Black in front: why Belhaven Black could be your new best seller

With its rich, dark body and creamy head, stout has long offered drinkers something a little different. It remains a firm favourite ever since its first recorded appearance way back in 1677.

In recent times, however, the category has seen a remarkable surge in interest. It is, in fact, the fastest-growing segment within beer and is winning share from both ale and lager.

BLACK IS BACK

Compared to a year ago, stout has seen its value grow by a huge 55% (CGA OPMS data to February 2023). This growth is primarily fuelled by new audiences of younger adult drinkers who are seeking out beers that offer greater character and flavour. Belhaven research shows that these consumers also appreciate the creamy mouthfeel, rich taste and ease of drinking – particularly when chilled.

This trend has helped stout’s share of the total beer category climb to 8.3%, according the same CGA data. Guinness has long dominated this segment, and CGA confirms that it still accounts for 96.7% of the draught stout market. However, the spike in interest in stout presents a fantastic opportunity for other brewers.

Indeed, you will have seen several brewers attempting to cash in on the stout opportunity with a number of new brands hitting the market. None, however, can claim the history, tradition, credentials and taste profile of Belhaven Black Scottish Stout.

BELHAVEN’S BREWING HERITAGE

Established in 1719, Belhaven Brewery’s unrivalled brewing heritage and expertise truly sets the brand apart. It started producing stouts and porter in the mid-1800s.

The turning point was 1950, with awards from the UK and abroad for Belhaven #1 stout, Heavy Stout and Belhaven Sweet Stout. Then followed Trinidad Stout.

Today, Scotland’s favourite stout is still crafted using pure Scottish water, a unique blend of triple malts sourced from locally grown barley, and Belhaven yeast. This creates a rich, smooth, and creamy stout with a hint of sweet chocolate and a roasted malt finish.

Little surprise then, that it leads the way in Scotland, but the brand is rapidly growing south of the border too – and a new look is being unveiled that will help accelerate that growth.

A GROWING MARKET SHARE

Belhaven Black is already the number two stout brand in the GB free trade and it’s growing. According to CGA data to March this year, volumes are up a staggering 120% year-on-year while sales by value are up an even more impressive 144%.

While coming from a smaller base, Belhaven Black is actually growing at four times the rate of Guinness, which saw its volumes rise by 30% and value by 35% year-on-year.

STOUT HAS SEEN ITS VALUE GROW BY 55%, WITH GROWTH PRIMARILY BEING FUELLED BY NEW AUDIENCES OF YOUNGER ADULT DRINKERS SEEKING OUT BEERS THAT OFFER GREATER CHARACTER AND FLAVOUR.”

It’s easy to see why. Belhaven Black routinely scores favourably with stout drinkers for its taste and aroma, offering  superb quality as well as far better value. The national average free trade price of Belhaven Black is just £3.73 a pint, compared to Guinness at £4.14.

This price competitiveness has never been more important, as drinkers face more pressure than ever on their budgets.

TASTE TEST

A recent survey of new stout drinkers by the Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation revealed that:

• There was almost no statistical difference between Guinness and Belhaven Black when it came to likelihood to purchase, with Guinness at 62% & Belhaven at 60%
• Belhaven scored ahead on flavour and strength, when looking at Just About Right scores (JAR)
• The top two boxes combined for Overall Liking put Belhaven ahead at 36% (vs. Guinness at 34%)
• The survey also found that there was little to separate either on colour and, less on aroma
• In addition, 52% of Guinness regulars said they would buy Belhaven Black
• Of those interested in trying stout, 49% had an overall liking for Belhaven Black vs. Guinness at 45%.

And now, with its revamped look, Belhaven Black has everything to significantly grow its share across GB.

NEW BRANDING FOR AUTUMN 2023

The new branding will roll out from Autumn 2023 , featuring on bespoke glassware (available from October), tap handles and fonts – as well as a wide range of supporting POS. The new look encompasses Belhaven’s famous malting chimneys that have been part of the brewery since 1719. The swirling energy bursting from the chimneys nods to the depth and drama of the liquid when poured into the glass.

The new colours reflect the chocolate and coffee notes present in both the aroma and flavour of this Smooth Velvet Scottish Stout, which sits at 4.2% ABV.

BOTTLED BEAUTY

Belhaven also offers an award-winning Scottish Oat Stoat (officially the World’s Best Oat Stout) available in premium 330ml glass bottles.

Made using a complex mash including roasted barley and oats along with three types of malt, the brand offers a dark, rich and layered stout with plenty of black coffee and dark chocolate notes.

Belhaven Brewery Scottish Oat Stout 330ml bottles claimed accolades at both the 2022 and 2021 World Beer Awards along with a Monde Selection Gold Award in 2023 and 2022.

Belhaven Black is offering new installs the chance to win a £50 reward as part of its ‘mystery drinker’ campaign. All you have to do to claim your £50 reward is:

• Site the POS, which includes a QR code for a short video, at the back of house
• Ask your team to scan the code and learn about the beer from the video
• Recommend the brand to customers who ask
• O#ff”er your customers a small sample (free keg provided on install)
• Execute the ‘perfect serve’ of each pint using a cool, clean, branded glass
• When the brand’s ‘mystery drinker’ visits in the first eight weeks of install they will ask “what do you recommend?”
• If one of your stagg talks about Belhaven Black, oggers a sample and then executes the ‘perfect serve’ they will be given a £50 reward