Kay’s Bar in Edinburgh’s New Town has a reputation for selling top quality real ale and this has resulted in Kay’s being awarded the local CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Branch’s 2022 Real Ale Quality Award.
CAMRA’s members provided beer quality scores during 2022 when visiting real ale pubs in the Branch area (there are over 300) and Kay’s came out top for its average score – not only in Edinburgh but throughout the Lothians and Borders.
The presentation will be made by the CAMRA Branch Chair, Pat Hanson, to Simon Fisher, manager at Kay’s, at 8pm on Thursday (19th January 2023) at the pub.
On hearing the news of the award Kay’s landlord Fraser Gillespie said: “We are delighted with this recognition by CAMRA of our commitment to serving a range of quality real ales”
Runners up in Edinburgh were the Mitre (Royal Mile) and the Dreadnought (Leith).
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo audiences are being invited to get their nights started with Innis & Gunn and order their drinks ahead of time to enjoy on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.
The new drinks order platform, edintattoodrinks.co.uk, allows ticket holders to pre-order drinks for their chosen Show date right up until 10pm the night before. On arrival, customers can then make their way to a large pre-order bar at the venue to collect their drink with ease, avoid the queues and take their seat for an unforgettable night of entertainment.
Innis & Gunn is the Tattoo’s first ever presenting partner and means that audiences can sit back and enjoy the world class performances from military and cultural acts while enjoying world-class, award-winning beer from the Edinburgh-based brewer.
Drinks on offer as part of the partnership include Innis & Gunn’s ‘The Original’, a single malt whisky cask matured Scottish beer, and Scotland’s number one craft beer, ‘Innis & Gunn Lager’, brewed with naked golden oats for smoothness and refreshment. Innis & Gunn’s bars will also offer Pickering’s’ Gin & Tonic, red wine, white wine, Prosecco, and soft drinks alongside their premium beers.
Buster Howes, Chief Executive of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “We’re constantly innovating and searching for ways to improve what’s already a world-class spectacular, and we believe this partnership with Innis & Gunn will enhance our customer’s experience.
“The Tattoo and Innis & Gunn are two Edinburgh institutions that are loved across the world and I’m excited for them to come together seamlessly on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.”
In addition to the recommended pre-order and collect service, Innis & Gunn’s bars will also be available across the venue before the Show starts to ensure no attendees go thirsty.
Dougal Gunn Sharp, Founder and Master Brewer of Innis & Gunn, added: “Our partnership enables guests to enjoy Innis & Gunn beers for the first time during what is sure to be an incredible Show. Beat the queues by pre-ordering yours today”.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo will make its return this 5-27 August, with its Voices Show which celebrates expression and the power of connection through spoken word, song, music, and dance, which are languages common to all.
Over 900 performers from across the globe will take part in in this year’s Tattoo, bringing with them incredible music, dance, and performance talents. There will be cultural showcases and musical presentations by performers from Mexico, The United States, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand along with homegrown talent from the UK. Military acts will continue to play a central role in the performance, with the Army confirmed as the lead service this year.
Founded in Edinburgh in 2003 with the creation of its unique single malt whisky cask matured beer, ‘The Original’, Innis & Gunn has grown to become one of the biggest independent brewers in the UK and exports to over 30 countries across the world.
Tickets are on still on sale for this year’s Tattoo and can be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone on 0131 225 1188.
The 26th in-store festival brings together eleven of Scotland’s best breweries
Aldi has revealed the line-up for its 26th Scottish Beer Festival, which will showcase 25 craft beers from eleven breweries across the country, including several retail exclusives.
Kicking off in-store today, Thursday 28th April, the festival will take place across all of Aldi’s 101 Scottish stores in a deal worth over £86,000 to the breweries involved, with prices starting at just £1.49.
Aldi’s Scottish Beer Festival is known for celebrating the vast range of beers, lagers and ales brewed across all corners of Scotland. This spring’s festival will give customers the chance to try everything from tropical pilsners to spicy sour ales and vanilla porters to crisp IPAs.
As part of the in-store activation, Aldi shoppers will have the chance to try a range of award-winning craft beers from Aberdeen-based Fierce Beer, which was recently crowned Scottish Brewery of the Year at the 2021 Scottish Beer Awards.
The multi-award-winning brewery took home 11 medals for its unique concoctions and will feature five of its brews in Aldi’s festival line-up. Its gold medal-winning Café Racer Coffee & Vanilla Porter, which is fuelled with locally roasted Sumatran espresso coffee and Madagascan Vanilla, is just one of the brewery’s quirky beers that customers can enjoy at everyday Aldi prices.
This spring’s line-up will also feature Edinburgh-based Stewart Brewing’s Ka Pai South Pacific Pale Ale. The light-bodied brew, which balances notes of passion fruit, mango, and lychee, will be stocked as an exclusive to Aldi Scotland. The popular beer also took home a gold award at the 2021 Scottish Beer Awards for Best Pale Ale.
Peterhead-based Brew Toon Beers will also be included in Aldi’s Spring festival. Customers have the chance to try the brewery’s J’Ale Riot Red Ale, which has a strong caramel and biscuit nose with a hoppy full-strength punch, and their Pineapple Pils Tropical Pilsner, a blend of crisp malts combined with fresh pineapples and tropical hops.
Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “Our Scottish Beer Festivals always prove popular with our customers.
“The craft beer industry continues to thrive in Scotland, and I am proud that the relationships we have built with local breweries over the years mean our customers can enjoy a variety of unique brews at everyday amazing Aldi prices. There really is something for everyone to enjoy.”
Celebrating the 10th year of Scottish Beer Festivals, products will be available in store from 28 April. Visit aldi.co.uk/scottishbeerfestival to find out more.
And now the nation’s favourite alcohol free beer is available on draught too …
While we can’t predict exactly what the first month of 2022 will look like, we can be certain that plenty of people will be making positive lifestyle changes … enter Dry January.
For those who decide to go on the wagon for January, there’s no better-tasting alcohol-free beer to see them through than the nation’s favourite, Heineken 0.0. Regularly described as one of the best tasting beers on the market, alcohol or no alcohol, Heineken 0.0 bottles and cans (330ml) contain 69 calories providing a great choice for those looking to moderate.
Heineken 0.0 is made with the same quality ingredients as its alcoholic original, boasting the familiar and characteristic fruity notes of the 5% ABV Heineken Original, the only difference being that 0.0 is without the alcohol.
The non-alcoholic beverage is double brewed with a unique recipe and has its alcohol content carefully removed to enable and empower consumers with choice, and options, to be able to moderate as part of a balanced lifestyle, whilst being able to enjoy every beer moment.
In addition, and what is a seminal moment for the British beer and pub industries, 2022 will see the rollout of Heineken 0.0 Draught, the first alcohol free draught beer to sit alongside regular beer taps in pubs utilising the existing cellar set up.
Heineken 0.0 Draught will be available in hundreds of UK pubs next year, and the development of the product has been a labour of love for the brewer. Since 2017 scores of beer experts from HEINEKEN innovation breweries in four countries have worked together under the stewardship of HEINEKEN Global Master Brewer Willem Van Waesberghe to bring Heineken 0.0 Draught to market.
The Low and No beer category is growing at around 30 per cent year-on-year but the introduction of draught is expected to cause an explosion in value in the market – by 2025 it could be worth as much as £250 million.
Commenting on Heineken 0.0, Matt Saltzstein, Beer Unit Director said: “Heineken 0.0 allows people to enjoy a delicious beer on any occasion without ever having to compromise on flavour.
“For those that have committed to moderating their alcohol intake this January, or even going completely dry for the month, Heineken 0.0 means they can do so while still enjoying a refreshing and full-flavoured beer.
“In a month of saying no, alcohol-free Heineken 0.0 bottle and cans allows people to say yes.”
Speaking on the launch of Heineken 0.0 Draught, Willem Van Waesberghe, said: “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved here. Once again, we’re leading the way when it comes to innovating and moving the beer category forward.
“Without a doubt, the best way to enjoy a beer is a freshly poured pint in a pub and Heineken 0.0 Draught is going to play a big part in changing the way people drink.
“For me and my team, one of the primary areas of focus, as always, is taste. The Draught beer tastes great, it’s the distinctive famous Heineken flavour, and it has all the sensory aspects beer drinkers look for – a mouth-watering aroma, bright white head and lively carbonation”.
Heineken 0.0% is available in a 4 and 12 pack of 330ml bottles, and a 6 pack of 330ml cans in major supermarkets and convenience stores.
Morrisons has some stand-out deals on beers and wine this bank holiday weekend.
Customers can save up to £12.50 on selected bottles of champagne, that’s more than a third of the retail price. Prosecco has also been slashed to less than a fiver per bottle and 12 packs of beer are less than a tenner.
Morrisons is also helping customers who want to stock up on wines with a third off selected bottles including 19 Crimes, Most Wanted, Jacob’s Creek and Campo Viejo.
Aldi’s popular in-store Scottish Beer Festival is back today, featuring a line-up of 31 craft beers from 15 local breweries across Scotland.
This year’s line-up includes three brand-new additions from Dalkeith-based brewers Cross Borders Brewing. Founded in 2016, Cross Borders Brewing has grown from strength to strength, winning numerous brewing accolades as well as opening their own pub, Portobello Tap near Portobello beach.
From sour ales to stouts, this season’s line-up includes something for every beer drinker, and bottles start from just £1.49.
Aldi shoppers can try Cross Borders Brewing’s award-winning Wee Braw Session IPA, flavoured with mosaic hops from the US, their pineapple and apricot infused Braw Pale Ale, or their classic India Pale Ale for those who enjoy a rich citrus flavour.
Cross Borders Brewing will feature alongside 14 other Scottish breweries, including firm beer festival favourites such as, Brewdog, Barney’s Beer and Isle of Skye Brewery.
Craig Hannigan, Sales Representative, Cross Borders Brewing, commented:“We are thrilled to make our debut in Aldi’s famous in-store Scottish Beer Festival.
“It’s a brilliant opportunity for us to reach Aldi shoppers from all over the country. The past few months have been challenging for small businesses, however, Aldi’s support is a significant boost for all of us that are featured in the line-up, and we hope Aldi shoppers across Scotland enjoy the diverse range of brews on offer.”
Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland, said:“We want our customers to have access to the very best Scottish brewing has to offer, that’s why our line-up for the 22nd in-store Scottish Beer Festival includes 15 exceptional craft breweries from all four corners of the country.
“We are thrilled to welcome back some of the Scottish Beer Festival’s firm favourites, as well as new brewers, Cross Borders Brewing, to the line-up.
“Over the years, we have enjoyed exploring the diverse range of Scottish brewing and we have built strong relationships with local breweries around the country as part of our pledge to expand our range of Scottish products to 500 over the next 2 years.
“Our Beer Festival ensures we can offer Aldi customers the best range of craft beers, whilst supporting local breweries during these challenging times.”
CAMRA’s Cheers for Choice campaign calls on pub companies to allow landlords to sell local beers from small and independent breweries.
Every pub across Scotland should be allowed to stock and sell beer and cider from small, local and independent brewers and cider producers, to help them recover post lockdown.
That’s the message from CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, as they launch their new ‘Cheers for Choice’ campaign this week.
As pubs prepare for reopening next month, CAMRA’s members across Scotland are signing petitions to pub company bosses urging them to allow all landlords to stock local brews.
Current beer ties mean that most pub tenants are restricted in what they can sell in their pubs and are often banned from putting on the products they know their customers want to drink.
The campaign wants pub companies’ beer tie arrangements to be relaxed as pubs reopen following the coronavirus lockdown, so that all parts of the industry can pull together and support each other.
A recent survey of 21,000 beer drinkers and pub goers across the UK carried out by CAMRA found that 68% of people are less likely to go to a pub if it isn’t selling local and independent beer and cider.
MSPs are also being urged to support the Tied Pubs Bill being put forward in the Scottish Parliament by Labour MSP Neil Bibby. The legislation would give tied pub tenants protections in law, including a right to be able to sell guest beers in their pubs.
Commenting, CAMRA Director for Scotland Sarah Crawford said:“Relaxing restrictions for tied pub tenants is the right thing to do – making sure all parts of the industry, no matter how small, are supported in the recovery from COVID-19 and are able to thrive in the weeks and months ahead.
“Allowing small and independent brewers and cider producers are able to sell into all pubs will also improve consumer choice and allow pub goers to support local brewing businesses.
“It also makes business sense, with 68% of pub-goers saying they would be less likely to go back to a pub if it doesn’t have a range of brews from small and independent producers.
“That’s why we are encouraging pub companies to relax restrictions on what beers can be sold when pubs reopen, as well as urging all MSPs to vote in favour of the Tied Pubs Bill later in the year so all landlords can have a legal right to serve guest beers from local and independent breweries.”
Labour MSP for the West of Scotland Neil Bibby MSP said:“I agree with CAMRA that restrictions on tied pubs should be relaxed to help brewers into the sector and allow more consumer choice for pub-goers.
“This is a critical time for pubs and brewers in Scotland. They need all the help they can get. One way the Scottish Parliament can help is through tied pub reform. It’s time to stop the big PubCos extracting profits from Scotland and support Scottish publicans who want to invest in their businesses and provide more choice to customers.”
St Andrews Brewing Company have announced the release of their newest beer, Above & Beyond, specially brewed in order to raise money for the RNLI. Ten pence from every pint sold and 5p from every can will be donated to the lifesaving charity.
