Brewery & tours

Islay Ales Visitor Centre and Tap Room

Islay Ales taproom

Visit Islay’s only brewery where beer is crafted from grain to can

Founded in 2004, The original brewery was housed in a Victorian carriage house and was a small four-brewer barrel plant which produced small-batch, bottle and cask-conditioned ales.

In 2018 Islay Ales was purchased by The Islay Boys, Donald MacKenzie and Mackay Smith. The Islay Boys is Islay’s only independent whisky bottler, sourcing and blending whisky from all over Scotland. They also bottle several single malts and release the occasional Single Cask bottling.

In 2025 Islay Ales opened a brand-new brewhouse and bottling facility at Glenegedale, a short distance from the airport. The new site also includes a Tap Room where you can taste their products and enjoy a few pints to while away an hour or two. Draft beer is available from 11am, with last orders at 5.15pm. The Tap Room is also dog friendly.

What's on offer

  • A selection of beers, all produced on site available to drink in the bar or beer garden
  • Whisky tastings by the dram or tasting flight
  • A shop selling beers, whiskies and a range of merchandise
  • Tours & tastings
  • Good Craic

Tours

Take a tour of the brewery and discover what goes into making Islay Ales’s range of beers and independently bottled whiskies. The tour concludes with a beer & whisky tasting in the Tap Room.

You can book through the Islay Ales website, where you can learn more and sign up for updates. Tours are at 11am, 2pm & 4pm daily, and the cost is £19.95 per adult. Children are welcome, free, provided they’re accompanied by a responsible adult. Private groups can arrange tours at different times: just get in touch.

How to find the brewery

Islay Ales is situated just opposite the airport, along the low road, halfway between Bowmore and Port Ellen. The site has ample car-parking. It’s also along the bus routes; get off at the Airport Stop and walk less than 100m.

Islay Ales
The Brewery
Glenegedale
Isle of Islay
PA42 7AS