Launched in reaction to Dry January – the challenge which sees people give up drink for the first month of the year – an alternative annual event dubbed Tryanuary is calling on beer fans to go out and drink responsibly in local pubs.
First launched in 2015, the annual event is encouraging special pub-based events and festivals all across the UK to help boost the profiles of pubs and independent breweries throughout what is traditionally a challenging month.
This year, the capital is the focus of several key social gatherings, with the Tryanuary team pairing up with six local breweries and bars to brew a range of six different Tryanuary beers.
On 12 January in Edinburgh, the top Scottish brewers involved – including Campervan, Stewart Brewing and Top Out – will appear in each of their chosen pubs to discuss their work and share their specially created beers.
An Edinburgh pub crawl, which will begin at Steel Coulson in Leith at 1.30pm, will also travel to each of the selected pubs, which include The Diggers, The Hanging Bat, The Blue Blazer and The Jolly Judge, before finishing at around 8pm at St Andrew Brewing Co. Potterow, where the full line-up of the Tryanuary Beers will be on offer.
The event will support charity partner The Benevolent, which provides help and support to current and former employees of the drinks industry and their families.
As part of the campaign, Scottish beer fans can also support both The Benevolent and the Tryanuary campaign by organising a sponsored Tryanuary Tasting or Bottle Swap at home, in your local pub, or in your local brewery tap room. The team have put together a kit with everything you need to know on their website, www.tryanuary.com.
Tryanuary boss Mike Hampshire said: “We’ve been saying for months that Tryanuary 2019 was set to be bigger and better than ever, and our wonderful pubs across the country are proving us right.
“Some absolutely excellent events are set to take place over January, but alongside that, drinkers and pub fans are really getting into the Tryanuary spirit – that is to try new things, support your local and drink responsibly.”
