If there’s one thing that binds Scots together across continents and generations, it’s the fierce pride in our heritage, and few traditions stir that pride more than the Highland Games. From the swirl of the pipes to the thunder of heavyweights hurling cabers skyward, these gatherings are living celebrations of strength, culture, and community.
Now, an iconic name in Scottish brewing, Innis & Gunn, is stepping onto the field, not to toss the hammer, but to pour a perfect pint for every proud spectator. Their new three-year partnership with the Stirling Highland Games is more than just a sponsorship. It’s a toast to our past, present, and future, and an invitation for Scots around the world to raise a glass in celebration of who we are.
A Brewing Story Rooted in Scottish Ingenuity
To understand why this partnership matters, you first need to know the story of Innis & Gunn. Founded by Edinburgh’s Dougal Gunn Sharp in 2003, the brewery’s story is one of Scottish ingenuity at its best.
Dougal cut his teeth at his father’s brewery in Edinburgh, learning the craft from the ground up. But it was a happy accident that put Innis & Gunn on the map. In the early 2000s, Dougal was asked to brew a beer to season whisky casks for a distiller. When the casks did their job and the whisky was stored, Dougal decided to taste the beer that had been soaking in the oak barrels. What he discovered surprised him, the beer was transformed. Richer, smoother, layered with warm notes of toffee, vanilla, and oak. A new idea was born: beer matured in whisky barrels.
Most people would have left it at that. Dougal didn’t. In 2003, he launched Innis & Gunn with “The Original” a barrel-aged brew that was unlike anything else in the market. It wasn’t just good; it was world-class. Word spread quickly. From Edinburgh pubs to export deals abroad, Innis & Gunn grew into a Scottish craft brewing success story, shipping to over 35 countries and winning gold at international awards.
Today, you’ll find Innis & Gunn’s oak-aged classics, crisp lagers, and seasonal releases in fridges and bars around the world. But at its heart, this is still a brewer rooted in the spirit of Scottish invention, pushing boundaries, doing things differently, and always raising the bar (or the barrel).
The Stirling Highland Games: Where Scotland Competes and Connects
Just as Innis & Gunn reimagined how Scottish beer could taste, the Stirling Highland Games keep reimagining what these ancient gatherings mean for modern Scotland.
Held each August in the historic shadow of Stirling Castle, the Games draw crowds from across the country and far beyond. They are organised by Ceangail CIC — “Ceangail” meaning “to connect” in Gaelic, a social enterprise that understands the Games are about more than medals and muscle. They’re about keeping Scotland’s culture alive, relevant, and accessible to everyone.
Every year, athletes test their mettle in classic heavyweight contests: tossing the caber, hurling the hammer, putting the shot. The echo of the bagpipes carries over the sports field, while Highland dancers perform with precision and pride. But this isn’t just an event for elite competitors. The Stirling Games have embraced inclusivity with “Adaptive Heavyweights,” inspired by wounded veterans, proving that the Highland spirit can’t be measured only in kilos or distance.
It’s an atmosphere that feels timeless yet fresh — a day out where families, tourists, and locals stand shoulder to shoulder, drawn together by shared pride in Scotland’s traditions.
A Partnership Worth Raising a Glass To
So what happens when you bring together a pioneering Scottish brewer and one of the country’s most historic cultural gatherings? You get a partnership that feels both inevitable and inspired.
This summer, Innis & Gunn became the official beer partner of the Stirling Highland Games for at least the next three years. It’s more than just pouring pints, it’s about enhancing the entire festival experience. Visitors can expect a well-stocked bar featuring Innis & Gunn’s classics, served alongside the roar of the caber toss and the skirl of the pipes.
For founder Dougal Gunn Sharp, the connection is clear: “The Stirling Highland Games has that rare mix of heritage and energy that makes it feel genuinely special, and that’s exactly the kind of environment Innis & Gunn is proud to be part of.”
The Games’ President, Matt McGrandles, agrees: “To be backed by such an iconic Scottish brand is a proud moment for us… This shows the value of what we do here in Stirling, and how events like this help keep Scottish traditions alive for generations.”
It’s also good news for local businesses and visitors alike. The Games’ bustling Traders Village will host up to 60 Scottish food and craft stalls. Now, alongside award-winning pies and handmade crafts, guests can enjoy a perfectly poured pint of Scotland’s finest oak-aged beer.
Celebrating at Home and Abroad
For Scots at home, this collaboration is a reminder of how our traditions stay vibrant when we champion them together. For the millions of Scots in the diaspora, it’s an invitation to reconnect, whether by booking a flight to Stirling, cracking open an Innis & Gunn in Toronto or Sydney, or simply raising a glass to the heritage that connects us all.
Wherever you are in the world this August, think of the fields beneath Stirling Castle. Think of the athletes pushing themselves to the limit, the pipes calling competitors to the field, the traders sharing Scotland’s flavours, and the laughter and stories flowing as freely as the beer.
And know that with every toss of the caber and every sip of a carefully matured Scottish ale, we honour the same fierce pride and innovative spirit that’s defined Scotland for centuries.
Here’s to Three Years of Heritage and Hospitality
So here’s to the next three years of cabers, casks, and community. Here’s to Innis & Gunn for doing things the Scottish way, with craft, courage, and a dash of daring. Here’s to the Stirling Highland Games for keeping our traditions alive, fresh, and open to all.
And here’s to every Scot, from Stirling to Nova Scotia, New York to New Zealand, who knows that our traditions are more than just history, they’re alive in every gathering, every story, and every toast.
Raise a glass. Lift a caber. Keep Scotland’s spirit strong. Slàinte mhath.For more on this year’s Games or to plan your visit, head to stirlinghighlandgames.com. To explore the story behind the barrel, visit innisandgunn.com.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Saltire Sentinel’s editorial stance.