Watsonian Football Club has partnered with Scottish brewery Harviestoun Brewery to introduce Hastings 13 Lager into the Myreside pavilion. The new lager honours the life and legacy of rugby icon Scott Hastings, who passed away earlier this year. The collaboration also deepens Harviestoun’s sponsorship and aims to support Watsonian FC’s continued growth.
Watsonian Football Club, an Edinburgh-based rugby union club established in 1875, has used Myreside as its home ground since 1878, moving to New Myreside in 1933. The club, which now operates as an open entity having initially been for former pupils of George Watson’s College, fields both men’s and women’s teams in the Scottish Premiership. Historically, Watsonians have contributed significantly to Scottish rugby, producing 62 internationalists, including five Scotland captains and seven British & Irish Lions.
Harviestoun Brewery, located in Alva, Clackmannanshire, was founded in 1983 by Ken Brooker. The brewery is known for its range of cask ales, craft lagers, and bottled beers, including award-winning products such as Bitter & Twisted golden ale, which was named Champion Beer of Britain in 2003, and Schiehallion lager, first brewed in 1994 and recognised as the World’s Best Pilsner in 2008. Harviestoun has been an independent Scottish brewery since 2008.
Scott Hastings, who died on 17 May 2026 at the age of 61 from non-Hodgkin lymphoma, was a significant figure in Scottish rugby. He gained 65 international caps for Scotland between 1986 and 1997, holding the record for Scotland’s most-capped player at the time of his retirement. Hastings was a member of Scotland’s 1990 Grand Slam-winning Five Nations team and toured with the British & Irish Lions in 1989 and 1993, playing in two Tests. He played 226 games for Watsonians and later served as the club’s director of rugby.
The Hastings 13 lager was initially introduced at a recent event celebrating Scott Hastings’ life, a collaboration that included pavilion operator Heart of Midlothian. The lager is now a permanent fixture at Myreside as part of the broader sponsorship agreement. The official launch took place at Myreside on Saturday, September 5, prior to the opening home fixtures for both the men’s and women’s 1st XVs.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club, whose home ground is Tynecastle Park, entered a partnership with George Watson’s College in November 2023 to manage the café, bar, catering, and event operations at the Myreside Pavilion, which reopened in 2022 following refurbishment.
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John McLellan, President of Watsonian Football Club, said: “Scott Hastings represented the very best of what it means to be a Watsonian and as a hugely influential character who was the life and soul of any party I’m sure he would have loved the idea of raising a glass of his own beer to the club’s future. Harviestoun is one of our longest-serving and most important sponsors, and the club is privileged to work with them to embed the brewery into Myreside history. Having the Hastings 13 tap permanently on the bar gives our members, players, and supporters a meaningful way to celebrate Scott’s memory and spirit every single matchday.”
Scott’s brother, Gavin Hastings, a former captain for Watsonians, Scotland, and the Lions, said: “Our family’s connection to Myreside runs incredibly deep and as a tireless champion of the club both on and off the field, I’m sure he would be very proud that our name will continue to be associated with celebration at Myreside, but also the future welfare of the club. When Harviestoun stepped up to work with Heart of Midlothian and created the Hastings 13 lager for Scott’s celebration of life, it meant a great deal to our family. Bringing this tribute permanently into the clubhouse alongside Harviestoun’s wider support is a wonderful way to connect our family, the club, and Scott’s legacy.”
Andrew McKnight of Harviestoun Brewery, said: “It’s a real privilege to continue partnering with Watsonian FC and work alongside the Hastings family. Crafting the Hastings 13 beer to commemorate Scott was a deeply meaningful project for our team. We are proud to recognise the club’s past, whilst supporting the club’s future across both the men’s and women’s games, while honouring one of Scottish rugby’s true greats.”
