Brewery: Williams Bros
Location: Alloa, Scotland
ABV: 4.7%
Version: Bottled
Source: Sainsbury’s

Ceilidh is Williams’ Bros’s Scottish lager and one of no fewer than four of their beers in this year’s Sainsbury’s Real Ale promo I opened it straight after the rather disappointing Lapin Kulta and I’m happy to say that it helped to restore at least some of my faith in the lager style.

It still wasn’t great, but it did fare well in comparison with its immediate predecessor: a sharper bite, a more distinct hop flavour and a drier, more biscuity finish all made for a more satisfying lager experience. If someone handed me a bottle on a hot day then I wouldn’t hand it back, although If I’m being honest I’d have to say that I’d much rather crack open a Czech-style dark lager instead; BrewDog’s Zeitgeist, for instance, or a Herold Bohemian, or maybe a Budvar Dark (I have one of those in the cupboard at the moment and I’m planning to give it a go before too long).

So: not bad. Not bad at all. But I won’t be rushing back to fill a trolley while the Sainsbury’s promotion is still on. Reluctant Scooper gave it a slightly more encouraging thumbs-up than I just have though, so if you want a second opinion, there you go.

Update: Adrian Tierney-Jones has applied his clearly much more educated palate than mine to Ceilidh over at his Called to the Bar blog.