Online feature about our new project on the 'A Taste of Shetland' blog:
Shetland’s Lerwick Brewery has teamed up with the University of the Highlands and Islands to develop a new beer.
Kjøl, pronounced ‘chill’, has been created to celebrate the annual Bergen to Shetland yacht race which takes place from 24 to 29 June. The event, now in its 29th year, sees around 200 competitors sail from the Norwegian city to Lerwick in up to 40 vessels.
Academics from the university’s Centre for Nordic Studies worked with brewery staff to investigate the feasibility of the new product and used their expertise to help develop its branding. The project is part of a wider collaboration between the two organisations to create a range of beers inspired by events which attract visitors to the islands. The initiative is being supported by funding through Scottish Funding Council’s Innovation Voucher Scheme. Administered by Interface, the scheme encourages higher education institutions to work with small and medium-sized enterprises to develop new products and services.