are also good options, especially if they've been aged for a year or two.

For white wines, choose spicy, rich varieties like Gewürztraminer, Fiano, or Viognier.

Whisky

On Burns Night, it is traditional to have a 'wee dram' of whisky with your haggis. Whisky's strength means it doesn't necessarily pair well with the meal, so it may be better as an after-dinner drink.

So, depending on your preference, you could choose a haggis-flavoured beer, a full-bodied red wine, or a traditional whisky to accompany your haggis.

A smooth drink with a whisper of pepper

If you're looking for a smooth drink with a whisper of pepper to pair with haggis, then look no further than the Cold Macsween Beer. This haggis-inspired beer is a unique sipping drink that is surprisingly versatile. With a rich mouthfeel, it offers a refreshing pale ale experience with lingering spice notes that dance on the tongue. The secret lies in the spice blend from the top-secret Macsween Haggis recipe, which has been passed down through three generations.

The Cold Macsween Beer is a full-bodied, balanced pale ale brewed with Scottish malted barley and oats, along with a pinch of the Macsween's secret spice blend. It is easy to drink, with subtle pepper notes, and pairs perfectly with haggis, Scotland's national dish. The beer is crafted by the innovative Edinburgh brewery Cold Town Beer, in collaboration with Flavourly and Macsween.

The limited-edition Cold Macsween Beer has a modest ABV of 4.3% and is available in 330ml cans. It is exclusively sold by Flavourly, a Scottish drinks company, and costs £19.99 for 6, £29.99 for 12, or £49.99 for 24 cans, with free delivery.

So, if you're looking for a smooth and peppery drink to accompany your haggis, the Cold Macsween Beer is the perfect choice. It's a unique beer that celebrates Scotland's national dish in true Scottish style.

Haggis and beer: a match made in heaven?

When it comes to enjoying a nice cold beer, there are many foods that pair well with it. But what about haggis? Can the two be a match made in heaven?

Traditionally, whisky is the drink of choice when it comes to enjoying haggis. However, there is no reason why beer cannot be a perfect substitute. In fact, some people may even prefer it. The spicy, meaty flavour of haggis can be perfectly complemented by a full-bodied, slightly sweet beer with a high alcohol content.

One option is to go for a Scottish beer, such as a wee heavy, which is malty and slightly sweet. Or, if you want something a little easier to drink, a German Schwarzbier is always a good choice for pairing with sausage.

If you're feeling adventurous, why not try a haggis-flavoured beer? The world's first haggis spiced beer was launched in 2022 by Flavourly, Macsween, and Cold Town Brew, just in time for Burns Night. This unique beer uses the exact spice blend from the top-secret Macsween haggis recipe, creating a full-bodied, balanced pale ale with subtle pepper notes. It's the perfect drink to enjoy with your haggis, neeps, and tatties.

So, if you're looking for a new way to enjoy haggis, why not give beer a try? With its spicy, meaty flavour, haggis can be perfectly complemented by the right beer. So, raise a glass and enjoy a delicious meal – haggis and beer might just be a match made in heaven!

Burns Night: whisky or haggis beer?

Burns Night is a celebration of the life and work of the Scottish poet Robert Burns. It takes place on 25 January each year, on the anniversary of his birth in 1759. Haggis, neeps and tatties are traditionally eaten on Burns Night, along with a wee dram of whisky.

But what if you're not a whisky drinker? Can you pair haggis with beer?

Well, it turns out you can. In 2022, Edinburgh-based online drinks specialist Flavourly partnered with haggis producer Macsween and local brewery Cold Town Beer to create a haggis-spiced pale ale. The beer was flavoured with a pinch of the secret spice blend used in Macsween's haggis recipe. It was described as having a rich mouthfeel and ginger and pepper notes, and was designed to be the perfect drink to accompany haggis, neeps and tatties.

Beer isn't the only alternative to whisky, though. According to wine experts, haggis is a "funky-tasting meat" that pairs well with red wine – specifically, "big jammy reds" such as Australian shiraz, or Northern Rhône syrah. If you prefer white wine, go for a spicy, rich, textured variety like gewürztraminer, fiano or viognier.

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