Information about Paradox Ale brewed in whisky casks in Fraserburgh by BrewDog Martin Dickie and James Watt:

In 2007 The Broch (Fraserburgh, Scotland) saw a new brewery develop and its drink, Paradox Ale, become a worldwide hit. Paradox Ale has been exported to Japan, North America and Denmark within its first year of brewing. Sainsbury's will be the first shop to sell Paradox Ale throughout the UK. This is the first brewery in Fraserburgh for over 100 years.

Paradox Ale

Paradox Ale is a strong ale of between 10.5 and 12% volume which has such a strong alcohol content and great taste because the ale is brewed in mature whisky casks. The brains behind Paradox Ale are Martin Dickie and James Watt who have named their brewery company BrewDog. Together they produce about 8000 bottles of the dark stout Paradox Ale a month, though will be vastly upping this to meet demand of Paradox Ale.

Paradox Ale has no additives or preservatives and gets its unique flavour because the beer is finished off and matured for three months in whisky caskets. The casks are from Duncan Taylor &Co. which are handpicked by the BrewDogs team.

Martin Dickie and James Watt took their Paradox Ale to the Whisky Live exhibition in Tokyo in February and were an instant success with a great demand for orders.

Paradox Ale is a bit different to other ales. The Sunday Post called it "moonshine style stout" and the manufacturers recommend it be sipped, like a fine malt whisky, rather than drunk like a beer.

In May 2008 BrewDog celebrated their first anniversary by releasing a limited edition Paradox 1968 Islay Cask one off beer that had been matured in a 1968 Bowmore whisky barrel for a year.

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BrewDog

BrewDog, named after James' Labrador dog, are working on other ales brewed in whisky barrels such as their Caol Ila cask beer that is matured in barrels from the Islay single malt whisky.

Martin Dickie studied brewing and distilling techniques at the Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. He graduated with a first class honours degree. He comes from nearby Cairnbulg whilst James Watt comes from Gardenstown.

James Watt was a fisherman in the Fraserburgh area before becoming a brewer.

Martin Dickie and James Watt have won the Taste Of Grampian award.

In April 2007 Brewdog won the North East winner in the local final of Shell LiveWire Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2007.

Martin Dickie and James Watt also brew, produce and bottle Punk IPA (India Pale Ale), Hop Rocker and Rip Tide.

In July 2007 BrewDog secured an American deal to supply 500 cases to Preiss Imports in Santiago who are based in Chile and supply beverages throughout America.

Winner of Scotland's Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 Award

In May 2007 James Watt of Brewdog was announced as the winner of the Scotland's Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 Award. As part of the award announced at the Scotland final James Watt also won a cash prize of £3000 for his beer making skills and his product Brewdog. James Watt plans to invest the prize money back into the Brewdog business so that he and his business partner Martin Dickie can increase production of their unique drinks.

The National final of the Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 Award will take place in London and if James Watt is the winner he will win the cash prize of £10,000.

By the beginning of 2008 Brewdog in the Kessock Industrial Estate in Fraserburgh had sold over one million bottle of beer. In March 08 James Watt and Martin Dickie won a deal with the national supermarket Tesco and the high street off licence Oddbins to sell Brewdog beers.

Gold Award at the Brewers Association World Cup

In April 2008 Brewdog were awarded a gold award at the Brewers Association World Cup at Boulder in Colorado. James Watt and Martin Dickie faced stiff competition since 2800 beers were entered from 640 brewers worldwide.

Oz and James's Big Beer Adventure

Brewdog appeared on Oz and James's Big Beer Adventure on BBC television. James Watt and Martin Dickie joined James may and Oz Clarke in the Princess Gardens of Edinburgh to taste their ale.

The Last Millionaire

James Watt took part in the BBC Three programme The Last Millionaire in November 2008. The Last Millionaire saw a dozen of the UK's young entrepreneurs go to six cities of the world with no money and their challenge was to make as much money as they could.

Tactical Nuclear Penguin

In 2009 Brewdog introduced a high alcohol content beer called Tactical Nuclear Penguin at 32%. This was in the same month that Brewdog won planning permission from the Council to move their brewery to larger premises in Aberdeen. The new buildings will use renewable energy.

Contact Details

BrewDog
Kessock Industrial Estate
Fraserburgh
Aberdeenshire

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