WooHa Brewing Company - WooHa IPA

On the pour, this is one deeply-colored IPA, presenting an unfiltered amber-brown topped by sticky foam that laces as it recedes very slowly. We picked up plenty of inviting fruity and floral notes in the aroma including tropical and stone fruits, a hint of berry, light herbal spice and a touch of citrus. WooHa built their IPA with a hefty malt bill, creating a brew with a robust backbone of toasty and caramel notes and a luscious, well-bodied mouthfeel (aided by being unfiltered and bottle-conditioned). But, despite the sturdy malt core, as with any IPA the hops are the star here, biting nicely on the palate with a prominent spicy-herbal edge and a moderately firm, but not extreme, dose of bitter acidity. Pair this robust brew with a grilled pork loin accompanied by a rich and spicy gravy, carne asada tacos featuring a hot and fruity salsa, or a gingerbread spice cake. Cheers!

When we think of the British brewing industry, often the first things to come to mind are famous English brands and styles. But Scotland boasts a rich brewing tradition too, though it is perhaps overshadowed in the minds of many consumers by the country's world-renowned distilled spirits. Fortunately, the natural features that make Scotland an excellent producer of whisky, such as pure water and superb grain, also lend themselves to the production of exceptional beer. Indeed, the brewing and distilling processes are very similar at certain stages.

Founded in 2014, with the first drops of beer flowing in spring of 2015, WooHa Brewing Company is a relatively new Scottish brewing venture located along the coast of the Scottish Highlands. The brainchild of Heather McDonald, WooHa was an all-female brewery in its earliest days. Born in Alaska, McDonald grew up living in a variety of places around the world due to her parents' work for the US government. After studying microbiology and virology, her early adulthood found her employed by the Navy Medical Research Center where she worked on a vaccine for dengue hemorrhagic fever. Not content to rest on her laurels, she decided to expand her opportunities by studying international business, ultimately achieving a masters degree in finance & investment management from Scotland's University of Aberdeen. It was there, in Scotland, that she became inspired to take her interest in brewing and turn it into a full-fledged business. What better way to merge her interest in science, and microbiology specifically, with her business acumen?

Since hitting the market in 2015, WooHa has seen impressive growth, with exports now reaching Denmark, Belgium, Spain, and a few locations in the U.S. WooHa's overarching theme is the production of truly natural beer – a reflection of the natural environment of the rugged Scottish Highlands that the brewery calls home. All WooHa beers are bottle-conditioned (re-fermented in the bottle to produce carbonation, as opposed to forced carbonation), unfiltered, and free of any clarifying chemicals or additives like isinglass. As such, they are vegan-friendly. We're excited to have the opportunity to introduce this upstart Scottish brewery to a wider American audience and hope you enjoy their beers as much as we did. Cheers!