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Scotland just got tastier for beer fans
Around 700 Scottish pubs will be able to stock a guest beer on their bars from this week due to new changes to Scotland’s Pubs Code. The post Scotland just got tastier for beer fans appeared first on The Drinks Business.
Around 700 Scottish pubs will be able to stock a guest beer on their bars from this week due to new changes to Scotland’s Pubs Code.
Having the new right to a guest beer doesn’t exist in the Pubs Code for England and Wales, meaning that the new Scottish scheme across its tenanted pubs is a trailblazer for the UK and is set to expand consumer choice as well as playing a part in supporting local Scottish brewers.
As part of the initiative, publicans will be able to stock and sell at least one guest beer at the price they choose and change it as frequently as they wish. This means that they would also be allowed to buy beer directly from brewers to serve to their customers.
Speaking to the drinks business, SIBA’s Scotland regional director and Fyne Ales managing director Jamie Delap said: “At the moment only a small proportion of all dispense lines in Scotland are open to commercial offers from independent brewers, while we know that there is a lot of unfulfilled demand from consumers for indie beer and that many venues can benefit from adding an independent beer into their line-up.”
Delap explained: “We often hear from pub goers that they want the chance to enjoy a local beer but pub landlords can’t necessarily provide what their customers want.”
But, he admitted, “under this guest beer agreement, pub tenants will be permitted to choose at least one guest beer and Scotland’s small breweries stand ready to assist them. This could be great news for beer drinkers, small brewers and pub tenants across Scotland”.
Delap told db: “We welcome that all tied pub tenants will now have the opportunity to add an indie beer into their range, giving them the opportunity to serve their customers better with a distinctive offering and increasing their sales and profitability.”
The only restriction stated in the Pubs Code is that the chosen guest beer must meet a certain production size and be no more than 5,000 hectolitres – which is around 880,000 pints. This means that many of the larger beer brands made by global companies won’t comply but most beers from Scotland’s small breweries will.
The Society of Independent Brewers also revealed that the new guest beer can also be served in any format including keg and cask draught beers or from bottles and cans.
Describing how it would change things for the better, CAMRA Scotland director Stuart McMahon said: "Pubgoers are welcoming the news".
McMahon noted how "under the code, tied pub tenants will be able to sell guest beer free of tie, increasing choice at the bar for customers of tasty and distinctive products from small local and independent breweries from across the country - particularly for cask beer".
He added: "The protections offered by the new Pubs Code for tied tenants running pubs make sure big pub companies treat them fairly and they can earn a decent living. It should also help to make their businesses more sustainable, as well as supporting more pubs to thrive at the heart of their communities."
Pub tenants in Scotland interested in the scheme are now being encouraged to speak to their pub companies about how to make a request for a guest beer.
Having the new right to a guest beer doesn’t exist in the Pubs Code for England and Wales, meaning that the new Scottish scheme across its tenanted pubs is a trailblazer for the UK and is set to expand consumer choice as well as playing a part in supporting local Scottish brewers.
As part of the initiative, publicans will be able to stock and sell at least one guest beer at the price they choose and change it as frequently as they wish. This means that they would also be allowed to buy beer directly from brewers to serve to their customers.
Speaking to the drinks business, SIBA’s Scotland regional director and Fyne Ales managing director Jamie Delap said: “At the moment only a small proportion of all dispense lines in Scotland are open to commercial offers from independent brewers, while we know that there is a lot of unfulfilled demand from consumers for indie beer and that many venues can benefit from adding an independent beer into their line-up.”
Delap explained: “We often hear from pub goers that they want the chance to enjoy a local beer but pub landlords can’t necessarily provide what their customers want.”
But, he admitted, “under this guest beer agreement, pub tenants will be permitted to choose at least one guest beer and Scotland’s small breweries stand ready to assist them. This could be great news for beer drinkers, small brewers and pub tenants across Scotland”.
Delap told db: “We welcome that all tied pub tenants will now have the opportunity to add an indie beer into their range, giving them the opportunity to serve their customers better with a distinctive offering and increasing their sales and profitability.”
The only restriction stated in the Pubs Code is that the chosen guest beer must meet a certain production size and be no more than 5,000 hectolitres – which is around 880,000 pints. This means that many of the larger beer brands made by global companies won’t comply but most beers from Scotland’s small breweries will.
The Society of Independent Brewers also revealed that the new guest beer can also be served in any format including keg and cask draught beers or from bottles and cans.
Describing how it would change things for the better, CAMRA Scotland director Stuart McMahon said: "Pubgoers are welcoming the news".
McMahon noted how "under the code, tied pub tenants will be able to sell guest beer free of tie, increasing choice at the bar for customers of tasty and distinctive products from small local and independent breweries from across the country - particularly for cask beer".
He added: "The protections offered by the new Pubs Code for tied tenants running pubs make sure big pub companies treat them fairly and they can earn a decent living. It should also help to make their businesses more sustainable, as well as supporting more pubs to thrive at the heart of their communities."
Pub tenants in Scotland interested in the scheme are now being encouraged to speak to their pub companies about how to make a request for a guest beer. 
