Keith Brewery LTD is a Scottish brewery based in Keith, Moray, formerly known as Brewmeister. It was founded in 2012,[1] and has subsequently grown to export worldwide.[2]

Company history

The brewery began life on a farm in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire with a student loan.[1][3] The first beer produced was Armageddon, which the company claimed in press releases was the world's strongest beer at 65% alcohol by volume (ABV).[4][5][6][7] Some batches of the beer were incorrectly manufactured to a strength of 15.2% ABV.[8]

In 2013, Brewmeister replaced Armageddon with a stronger beer called Snake Venom claiming 67.5% ABV, and put a warning label on the bottle[9] advising consumers to only drink one per sitting.[10] It retailed at £50 for a 275ml bottle. Brewmeister claimed that the beer "tastes like a liquor and has a whole host of different flavours, ranging from bubblegum to caramel."[11] However, Guinness Book of Records still consider the strongest beer ever sold the Brewdog's "The End of History" with 55% ABV.[12]

In March 2014, the company announced they would move to new facilities at the Isla Bank Mills in Keith and quadruple beer production[3] while in May of the same year, the company won the BQ Scottish Business Award for Export.[13] Richard Lochhead, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Keith, said that the move would be "a successful addition to Moray's strong food and drinks sector."[1] The brewery currently employs 13 people.[14]

Production

The strength of the beer comes from fractional freezing, which involves cooling the beer to a low temperature to the point where water freezes but alcohol does not. The ice is then removed, leaving a higher percentage of alcohol behind.[7] The company claims to use natural spring water for brewing and claims to use unusual ingredients in their beers.[15] In 2014, they announced that 90% of their product was being exported.[16]

Controversy

In 2014 the Advertising Standards Agency censured Brewmeister for misleading advertising, stating that it was possibly ethyl alcohol that had been added to Snake Venom to reach the desired ABV of 67.5%. Snake Venom, a fortified Scottish beer, has been the world's strongest beer, at 67.5% ABV, since October 2013. It has a sweet, nutty aroma, a fruity flavour and fiery, intense finish, has been beaten by another Scottish brewery that has brewed a beer that is 75% ABV by 88 Brewery since 2021.[17][18]

Investment

In 2014, Brewmeister re-launched following the formation of a Board of Directors which came about after Brewmeister was partially bought by a syndicate of Scottish business figures. This included Scott Carnegie, a former Chairman of Dundee United Football Club. Brewmeister also received investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Investment Bank.[19] Scottish Enterprise are also holders of shares in the company.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Boost for Moray food and drink as 'Armageddon' switches to Keith". Heldon & Laich SNP Independence. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Where to Buy". Brewmeister (official site). Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  3. 1 2 McCulloch, Scott (27 March 2014). "Brewmeister looks to quadruple beer production at new facility". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "World's strongest beer 'Armageddon' produced by Aberdeenshire brewery". STV. 2012-10-05. Archived from the original on 2012-10-07. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  5. ↑ "Scottish brewer unveils the world's strongest beer". Fox News. 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  6. ↑ "World's strongest beer 'Snake Venom' launched". The Scotsman. 2013-10-23.
  7. 1 2 DeNinno, Nadine (October 25, 2012). "World's Strongest Beer: Brewmeister's Armageddon With 65% ABV Made In Scotland". International Business Times. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  8. ↑ Crowther, Stuart (4 June 2014). "Beer storm over alcohol content sees apology from Keith craft brewery". Inside Moray. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  9. ↑ "Brewmeister Snake Venom". Brewmeister (official website). Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  10. ↑ "World's strongest beer 'Snake Venom' launched". The Scotsman. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "'Bubblegum-flavoured' Snake Venom beer is world's strongest – and certainly has a nasty bite..." The Metro. 26 Oct 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  12. ↑ "Guinness Book of Records". 21 July 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  13. ↑ "Lingo24 talk the language of Scottish success at inaugural BQ Scotland Export Awards". BQ Magazine. 29 May 2014. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  14. ↑ "Brewmeister quadruples production capacity thanks to new facility". BBC News. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  15. ↑ "Beers". Archived from the original on February 18, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  16. ↑ Whitelaw, Jonathan (24 April 2014). "Brewmeister launches a collection of quirky beers". STV Edinburgh. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  17. ↑ "ASA Adjudication on Brewmeister Ltd Upheld". ASA. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
  18. ↑ https://www.htfw.com/88-brewery-beithir-fire-scottish-beer-lager
  19. ↑ "Brewmeister Holdings Limited (HIE) | Investments by the Scottish Inv". www.scottish-enterprise.com. Archived from the original on 30 January 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  20. ↑ "About Us". Archived from the original on February 18, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
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