As the spread of coronavrius continues, the drinks industry have started using their distilling skills to create hand sanitiser, and now BrewDog has joined the list.
We reported earlier this week how Mike Bain of Deeside Distillery in Banchory started the process of making ad hoc sanitiser after discovering how drastically low its availability was for GPs and Care Homes in his area - and lots of other gin distilleries have followed suit.
Now one of Scotland's best known names, BrewDog, has announced that they have joined in on creating their own hand sanitiser.
Posting on their social media, the team said: "Say hello to Punk Sanitiser Raising hands. To help with the shortages, we have just started working on making hand sanitiser at our distillery in Scotland.
"We are determined to do everything we can to try and help as many people as possible stay safe. It's time to keep it clean."
The first cases were delivered free of charge to the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary’s Intensive Care Unit over the weekend of the 27th March.
Along with delivery to Aberlour, Scotland’s Children’s Charity, and the Archie Foundation, with further drops confirmed for the coming weeks.
Say hello to Punk Sanitiser 🙌
To help with the shortages, we have just started working on making hand sanitiser at our distillery in Scotland. We are determined to do everything we can to try and help as many people as possible stay safe.
It's time to keep it clean. pic.twitter.com/1rNoGqdVXF
— BrewDog (@BrewDog) March 18, 2020
Due to the fact that alcohol at over 65% strength is effective at killing enveloped viruses – including the coronavirus – the country’s distillers have found they are well placed to create World Health Organisation (WHO) approved sanitiser recipes – [with the most widely used available to view here]
The brand have also announced a drive-thru and click and collect service - as a response to the changes in socialising due to the coronavirus spread.
Customers can now click and collect beer, food and spirits from the nearest BrewDog bar or the team can bring your order to you while you wait.
Orders can be placed via the BrewDog Hop Drop app, which is launching with a 30 per cent discount for all and a 50 per cent discount for NHS workers (who need to show ID on pickup).
The drive-thru service is available now at all UK BrewDog bars (excluding Edinburgh airport) and features bottles, cans and draft beer fills in growlers – alongside any item from that bar’s food menu, bottles of spirits and wine, Hawkes cider and glassware.
If you don't have a bar near you then orders are being taken from the BrewDog online shop and if you don't have a car, orders from the Hop Drop app and collect from the door of your nearest bar.
James Watt, co-founder of BrewDog, said: “These are uncertain times. But we are committed to looking after our crew, our customers and our company. Thinking of new ways you can buy beer from us led to this – BrewDog Drive Thru.
"Now you don’t even need to leave your car to pay us a visit. Order online, click and collect and we’ll bring it to your vehicle (car, bike, or yourself).
"BrewDog Drive Thru is a way in which you can keep fully stocked with the beer you love but in the best way possible.
"At the moment the only thing we can do is batten down the hatches and get through the storm together – and if you are in the teeth of that storm working for the NHS we will proudly see you a 50% discount. We’ll help you keep on keeping on.”
Scran episode 8: How craft beer conquered the world - with BrewDog co-founder Martin Dickie
