PRIMARY FLAVOURS

• Caramac
• Lemon Zest
• Pine
• Roasted Almonds

Story

Welcome to the world of Pilot Brewery, a spirited micro‑brew operation tucked away in the heart of Leith, Edinburgh. Founded by two passionate brew‑nerds, Matt Johnson and Patrick Jones, who met on their Brewing & Distilling Master’s at Heriot-Watt University in 2011, Pilot rose from garage‑brew sessions to mixing up full‑blown cans by 2013.

From their industrial base on Jane Street, now relocated to Stewartfield in Edinburgh, Pilot has cultivated a beer range that’s boldly non‑traditional: they steer clear of dusty “real ale only” orthodoxy but refuse to slavishly mimic US‑style craft clones, striking a balance with beers that feel fresh, playful and real.

Their line‑up includes core staples and a rotating cast of weird & wonderful irregulars, all brewed, canned, kegged and branded in‑house. That means the care you taste in every sip, no shortcuts, no finings or filtration, just flavour front and centre.

But Pilot isn’t just about beer, it’s about experience. Their Leith brewery welcomes visitors every Saturday for tours and tastings, complete with a sampler of core and limited‑edition brews.

And in 2025 they opened their first standalone bar, Vessel, on Hanover Street, a proper hangout offering the full Pilot range on draught, small‑plates and a laid‑back, community‑honouring vibe.

Pilot are another firm favourite in the Good Pair Days camp, and for this month's selection we are rolling out arguably one of the best brews we've tried from them. 'Big Little Red' is their Amber IPA, 'Little Red’s' grown-up sibling, and yes, it’s bringing all the fun and flavour. Sweet, biscuity malts meet a hop party of Enigma and Mosaic, bursting with citrus, tropical fruit, and pine. Bigger, bolder, and unapologetically tasty!

Specs

PAIRING GUIDE

We love a good amber IPA here at Good Pair Days, and it’s fair to say we were mightily impressed by this beautiful number from Pilot Brewery. Biscuity hops, subtle sweetness, toasty and irresistibly malty flavours… I mean, what’s not to love? This is the kind of beer that matches beautifully with slow-cooked dishes made with love, patience and no shyness when it comes to flavour – we’re talking braised beef brisket with a rich and unctuous sauce, lamb shanks with onion gravy and thick vegetable stews with plenty of roasted garlic. Bean and lentil dishes will work surprisingly well, especially garlicky butter beans with a scattering of feta or parmesan, or lentil curries with a heap of buttery naan. Delicious.

RECIPE MATCHES

• Greek Butter Beans with Tomato and Garlic