Scotland - Breweries

Scottish & Newcastle was a brewing company based in Edinburgh, Scotland which expanded significantly from its home base to become an international business. The Company was founded in 1879 by Grizel Syme who ran her deceased husband's brewery: this brewery and those of her sons developed into the firm of William Younger & Co. In 1931 it merged with McEwan's to become Scottish Brewers. In 1960 it merged again this time with Newcastle Breweries to form Scottish & Newcastle. In 1995, with the purchase of rival brewing business Courage, S&N had become the UK's leading brewer. Its UK brewing division became known as Scottish Courage but this reverted to S&N UK in February 2006. In July 2003, S&N acquired the Bulmers cider business. In 2008 it was acquired by Heineken and Carlsberg and its assets split between them.
Some of the Brewery's Range
Hofmeister - Brewed from the early 1980s to 2003 under agreement with Henninger
Kestrel Lager - Launched in 1980
McEwan's - (see McEwans)
Wm Youngers - (see Wm Youngers)
Courage - (see Courage)

Over the years the brand identity is updated and re-launched with subtle changes, a change of Logo or a new font.
Sometimes this brand update is done by the new owners after a brewery has been sold, other times just to give the brand a fresh new look on the ever growing market.

Below are some notes to help identify some of these changes and an aid to reference the year of the glass.