Berwick Beer Festival runs from September 9-11, when tipplers can ‘research’ Cuillin Beast, the Champion Beer of Scotland from the Isle of Skye Brewing Company, Jarl from Fyne Ales, voted Overall Scottish Champion Beer by the Society of Independent Brewers Association, and Oscar Wilde from the Mighty Oak Brewery, voted CAMRA champion beer of Britain 2011.

There’s also four award-winning ales from the Highland Brewing Company – Orkney Blast, Orkney Best and Dark Munro and Orkney IPA (winner of an international gold medal in 2011) – and Brewdog Brewery’s 5am Saint, voted the Champion Craft Beer in a Keg this year by the SIBA, as well as Leghorn and YPA from Roosters Brewery, the gold and silver medal summer ales at the World Beer Cup in Chicago.

Find out more at www.berwick foodfestival.com.

The Houston Brewery is celebrating winning a gold medal at a major UK beer competition being held in London this week.

The brewery’s 4.2 per cent Houston Peter’s Well scooped GOLD in the Best Bitter category of the Champion Beer of Britain competition – staged as part of the Great British Beer Festival.

Organised by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), the festival – held at Earls Court – is the UK’s biggest and draws together hundreds of beers, ciders and real ales from around the world.

Carl Wengel, head brewer of Houston Brewery said: “Fantastic ! there are over 800 breweries in the UK with tens of thousands different ales, and my wee micro in Houston brewed the Champion Best Bitter of Great Britain. I am so proud.”

The beer is available on draft at all good real ale outlets throughout Scotland, from Inverness, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ayrshire, Borders to Newcastle.

“We put love, care and attention into all our beers and are very passionate about Real Ale,” says Carl’s wife Caroline, “Peter’s Well is absolutely delicious! And to celebrate our win we are having a beer festival at our pub the Fox and Hounds on Sunday 21 August – there will be live music, kids’ rides, BBQ, Restaurant Meals and of course many beers including the Star of the Show, Peter’s Well. Entry to the event is completely free and it will take place from 1pm until late.

Call Caroline on 01505 610487, 07818 002808 or visit www.houston-brewing.co.uk for further information about the brewery and its beers

The Orkney Brewery is celebrating another awards success after winning a bronze medal at a major UK beer competition being held in London this week.

The brewery’s 4.4 per cent Atlas Wayfarer ale scooped the prestigious accolade in the Speciality Beer category of the Champion Beer of Britain competition – staged as part of the Great British Beer Festival.

The Orkney Brewery was one of only two Scottish breweries to take home an award from the event. At last year’s festival, the Orkney Brewery was the sole Scottish winner, receiving a bronze medal for its 3.8 per cent Raven Ale.

Organised by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), the festival – held at Earls Court – is the UK’s biggest and draws together hundreds of beers, ciders and real ales from around the world.

Norman Sinclair, managing director of Sinclair Breweries Ltd, said: “We’re immensely proud to come away with a bronze medal for Wayfarer from what is a highly competitive event for brewers. With the full range of Atlas beers now being produced at our base in Orkney, this award is confirmation that we have maintained the brand’s reputation for quality and taste. To be one of only two Scottish breweries to win a medal at the festival is a bonus and proves smaller, quality driven breweries from north of the border are still holding their own against some of the bigger names in the business.”

Just last month the brewery’s 10 per cent Dark Island Reserve ale received the highest three gold star classification in The Guild of Fine Food’s annual Great Taste Awards.

To view the full article go to:  business.scotsman.com

Firm to sell 10,000 shares to the public to fund new ventures.

A Fraserburgh craft beer firm has confirmed plans to generate £2.2million from private investors to develop a state-of-the-art carbon neutral brewery in the North-east.

BrewDog are offering customers the chance to buy shares of their ever-expanding operations – giving shareholders the opportunity to have “creative influence” over the business, as well as a discounts in their bars and online shop.

The new investment offer – Equity For Punks II – will be used to expand BrewDog’s current two-strong bar portfolio to locations throughout the UK and to develop a new carbon neutral brewery on the outskirts of Aberdeen

To see the full article go to:  STV Aberdeen City

The Orkney Brewery is celebrating after securing double honours in a prestigious national food and drink competition.

The brewery’s 4.6 per cent Dark Island beer scooped two much sought after Great Taste Awards gold stars, while the 10 per cent speciality Dark Island Reserve ale received the highest three gold star classification.

Regarded as the industry Oscars, The Guild of Fine Food’s annual Great Taste Awards are the UK’s largest independent evaluation of fine food and drink.

Each product entered into the competition is subjected to rigorous tasting by a panel of over 300 judges. For a product to win two or three gold star classification, up to 20 judges must unanimously agree that it has achieved “absolute perfection”.

Only 114 products achieved the top triple gold star status this year, out of a record total of over 7,000 entries. The three gold star winning Dark Island Reserve has been nominated as the Best Speciality product from Scotland and will now go forward to the Great Taste Awards grand final, being held in London’s Royal Garden Hotel this September.

Norman Sinclair, managing director of the Orkney Brewery, said: “We’re absolutely over the moon about these awards, which are recognised as the most important and trusted in the UK food and drink industry. Whilst we continually strive to ensure our beers are second to none, it’s heartening to receive such well-respected and independent recognition of their quality. We look forward to taking Dark Island Reserve to the grand final in London later this year and hope we can do Orkney and Scotland proud.”

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An attempt to give the Scottish Government power to set their own rates of alcohol duty has failed.

An amendment to the Scotland Bill giving the Holyrood Government devolved powers over duty failed to make it into the final legislation that was passed in Parliament last week. Stewart Hosie MP, who proposed the amendment, said that as well as raising money for the Exchequer, “one of the key aims of the duty is to reduce excessive consumption of alcohol”.

The Scottish National Party MP for Dundee East said: “Devolving responsibility for excise duty to Scotland would help to ensure that the tax system for alcohol consumption was consistent with the alcohol policy of the Scottish Government and equipped to tackle one of the greatest health and social challenges facing Scotland.”

To view the full article go to:  Morning Advertiser

TSA Brewing Co., the fast-growing brewery division of Scottish drinks producer, VC2 Brands, was awarded Gold at the SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) Scotland Regional Beer Competition 2011 in Edinburgh on Wednesday evening (15th June) for its premium beer, Double Espresso Premio Caffé Birra.

The award, sponsored by Festival Glass, sought to recognise the best speciality beer in Scotland as part of the Traditional Scottish Beer Festival.

The Competition featured over 80 beers, ales and stouts from all over Scotland spread over nine categories, with the winners selected by a panel of sixty judges.

Commenting on his success, VC2’s co-founder, Carlo Valente said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Double Espresso has achieved Gold status from SIBA. Product innovation is at the forefront of our business and it is very rewarding to see our efforts recognised.

This award gives fabulous credence to Double Espresso and we are looking forward securing further supermarket and on trade listings for the product as a result.”

This stunning speciality beer is brewed and infused with double-strength coffee beans, delivering the glorious aroma and rewarding taste of coffee while light hopping helps to balance and complement the smooth, silky character.

TSA Brewing Co. upholds the values and heritage of time-honoured Scottish real-ale making practices with leading edge flavour concepts. With several families of beer in the TSA portfolio, including Lomond Gold, William Wallace and 1488 Premium Whisky Beer there is a brew to satisfy even the most discerning beer connoisseur.

Visit www.traditionalscottishales.co.uk or www.vc-2.com for further information
contact TSA on 01786 81700 or 07785 791111