Breweries from across Scotland are toasting a mid-year sales boost expected to be worth £114,000 as the 14th Scottish Beer Festival launches in ALDI stores across the country today, Thursday 8 March.
The in-store festival celebrates the talent flowing from Scotland’s esteemed craft brewing industry, and will bring 35 beers and ales from 34 breweries to ALDI shelves.
Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director for ALDI in Scotland, said: “With breweries from the Orkney Islands to the Scottish Borders, we’ve once again scoured the country to bring craft beer fans the very best Scotland has to offer.
“There’s a real thirst for the country’s high-quality craft beers – and the fact we are celebrating the 14th Scottish Beer Festival highlights how popular they are with our customers. Since the first Beer Festival launched in 2012, the festivals have generated in excess of £1.9 million worth of sales supporting Scotland’s craft breweries.
“The beauty of the festival is that it not only showcases both established and up-and-coming breweries, but also gives shoppers a chance to discover a new favourite from a huge selection of beers and ales they may not have been able to get their hands on otherwise.”
Five of the beers featuring in the Festival are exclusive to ALDI:
• Glory Days Wheat IPA (£1.29/330ml) from Barney’s Beer in Edinburgh
• Traquair Spring Ale (£1.69/500ml) from Traquair House Brewery in Innerleithen
• Flower of Scotland (£1.69/500ml) from Born in the Borders Brewery in Jedburgh
• Kai Tak Strong Ale (£1.99/500ml) from Burnside Brewery in Laurencekirk
• No.5 Proper IPA (£1.99/500ml) from Broughton Ales
As the headline sponsor of the Scottish Beer Awards, ALDI is proud to bring three award-winners to shelves, including the 2017 Beer of the Year, Café Racer (£1.99/330ml) from FIERCE in Dyce.
Kirstin Speirs, Founder of The Scottish Beer Awards, said: “This year we expect to see more creativity from a growing number of Scottish brewers who are confidently experimenting with flavour, style and branding. There is no better time to enjoy the ALDI Scottish Beer Festival and we look forward to sampling the many high quality locally produced beers on offer.”
To celebrate the launch of the festival, ALDI has teamed up with WEST brewery in Glasgow to give shoppers a chance to win one of two prizes for two people to take a tour of WEST’s on-site brewery followed by a tasting session and a three-course meal at WEST on the Green. Details of how to enter are available in the drinks aisle of every ALDI store in Scotland.
ALDI’s Scottish Beer Festival is in-store now while stocks last.