ABOUT OUR BREWERY
We brew traditional cask ales and British-inspired draft beer, using high quality hops and grains. All of our beer is brewed at our brewery in Van Nuys.
Stephen Reeves, Head Brewer
Born in Upstate New York (Utica) Stephen grew up in Allentown, PA. His first introduction to the craft beer industry was while studying film production at Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, FL, where the local craft beer bar became a regular hangout. There, he began to brew beer at home and visited craft breweries.
Stephen began his career in the film industry and moved to Los Angeles. Soon freelancing lost its appeal, and in looking for a change in direction, Stephen looked to breweries.
MacLeod was a brand new brewery looking to build their team in the tasting room, where Stephen fell in love with cask ale, eventually working his way up to taproom manager, and, eventually, head brewer.
It’s been a wild ride, and he hasn’t looked back since!
FAVORITE MACLEOD CASK?
King’s Taxes (Scottish Export/80 Shilling)
FAVORITE BEER ABROAD?
Fyne Ales (Scotland, UK)
OUR STYLE & INSPIRATION
It all started with cask ale.
We spent a full year perfecting this traditional British elixir. Expanding into draft beer, we added the modern British styles beloved by all and served cold and fizzy…and we added a nice assortment on nitro as well.
We love experimentation, and creating our versions of beer styles found in traditional and modern British breweries. At any given time, you’ll find an assortment of ales, stouts, porters, and lagers on tap - come try a flight!
Before MacLeod Ale was a physical place, Jenny and Alastair would ponder ideas on designs and beers they could make. This is one of Alastair’s drawings from those days.
What is
Cask Ale?
The first thing you'll notice when you walk into MacLeod Ale is the six "beer engines." Through these beer engines, we draw our delicious cask ale, which is stored in our cold box kept at cellar temperature of around 50ºF. The beer is made in the old English tradition; fermented and then put directly into casks where it is allowed to ferment for a second time, but this time the precious CO2 created during fermentation cannot escape through venting, but instead is forced back into the beer. After about a week, it is in "good condition" [carbonated] and ready to drink.
This beer is smoother, the carbonation bubbles are smaller, and the flavors are more complex and easy to discern due to the temperature. Our cask ales tend to be lower in alcohol, and therefore we can serve them in the traditional 20oz imperial pint glass, and you can have several, while enjoying the company of your friends and acquaintances, in true British Pub fashion.
We are the proud recipient of a Cask Marque designation, which means that our beers have undergone two unannounced inspections, which evaluated the temperature, clarity, carbonation and quality of each of our beers, and we passed with flying colors!
The Little Spree, a classic Yorkshire Pale Ale.
We are very excited to bring this very British style of beer to Van Nuys. If you have never tried cask ale, give it a try! You might fall in love.
Staff Batch Program
At MacLeod, we encourage experimentation, so we developed our Staff Batch Program to give all of our employees the opportunity to develop recipes, learn more about the brewing process, and create their own beer available in our taproom.
Like Flynn The Crow, a dark, rich Cherry Porter.
Behind the name: Flynn The Crow met his demise at the hands of the Red King. We celebrate his life with this smooth, toasty porter with a kiss of cherry. Due to it’s popularity it’s now available on tap and in cans!
We are so excited to experiment with new techniques, flavors, and ingredients to create something new. Our staff’s endless creativity keeps us eager to try something new, and excited for what’s next.
Staff batches are always changing, so check back often for new experimental beers!
Ambrosia Gose: {Ian’s inspiration for flavors, etc}
Staff Batch Spotlight:
Brewer Spencer’s Flynn the Crow, a cherry porter