EIGHTEEN Scottish breweries have signed up to a marketing scheme designed to let consumers know whether the beer they are buying is made by a smaller, independent producer, as opposed to a major brewer.
Borders-bases Broughton Ales and the Edinburgh Beer Factory are among Scottish firms which have signed up to the Assured Independent British Craft Brewers, scheme, launched by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA).
SIBA said drinkers need more information to make informed choices in light of the explosion of the craft brewing sector in recent years.
Managing director Mike Benner said: “The passion and innovation of independent brewers, together with increasing consumer demand for diversity, provenance and excellence, has created the craft beer revolution.
"It is the biggest thing to have happened to British beer for many years and has helped to revitalise the UK beer market and turn it into the most exciting beer scene in the World.
"However, as the craft beer market has grown it is being flooded with beers from across the world, often from large global brewers. We have launched our ‘Assured’ initiative to help consumers make informed decisions about where their beer comes from and who has brewed it.”
To be eligible to join the scheme. brewers must brew fewer than 200,000 hectolitres of beer a year, be independent of any larger controlling brewing interest, and adhere to SIBA's Manual of Good Brewing Practice.
Kirsty Dunsmore of Edinburgh Beer Factory noted: “As a family-run business, being privately owned and independent is fundamental to our brewery and why we started in the first place.
"With all the takeovers in the industry, along with near ubiquitous use of the word "craft" rendering it meaningless, this is a timely initiative to help drinkers identify genuine independents.”
David McGowan, part of a consortium which acquired Broughton Ales last year, said: “As Scotland's first microbrewery founded in 1979, we are proud to work alongside other genuinely independent craft brewers.
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