Scottish craft brewery toasts ‘National Beer Day’ with 40th anniversary campaign launch

One of Scotland’s most awarded independent craft breweries is raising a glass to National Beer Day on 15th June with the launch of a nationwide campaign to celebrate forty years in the business.

Industry news
Published: 15/06/2023

One of Scotland’s most awarded independent craft breweries is raising a glass to National Beer Day on 15th June with the launch of a nationwide campaign to celebrate forty years in the business. 

Harviestoun, which is based in Alva, near Stirling, has been brewing in the shadow of the Ochil Hills since 1983, so have been making craft beer in Scotland long before it became a popular trend. 

To mark four decades as a pioneering producer and a modern craft classic, Harviestoun has chosen National Beer Day to announce its plans to roll-out a national campaign, including two new product launches, competitions and pop-up beer tasting events across Scotland and in London.

Harviestoun’s new lager is due to hit the shelves this summer and its limited edition 40-year-old expression of Ola Dubh will be launched as a collector’s piece later in the year. Both new products will be available to buy directly from Harviestoun’s online shop, as well as selected stores across Scotland.

The  multi award winning Ola Dubh is a premium stout aged in Highland Park casks and is prized throughout the world.

Limited edition supplies of both products will also be available at selected pubs, bars and hotels around Scotland, including Bridge of Orchy Hotel in Argyll, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen, as well as Brompton Cross in Chelsea, London. 

Harviestoun’s Master Brewer, Amy Cockburn and her all-female brew team have been tasked with creating the two new beers as part of this year’s celebrations to mark four decades of craft brewing excellence. 

Commenting on Harviestoun’s 40th anniversary and new product development, Amy Cockburn said: 

“We’re really excited to be marking National Beer Day by revealing our plans for a nationwide 40th anniversary campaign. This is a significant milestone in the evolution of Harviestoun as a pioneering producer and modern craft classic. We’ve been brewing since the early 1980s and have been crafting beer long before it became a popular trend, but we’re continuing to innovate and develop our product range. 

“We’re now planning to pay tribute to Harviestoun’s legacy and brewing history in the best way we know, with the launch of two exciting new products for 2023. Our new lager will go on sale this summer and our limited edition 40-year-old expression of Ola Dubh will be launched as a collector’s piece later in the year.

“We want to encourage craft beer lovers from far and wide to join our 40th anniversary celebrations, but they’ll need to wait just a few more weeks to get their hands on our new lager, which is now being perfected in time for its official launch in August.”

Amy added: 

“As Harviestoun looks ahead to the future, we’re already working hard to develop our next generation of great beers. Whatever we produce in the years to come, we'll always ensure it's true to the Harviestoun brand style and provide as much enjoyment as possible for craft beer fans around the world.

“We’re passionate about the whole brewing process. Our relentless focus on quality has established Harviestoun as one of the most-awarded breweries in Scotland. We only use the best local barley and carefully control every aspect of the process. No beer will leave the brewery unless we’re 100% happy.”

Harviestoun is a pioneering producer of high-quality craft beer and lagers, including its most famous award-winning beer, Schiehallion (pronounced she-hal-ion) pilsner, which is named after a well-known mountain in Perthshire.

Harviestoun’s beers are made with soft local water from Glenturret, barley from down by the Forth and its own unique yeast. The brewery remains steadfastly committed to using the same local ingredients, the same yeast as they always have. They insist on the very best ingredients in their imaginative recipes which are crafted without compromise. All at Harviestoun respect and celebrate the provenance that they have inherited and are developing this special business with energy and imagination.

Harviestoun currently employs 12 people, including Master Brewer, Amy Cockburn, who celebrates 15 years at Harviestoun this year. Amy and Lisa Matthews (Junior Brewer) make a formidable all female brew team.

Harviestoun is lucky to have a diverse sales mix and is well represented in the UK’s leading hospitality establishments, including Gleneagles, Cameron House, The Caledonian, The Balmoral, Turnberry and The Fife Arms. 

For more information about Harviestoun, visit https://harviestoun.com and follow on social media, including Instagram www.instagram.com/harviestounbreweryFacebook www.facebook.com/HarviestounBrewery and Twitterhttps://twitter.com/HarviestounBrew

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