Scotland: Malty Ales Much like its culture, Scotland has managed to preserve a distinct brewing identity separate from that of England. The Scottish preference is for soft, sweetish malt-accented ales with low hop bittering. Scotch ales vary, with recipes ranging from medieval to avant-garde, especially among the emerging craft breweries around the country. In earlier days, Scotch ales were shipped to all corners of the Empire. However, today many of the independent breweries that once made Edinburgh one of Britain’s greatest brewing centers are no longer in operation. Popular breweries with products exported to the United States include BrewDog from Fraserburgh, The Caledonian Brewing Company in Edinburgh and Belhaven from East Lothian.