Tennent Caledonian Younger of Alloa Sweetheart Stout ABV 2% • Vol 500 ml • can • UK • Cheap • Flavour 6.5 Other beers from Tennent Caledonian Other beers from UK

Tennent Caledonian, of Glasgow, one of the earliest British brewers to experiment with cold-fermenting beers back in the 19th century, is now a Bass subsidiary and therefore currently part of the Interbrew empire; it's rarely listed in good beer guides, since it now produces mainly keg Scottish-style beers such as the syrupy Calders 80/-, and the sort of canned strong lager that is rarely seen in polite company. It does, however, still offer this interesting and obscure speciality, inherited through a long-ago takeover (Incidentally, although run by another branch of the same family, Younger of Alloa was a separate company from William Younger of Edinburgh, one of the breweries that eventually formed the nucleus of what is now Scottish Courage). As with Whitbread's Mackeson (qv), now also ultimately an Interbrew brand, it fills a similiar market niche and suffers from the same problems: widely available in supermarkets but only in canned form and stigmatised as a drink for old dears and invalids. This impression is enhanced by its retro packaging - a 1950s-style design depicting an archetypal "forces sweetheart" said to be based on Venetia Stevenson, wife of Everly Brother Don - and its jaw-droppingly low gravity, undercutting Berliner Weissbier, Belgian table beer and Mackeson itself to reach technical soft drink level. Sweetheart Stout recalls the days when the darker, sweeter, maltier stouts of mainland Britain distinguished themselves from the dryer, roastier stouts of Ireland, especially in Scotland where hops were less abundant. The beer itself is a deep nut-brown, with an attractively rocky cream-coloured head. The aroma is sweetish and berry-like with a dash of very biscuity hop. The palate is certainly sweet and has malt in abundance, a distinctive toasty Shredded Wheat-type flavour that reminded me of the pleasant aromas I've smelt emanating from a Nabisco factory. Though this cereal sweetness dominates, it's lifted by the light texture, some Vimto-like fruit and a little vanilla cream, with a very faint tang of hops towards the finish. The beer ends straightforwardly, again with mainly bisucuits and slightly tangy fruit. Overall it's curiously refreshing, and not at all artificial or metallic tasting despite being served from a can, although by the end of a half-litre the taste has become predictable and I wouldn't be moved to crack open another one straight away. It certainly bucks the modern trend for the strong and hoppy, but if like me you're predisposed to like this sort of thing, it's an excellently relaxing occassional treat. Review submitted by: Des de Moor ADD A COMMENT TO THIS BEER

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Review updated 12 November 2001

Comments

A Scotsman told me to try it with Guinness, which turned out to be rewarding advice.
Dan K

I'm a stout fan - but this is just too sweet. Nearly undrinkable.
Sigmund

When I was on a trip in Scotland that's how I drank my black & tans. Guinness and Sweetheart Stout. how do I buy some Sweetheart Stout in the States? Anyone with info please email me at alexb_88@yahoo.com
alex

Trying to buy sweetheart stout in Uk is proving difficult! My Mum was recommended it for medicinal purposes after giving birth to me! 31 years later she is craving it again after an illness and cant get hold of it, she is in northern England! Any ideas?
Roo

It's not difficult to buy in the UK, only in the bits of the UK outside Scotland. Most Sainsburys and Tescos north of the border seem to stock it.
Des de Moor

This is my husband's favourite stout. Why oh why is it not available in England?
Alison from East Yorkshire

can sweetheart stout be bought in or around milton keynes in northeast fife we drunk ours mixed with heavy beer
frank connor

Tried Sweetheart Stout this summer at recommendation of Tour Guide, Malcolm Gunn. My husband and I both enjoyed and would like to purchase in states. How and where can we get same?
P Morrison

I tried Sweetheart Stout when in Scotland last year and enjoyed it so much. I live in East Anglia and wondered if I could buy it anywhere in this region? [Try our list of shops - Ed.]
D. Challis

Sweetheart Stout is not only a delicious alcoholic beverage, it's a refreshing drink for any occasion which I enjoy immensely. I live in Scotland and supermarkets such as Tesco stock it constantly, I would fear that the drink is directed at the older generations of the population, however its taste should surely tempt any first time drinker into becoming a huge fan of it.
Sean, Blairgowrie

When pregnant and feeding, someone told me to drink Guiness but couldn't. Then advised to try Sweetheart stout for the iron content. Not a lager/beer lover, I started out with shandy but I've carried on to enjoy it on a regular basis. Always have in the house now and it is available at Asda.
Chez

Wonderful with a wee nip.
Posh Ken's 96-yr old faither

had some when i went to scotland last year bit sweet but mix it wiv guiness and oooooohhhhhhh!! been looking for it in the midlands now for nealy a year (the trips over the border are starting to become an inconvenience). any help???
matt (stoutahollic)

Sweetheart Stout in one hand, black rum in the other.
john.

My Dad, 84, loves this. Hard to buy but I have bought it in Kwiksave in Berwick-upon-Tweed and most recently (Oct. 03) in Booths supermarket in Keswick. Enjoy!
Rick C

I often get my mother to bring it from Scotland. i would love to be able to buy it in West Sussex. try it with McEwan's Champion ale for a great Black & Tan
Colin

Always reminds me of home. Great by it self or in a Black & Tan.
Rab C

My wife and I went to Scotland two or three times a year for twenty years, Sweetheart is her favourite drink, please tell me why we cant buy it in yorkshire
Dave Scargill

Vulgar stuff. Too sweet, it really is vile.
Mikey

If anyone can help me find this ANYWHERE I would really appreciate it. My unkle is bed bound and it's all he's asked for for christmas. If anyone can help me at all, please email me josoaps@hotmail.com Thanks
Jo Louis

Sweetheart Stout means one thing Black and Tans. Remember the raised eyebrows as an 18 year old black and tan drinker. An excellent drink on its own as well.
ed

Where how and who would I contact to get a sample of this stout Sweetheart stout. sent to the states??.
[Why not ask this question on our discussion forum? -Ed]
Dan mrsprattst@aol.com

PLEASE WHERE CAN I PURCHASE SWEETHEART STOUT .DAN HARTFORD CONNECTICUT USA REPLY MRSPRATTST@AOL.COM THANKS DANNY
DANNY MRSPRATTST@AOL.COM

Hi Where in the US can I purchase this Stout? Dan Hartford, CT mrsprattst @ aol.com
mrsprattst@aol.com

This pleasing drink was better from the bottle, but has survived canning quite well. Not intended for use in empty beercan pyramids, best when coolish and sipped slowly - very tasty
muddle C

Can anyone tell me where I can buy Sweetheart Stout in Kent?
Peter Wilson

I do know for sure that Roys of Wroxham, Dereham and Norwich sell Sweetheart Stout, as it's also my husband's favourite... Found out this by chance too... would love to know if it is sold in Lancs... Bury/Bolton areas... too
Barbara. Norwich

I went to medical school in Dundee (1982-1987) and used to have the (more than) occasional 'Black and Tan', though Lager was my main drink. The barman or barmaid would pour about half to 3/4 pint of Heavy and give you a bottle of Sweetheart to mix with it. If you were in a pub that stocked a different Stout it didn't taste anywhere near as good.
Since leaving Scotland in 1987 I never really craved a black and tan, but have often reminisced about it. I never drink proper dark beer at all, cannot stomach any bitter, Guinness, etc, only drink lager. In Scotland a black and tan was the only darkish stuff I could drink. Also, I couldn't drink Black and Tans to excess - after 2 or 3 or maybe 4 at most I had to switch to lager because of the sickly sweetness of the B & T.
Now and again, though, I have reminisced about the Scots Black and Tan and on the odd occasion tried to recreate it, using stuff like Mackeson as a (v. poor) substitute for Sweetheart (have looked all over local supermarkets in Wigan, Lancashire and can't get Sweetheart Stout).
Recently, a friend went to Scotland on Holiday and I asked him to have a look out for some Swetheart Stout and get me some if he could find it. This he did (despite saying that the bloke in the offy looked at him like he was gay for asking for it).
Tonight (1st Sept 2005) I had my first proper Black and Tan (used Tennent's Export to mix with) for almost 20 years...it was absolutely f*****g lush !! Only problem now is finding a regular supply of the stuff...
Robin Foster

no b.....dy good if you cant buy it in local shops
Daphne TWINBERROW

Can I buy it in bottles rather than cans as it tastes much better from the bottle?
sandyburnett@hotmail.com

Where can I get sweetheart stout in bottles. It's for an old guy who is desperate for some. Living in North of Scotland. E-mail me at john@jeb72.wanadoo.co.uk
John

Love this stout,but can't find it anyone know where to purchase it it really is refreshing
Radford

Robin The problem these days in Scotland is finding a pub that sells the old (to our generation) heavy (Special) beer to mix, most pubs out our way have that mixed gas stuff, that is too still to make that great B&T Brad
Brad

I live in Wiltshire and am trying to get hold of this stout for my brother who used to drink it years ago. Does anybody know who sells it in the south of England? Thanks
Anne Hickey

My grandparents were Scottish, my daughter-in-law from Aberdeen introduced me to Sweetheart Stout But where in south Wales can I buy some<
Brynmor Evans

I bought some from Sainsbury's in Aberdeen (Berryden) a few weeks ago (ie March 2006). Can't stand the stuff myself - It was for my sister-in-law in Northants.
Clive

Everyone should write to Tennents and tell them how much they love it and/or how hard it is to get. Luckily in Scotland it isn't that difficult, and if it ever was lost to us, it would be a crying shame. So tell Tennents to buck their ideas up folks and get distributing it! I love the stuff, and I was a BIG whisky drinker for many years, so thought the sweetness would put me off. Not at all, it's delicious, comforting and doesn't get you drunk, you only get merry on it in the good old fashioned way.
Bruce

Lived in Scotland in 96 and drank a lot of excellent UK beers. But Sweetheart is without a doubt the worst beer I've ever had. Memorable. I was told by the locals that mostly older people drink it.
R. Lee

We bought some Sweetheart stout in Hawick at Morrisons 4 for £4.04 last week
Terry Aucott

I was born in Scotland and drank stout especially sweetheart. I love it but wherte can I get it in the United States as I would love to drink it again. Please reply to cat061950@sbcglobal.net
June Poczulp

I was chatting to an expat Scot in Milton Keynes yesterday. She would like a Scottish sweet stout, but has been unable to locate any in the Milton keynes area. Does anybody have a source nearby?
Norman Christie

if anybody ever reads these comments at the brewery , please tell me if sweetheart stout can be bought in england -- if so WHERE
richard barrett

The best described for me is like a Guinness shandy. The percentage being 2%, it is almost a pop drink. I did not hate it though. There would be an occasion when you want this...
Kotoko Osumi-Sutherland

Hi I was wondering if it is possible to buy sweetheart stout in Grimsby or where is the nearest place to purches it from. Regards William
William Johnston

That's so wierd, I just found this site as i was looking for Sweetheart Stout in Grimsby too! A bit of an acquired taste, much better from a bottle than a can as most will appreciate, though I've not seen it in bottles for a long time. I used to drink it in the reggae club Ital in Glasgow, very fine indeed. It was the fizziness and low grav that put me off at first, but after a couple of weeks I stopped noticing that and came to taste the more subtle flvours - the thing to remember is, it's a different drink entirely, don't expect Gillespies or something, it's not Stout as we know it. I don't think I've ever seen it in England. Can it be bought online anywhere??? Mclouds in Louth don't stock it at the moment but I might be able to persuade them if there is an English distributor. The drink is immortalised in the excellent Momus song, 'Islington John', which is what made me curious.
Phyll Smith

Superb
Nosmo King

Available along with many other interesting beers in Booths Supermarkets in N W England
Stuart

As I read this, I am enjoying a glass of sweetheart stout and blackcurrant. It can be purchased from Booths supermarket, I get mine from Knutsford.
John Walsh

I'd like to correct an error on the historical background to Sweetheart Stout. This was brewed by George Younger & Sons of Alloa, Scotland - they had NO family or business connections with William Younger of Edinburgh. [Thanks - Ed.]
MAC

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