November 2022 Newsletter - Supporting Local

Hi all,

We were as gutted as anyone yesterday when the news became public of the closure of Top Out by the New Year. Andi and his team had created a great brewery with some truly memorable releases, and their loss will be keenly felt in the local market. One reason for the rise of craft brewing was for independent breweries with new ideas to be able to offer new, exciting alternatives for consumers aside from the same old macro garbage.

Each closure is a loss for this taste diversity, but most importantly we need to think about the people losing their jobs in such a desperate economic times. Top Out were one of several breweries even yesterday to announce their closure - it's not a localised issue.

Being a brewery in times like this is like being in an economic concertina; we are pushed by an ever-expanding cost of production, with all primary ingredients going up, energy costs being passed on to us. On the other side, we're up against a wall as bars are limited in what they're able to pay for a keg as they're unable or unwilling to pass on costs to customers (fair enough). A recent study suggested that if every additional cost was passed on to the customer from the core ingredients upwards to the point of pouring, a pint would cost over £18. It's not unreasonable in such circumstances to come to the same conclusion as Top Out that there comes a point where there is no point. Passion doesn't pay the bills.

Thankfully we're not quite in that position, and have many positives to look back on this year. Much of that is built on that vital local support and goodwill that kept us going through COVID and has helped sustain us since. Now more than ever, that local support is a lifeline, and supporting local is the only way many businesses will keep going. We have a young team, with none living further than a 20 minute walk from the brewery. This is the same for many others you'll walk past everyday.

So coming into this Christmas when belts are tightened, I ask that you support local businesses. Not just ourselves, but other local breweries - Pilot, Newsbarns, Donzoko, Otherworld; other local off-licenses - Cornelius, Leith Bottle Shop, Beets, Cork & Cask, Great Grog; other local bars - Mother Surperior, Leith Depot, Nauticus, Jolly Judge, Dreadnought; other local artisans - Kilted Donuts, Pastry Section, Williams & Johnson.

We need you.

Cheers,
Paul