Tartan Shark: the Edinburgh brewery delivering foraged brews by bike

Sean Fleming is the man behind sustainable microbrewery Tartan Shark, delivering his foraged brews by bike to independent off-licences around Edinburgh.
Tartan Shark's '7 Cyclepaths' beer is just one of those created sustainably by passionate homebrewer Sean Fleming. Image credit: Thomas MountneyTartan Shark's '7 Cyclepaths' beer is just one of those created sustainably by passionate homebrewer Sean Fleming. Image credit: Thomas Mountney
Tartan Shark's '7 Cyclepaths' beer is just one of those created sustainably by passionate homebrewer Sean Fleming. Image credit: Thomas Mountney

Mr Fleming left behind a career in accounting to pursue a passion for homebrewing, taking a dip into Edinburgh’s burgeoning brewing scene with Tartan Shark.

Based in Bingham, Edinburgh, Mr Fleming described himself as “belligerently local” and aims to keep his carbon footprint low by delivering his homebrewed beers on bike.

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Tartan Shark showcases a selection of beers made using locally-foraged ingredients sourced from parks and cycle paths around Edinburgh, with foraged elderflower featuring in a number of Mr Flemings’ beers such as his Elderflower Pale Ale.

“It’s not the most friendly industry to the environment broadly-speaking,” he said. “So when I was starting up I was always thinking ‘surely there’s a way to do this better’.”

By choosing not to chill or heat his fermenters, Mr Fleming hopes to save on the more energy-demanding techniques often used in homebrewing.

“Again, it’s part of why I’m trying to keep the carbon footprint down. If you’re making a lager in high summer, it’s a lot of energy trying to keep that cold. So I’ll try to make wheat beers in summer when that hotter temperature is fine for those, and make paler beers in winter.”

Mr Fleming hopes that using foraged, fresh ingredients will allow him to keep offering a rotating seasonal range of beers that can be delivered to shops and pubs around Edinburgh by bike.

His ‘Thumb Envy’ green-hopped IPA is one such example, made from freshly picked hops and with a food mile of just three metres.

Other current offerings include ‘Frankie goes to Bollywood’ a spiced stout, ‘7 Cyclepaths’ an elderflower saison, ‘Receding Shoreline’ porter and ‘Great Weiss’ imperial wheat beer.

Tartan Shark beers are currently available in The Beer Hive, Cornelius Beers, Cork Cask and High Spirit Drinks in Edinburgh.

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To check out Tartan Shark and find out more, visit its website here.

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