Perthshire brewery launching 4 new beers for Perth

Assistant Manager Paige Roberts and Wasted Degrees Co-Owner Jack Low at the Perth pub

Norway exports planned for 2027

A Perthshire craft brewery is set to launch four new beers by Christmas and open fresh European export lines as it becomes the largest brewer in Perth and Kinross.

Blair Atholl-based Wasted Degrees, which opened its first pub this summer, in Perth, has taken delivery of a new production tank which will boost annual capacity by 9000 litres.

The increased bandwidth, atop the current output of 29 000 litres per month, now establishes Wasted Degrees- which started out with home brew buckets in a family garage a decade ago- as the biggest independent brewer in the region.

It will also enable the crafting of four exclusive new beers for its flagship pub on Perth’s George Street as well as opening up potential for new export routes within Norway.

Jack says the response to the opening of the Perth pub has been amazing

Hugely popular

The response to Wasted Degrees taking over the former Brewdog pub in the Fair City has been ‘hugely gratifying’ for siblings Conall and Jack Low and the team, with locals and established fans backing the beer and wine range and relaxed atmosphere.

Now Perth punters are set to be rewarded with a brand new range of exclusive products within weeks, including a new Perth lager and a bramble sour showcasing the best of Scottish agriculture.

This week, PH1 Lager – named in honour of the new city pub and its barley staple, grown just 5 miles away- will be on tap for the first time.

Following closely behind will be a Bourbon barrel Vanilla Stout, an Irish whiskey-influenced Ruby Ale and a Bramble Sour using St Andrews blackberries and blackcurrants from Alyth.

The brewery is investing in a further delivery van to keep pace with demand

Exclusive

“The rule of thumb is: If it’s not in our core range, and it’s in keg, then it’s exclusive to the Perth pub,” explained Jack, with the Wasted Degrees taproom at Blair Atholl closed for the winter season.

“With the new tank arriving in the brewery, it will be used almost exclusively to make brews for the pub. We want to ensure that, of the 20 beer lines we have, 15 should be Wasted Degrees beers. That number will rise to 13 by Friday, as we introduce our PH1 lager.

“From a product range point of view, 2026 has been about the core range because of the amount of growth we’ve experienced. We now have somewhere in the region of 60 taps across Perthshire, but we want to give people more variety. The new tank allows us to do that.

“So, 2027 is going to be a return to what the other 9 years have largely been like, which is mostly about creating variety, so there will be even more reason for people to come to our Perth pub next year.”

Export sales

In recent years, Wasted Degrees has become notable in the industry for its use of yeast, as well as hops, for driving flavour and aroma in its beers.

One of the yeast families it utilises is a fast fermenting, temperature-tolerant variety called Kveik, produced in Norway.

The brewery’s reputation for embracing Kveik yeast in its brewing process has been noted in Scandinavia and the team are to go on ‘tour’ to Norway next February to visit producers, establish collaborations and develop new export lines.

Increasing capacity will aid the business in re-establishing its former export profile.

“We really reined in exports this year because of the growth in our domestic demand, which has outstripped almost entirely our ability to create separate export options.

“However, the introduction of the new tank opens up that bandwidth a touch, if we are smart with our production.

“In years gone by, tens of thousands of cans or thousands of litres were kegged overseas, and we’d like to return to one, or both of those, in 2027. Our economic impact is important to us, and we’d like to think this is another contribution we can make,” added Jack.

Co-Owner Jack Low and Assistant pub manager Paige Roberts at the Perth pub

Appeal wait

Wasted Degrees hope to clear the final legal hurdles which have hugely delayed the building of their new £2m brewery, tap room and storage base in Pitlochry.

The verdict regarding an appeal made by an individual objector is likely to be delivered within the next three months, with the Low brothers attending the inner house of the Court of Session this week to observe proceedings.