Brewery: Cairngorm Brewing Company
Location: Aviemore
ABV: 4.3%
Version: 500ml bottle
Source: Gapwines, NI (but also found occasionally in Sainsburys)

With Trade Winds, the Cairngorm Brewery have collected quite a few awards -
CAMRA Champion Speciality Beer of Britain 2004, 2005 and 2006
SIBA UK Champion Best Bitter 2006 and 2008
CAMRA Chamion Beer of Scotland 2004

It’s light golden colour with a fruity hoppy aroma, along with a contribution from the added elderflower and something akin to green grapes. Flavour is quite hoppy upfront, bitter citrus notes of lemon and grapefruit providing a refreshing, albeit slightly rough, zing on the tongue before sweetening up a bit towards the dryish, touch nutty, finish. It’s not a particularly smooth beer, there’s a certain rough element in there (bit like those gusty trade winds), but despite that it’s quite easy drinking and has a degree of charm that has me coming back now and again.