Fans of “Mediterranean” beer were in for in for a treat this weekend, thanks to a special, one-off release from Scottish brewer Innis & Gunn.
Meet “Iññez & Gunn”, the brand-new, “completely and entirely different” lager inspired by a certain popular “Spanish” beer that’s actually brewed right here in the UK.
This beer was available this weekend only, and the limited-edition brew was flowing at Innis & Gunn’s brewery taprooms in Edinburgh and Glasgow, inviting beer fans to experience a “taste of Spain” brewed right at home.
The cheeky release of Iññez & Gunn follows a recent survey commissioned by Innis & Gunn which revealed that 38% of Brits think Spain produces the best beer.
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To launch the new beer, Innis & Gunn brought a bit of Spanish flair to Princes Street last week, when crowds gathered for a midday fiesta to get one of 500 bottles of the “cerveza” while flamenco dancers from TuFlamenco put on a show for lunchtime passers-by.
Passers-by who were curious enough to peel back the red and yellow labelling noticed the brand’s flagship lager beer label underneath.
Innis & Gunn founder and master brewer Dougal Sharp, who earned his pocket money in his early teens by washing casks and rolling barrels at Caledonian Brewery in Edinburgh, and went on to win Champion Beer of Britain, said: “We’ve been inspired by our dear friends at Madri.
“We saw how easy it was to convince British drinkers that a beer with a Spanish-sounding name and a fancy label is from somewhere exotic. So, we thought, why not get in on the action?
“Credit where credit is due, the marketing works like a charm. Brits love a foreign-sounding lager — even when it’s brewed right here on home turf.
“It’s a bit of fun, but hopefully it also reminds drinkers that Scotland’s own premium lager rivals anything from across the continent.”
Innis & Gunn’s flagship lager recently won gold at the World Beer Awards.
According to a survey by Opinion Matters, a whopping 90% of Brits have been misled by beer branding, with only 8% actually aware that Madrí Excepcional, dubbed “Madrid’s Modern Lager,” is brewed in Yorkshire.
Across the UK, half of Millennials (and 38% of all Brits) are willing to pay more for continental beer.
The limited-batch brew, Iññez & Gunn — which the company cheekily claims is “completely and entirely different” from their award-winning lager — will be available in Innis & Gunn’s taprooms in Ashton Lane, Glasgow’s city centre, and on Edinburgh’s Lothian Road until Sunday night.
