Loch Ness Brewery is collaborating with rock band Smokie on a new beer.
The brewery, based at Drumnadrochit near Inverness, will produce the first batch of SmokieNESS for the Loch Ness Beer Festival, the longest-running in the Highlands, which starts there today.
The band had chart hits in the late 1970s including ‘For a Few Dollars More’ and ‘Living Next Door to Alice’ and still tours internationally.
Keyboard player Martin Bullard said: “I am a huge supporter of Loch Ness Brewery and the idea of SmokieNESS came one night whilst I was visiting the brewery. Smokie is well-known in over 25 countries and I know Loch Ness Brewery is keen to capitalize on the export market.”
Loch Ness already exports to countries including the US, Switzerland and Italy but aims to increase its share of the export market in the craft beer industry significantly in the coming months.
The new venture comes on the back of recent success in securing a supply deal with Marks and Spencer.
Stephen Crossland, managing director, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be collaborating with Smokie, who have had huge hits and are well known around the world.”
Loch Ness Brewery, launched in 2011, has grown rapidly after initially producing beer to be sold in Mr Crossland’s Benleva Hotel for a local beer festival. The firm expanded into larger premises in the village in 2012.
“We are looking forward to brewing the first batch of SmokieNESS on Monday with Martin,” Mr Crossland said.
SmokieNESS will be a 5 per cent abv red beer, brewed with ginger and honey.
Mr Bullard added: “ As a band, we are delighted to be involved in another beer which adds to the fantastic range of beers already produced by the brewery.”
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