Sixpoint creates beers to pair with Highland Park

Edrington-owned Highland Park has partnered with New York-based Sixpoint Brewery to launch two limited edition beers designed to “complement” the Scotch whisky.

Sköll has been created to pair with Highland Park Dark Origins

The two new beers – Rune and Sköll – will be unveiled at the inaugural Scotchtoberfest event in New York on 27 September.

Designed to be paired with Highland Park 12 Year Old, Rune is described as a “golden oat ale” with a “subtle sweetness” that “emphasises the honey and heather notes in the Scotch”.

Sköll is described as a “dark and roast ale” with notes of “rich chocolate and coffee” that “complement the maraschino cherry and warm dark chocolate flavours of Highland Park Dark Origins”.

Rune has been created to pair with Highland Park 12 Year Old

“Highland Park has been leading the charge in the whisky and beer pairing space for the last year with its Dram and Craft initiatives,” said Gordon Motion, Highland Park master distiller.

“Highland Park is proud to collaborate with Sixpoint to offer fans a chance to try two limited edition brews that perfectly pair with our single malt Scotch whiskies.”

Keir Hamilton, Sixpoint brewer, added: “The Sixpoint formulation method starts with a clear concept of what a beer could be, then uses a knowledge of the craft to turn that into reality.

“Here, our starting point was the complex flavours of Highland Park whisky and from there we used various ingredients and processes to make beers that emulate and also complement the whiskies.”

Rune and Sköll beers will be available at select bars in New York for a limited time beginning in October 2016.

The beer and whisky worlds have moved closer of late – in September this year, Glenfiddich released a new single malt aged in ex-IPA barrels as part of its Experimental Collection.