One of Scotland’s most awarded independent craft breweries was invited to join just six other Scottish-based businesses as part of a special virtual roundtable business event with the UK Prime Minister Boris Jonhson at Number 10 Downing Street yesterday (Thursday 15th October).
The event, which was hosted by Boris Johnson and Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, was set up to offer representatives from a range of sectors the opportunity to share their experiences and key issues affecting their businesses with the UK Government. Other participants included Genius Gluten Free, Orbital Marine, Gael Force Group, Trespass, Criton and Epidarex Capital.
Harviestoun Brewery, based at Alva near Stirling, has been brewing in the shadow of the Ochil Hills in Clackmannanshire since 1983, so they were making craft beer in Scotland long before it became a popular trend. Still under independent ownership, they consider themselves a modern craft classic.
Harviestoun is a pioneering producer of 10 high-quality craft beer and lagers. Its most famous award-winning beer, Schiehallion (pronounced she-hal-ion) pilsner, is named after a well-known mountain in Perthshire. Schiehallion is unique among British beers as being the only current brand to win the coveted ‘World’s Best Pilsner’ award.
Under the same Chairmen it has had since 2008, Harviestoun is now led by Stuart Cook and Kevin Giudici as Joint Managing Directors. The executive team in 2019 have led the business to re-brand, brought out new products that are already winning awards, as well as overhauling the sales and marketing division to establish a strong platform for growth in the future.
Stuart Cook, Joint Managing Director at Harviestoun Brewery, said:
“I was honoured to represent Harviestoun Brewery amongst only six other Scottish-based businesses as part of a special virtual roundtable business event at Number 10 with UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson and Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack.
“This was a unique opportunity for Harviestoun and other selected businesses from a mix of sectors to share our experiences and key issues affecting our business with the UK Government at this extremely challenging time.
“Here at Harviestoun, we’ve been an integral part of Scotland’s burgeoning food and drink sector for nearly 40 years. It’s now more important than ever that we continue to champion and support our industry of craft producers.”
The independent brewery employs a close team of 22 people, including a female head brewer, which is quite unique for the brewing industry, as well as a Master Brewer with well over 20 years’ experience at the brewery.
The brewery’s product range is becoming increasingly available in supermarkets, readily bought from major online e-commerce customers and the export market. The dark beers, such as Old Engine Oil, Engineers Reserve and the Ola Dubh age range, are especially in high demand across Europe, China, USA, Canada and South Korea.
For more information about Harviestoun Brewery, visit https://harviestoun.com and follow on social media, including Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HarviestounBrewery, Twitter https://twitter.com/HarviestounBrew and Instagram www.instagram.com/harviestounbrewery
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Notes to editors
About Harviestoun Brewery
Based at Alva, near Stirling, Harviestoun is one of Scotland’s most awarded breweries and is a pioneering producer of nine 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:
- 2 craft lagers – Forth (4%) & Schiehallion (4.8%)
- 1 golden ale – Bitter & Twisted (4.2%)
- 2 craft stouts – Old Engine Oil (6% or 4.5% on draught) and Engineers Reserve (9%)
- 2 pale ales – The Ridge (5%) & Whippet (table beer – 2.3%)
- 1 dark ale – Wheesht (0.0%). Scotland’s first alcohol-free dark ale
- 1 barrel-aged stout – Ola Dubh (8%). Finished in ex-Highland Park whisky barrels for a minimum of 6 months. There are various age statements from the barrels – 12, 14, 16 , 18, 30 and 40 years old.
Harviestoun’s beers are made with the soft local water and the majority of its barley is grown within eight miles of the brewery. The brewery remains steadfastly committed to the 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.
The Brewery is now owned by Sandy Orr and Donald MacDonald who in partnership with the Sharp family acquired Caledonian Brewery in Edinburgh in 2008. Having already been bought by Caledonian Brewery in 2006, Harviestoun was at the leading edge of the cask beer revolution in Scotland. When Caledonian was subsequently sold to Scottish & Newcastle, Sandy and Donald were determined to keep Harviestoun out of the sale transaction believing that the quality and provenance of its beers in independent hands promised a fine future in the then growing market for premium flavoursome beers. And so it has proved.
The Harviestoun Brewhouse rule is that no Harviestoun beer will leave the Brewery unless Stuart Cail (Master Brewer) or Amy Cockburn (Head Brewer) are delighted with its creation and consistency.
Press release from Harviestoun Brewery
Media contact:
Jonathan Perkins, Communications Director, 07894 711 515, jon@tatsecommunications.co.uk