Will ‘guest beer’ rules support small Scottish breweries ?

Daniel Bennett and Ian HamiltonBBC ScotlandBBCVinny Rosario says it may be onerous for smaller breweries to compete with the larger manufacturers”It is fluctuating, and it has been onerous the final couple of years,” says Vinny Rosario, founding father of Moonwake Beer Co. in Leith.He’s a part of one of many roughly 150 small, unbiased breweries in Scotland.They’re all included in new guidelines that may see unbiased breweries have their merchandise offered at “tenant pubs”, these owned by breweries however run by exterior individuals.So how are the “visitor beer” guidelines working for breweries like his? Since July 2025 after they had been launched, it has been a blended bag.”There are a number of breweries in Scotland, however there are additionally a number of beer drinkers,” says Vinny.”On a mean week, we make 7,000 to 10,000 litres of beer.”He believes there’s a place for the smaller gamers, however admits it’s onerous to compete with the largest manufacturers.”They’ve extra market entry; they personal pubs or strains.”For Vinny, the brand new guidelines have not made an excessive amount of distinction.”There was a number of hope and hype, however pubs could be disincentivised by their landlords.”There’s a number of purple tape, so they do not need any extra added to their backside line,” he says.GettyThe new guidelines imply that tenant pubs, owned by larger breweries, also can now promote a “visitor beer” made by a smaller, unbiased producerIn essence, the “visitor beer” modifications are supposed to tackle this.Launched as a part of the Scottish authorities’s Scottish Pubs Code, it permits pub tenants to request and promote at the least one unbiased beer if the constructing’s proprietor agrees.”The demand for fascinating, high quality beers has by no means been increased,” says Stuart McMahon, Scottish Director for CAMRA (Marketing campaign for Actual Ale).He believes there has by no means been a greater time for shoppers when it comes to the range and selection on supply.”The hope is that this scheme will permit pubs to introduce a wider vary of beers, ” says Stuart.He believes many may stand to profit from the foundations.”We’ve over 150 breweries in Scotland in the mean time, lots of that are small, producing out of their storage. Some are larger with extra equipment.”Stuart McMahon hopes this scheme will permit pubs to introduce a wider vary of beersMany throughout the trade do suppose there’s curiosity in offering “visitor beers” in bars and pubs, however do not declare it is a right away repair.”It is positively making a distinction on the sting,” says Jamie Delap, managing director of Fyne Ales and Scotland consultant of SIBA (Society of Impartial Brewers and Associates).Inside the market space these guidelines apply to, he believes there have been some corporations beginning to profit however it’s too quickly to inform what affect it can have in the long run.Jamie insists there are causes to be optimistic in regards to the subsequent few years for breweries in Scotland.”Making beer, promoting beer, it is good enjoyable. It’s a must to be optimistic.”The market goes in the precise route, we’re making beers shoppers wish to drink.”Jamie Delap from the Society of Impartial Brewers and Associates says it is vital for brewers to have a very good story to tellDespite small, unbiased breweries making up round 90% of the entire in Scotland, Jamie believes they solely produce round 10% of the product offered right here.All of that, he believes, leads them to needing a transparent technique to realize a foothold. “You have to do three issues proper,” he says.”You have to make nice beer. You have to have a extremely good story to inform. After which lastly, you have to run an important enterprise. “If the enterprise would not work, you are not going to be doing it for a very long time.”Telling a narrative and leaning into native identification is a part of the “visitor beer” idea, one thing Vinny realises he and others can capitalise on.”I believe one of many only a few positives that got here out of Covid is that individuals began to grow to be conscious of what was native. And that is not simply us. It is butchers, bakeries, crafts.”Extra individuals being conscious of what’s native can solely be good,” he says.