Scotland’s oldest working brewery, Belhaven, kicked off 2026 in style with the relaunch of its iconic Twisted Thistle IPA, now sporting a bold new look and a refreshed recipe.
Twisted Thistle IPA has long been a favourite among drinkers, and the new recipe, at 4% ABV, is carefully crafted to enhance its refreshing flavour while staying true to the bold character that made the beer previously popular in Belhaven’s portfolio.
The relaunch also introduces a new visual identity for the beer to give it a more modern appeal and embrace the vision of the wider portfolio, which has been evolving over the last few years. The refreshed branding reflects the beer’s flavoursome spirit but balances this with the brewery’s heritage including the brewery’s chimneys within the branding.
The launch of Twisted Thistle follows the successful introduction of Belter, 4% ABV golden lager, which landed in pubs across Scotland last September. Belter has been warmly received by customers and praised for its refreshing, subtly sweet flavour and eye-catching design which also has a nod to Belhaven Brewery.
Suzie Carlaw, Marketing Manager for Belhaven Brewery, said, “We’re excited to bring Twisted Thistle IPA back with a fresh new look and a refreshing taste and as we get into the new year we felt it was right for us to officially launch this well-loved beer at the beginning of 2026 and begin with an exciting portfolio of beers. “The relaunch is part of our ongoing mission to evolve our range while celebrating all of the great things that Belhaven Brewery is known for. Twisted Thistle has always had a positive reception from drinkers, and now it’s even better.”
The Wanlockhead Inn in Biggar, the highest pub in Scotland, was one of the first pubs to install Twisted Thistle on the bar. Dean McKelvey, the landlord of the Wanlockhead Inn said, “We were thrilled to be one of the first in the country to get the relaunched Twisted Thistle and it has always been a cracking classic, but the new recipe takes it to a new level. It’s already been greatly received by our customers and it’s brilliant to add another Scottish beer in to our range.”
Twisted Thistle IPA is now available to order for venues across Scotland. For more information, visit www.belhaven.co.uk.