BrewDog launches Barnard Castle Eye Test beer

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Holding the fort: the 330ml pack of 12 cans is available for pre-order for £16.95 on BrewDog’s website

Scottish brewer and operator BrewDog has unveiled a new beer following Government adviser Dominic Cummings driving 260 miles amid lockdown.

An investigation by national newspapers The Guardian and The Mirror found Cummings travelled to his parents’ home in Durham with his wife and child.

Cummings said he had made the trip to Barnard Castle to test his eyesight before driving back to London.

BrewDog co-founder James Watt originally asked followers what BrewDog should call the beer. The options were Cummings & Goings, 260 Miles, Stay At Homes, or Barnard Castle Eye Test.

Cummings & goings

The ‘short-sighted beer for tall stories’ New England Old School IPA is dry hopped with pineapple, mango and lime, with an ABV of 6%.

Watt tweeted: “All profits from the sale of our latest beer, Barnard Castle Eye Test, go to funding our production of free sanitiser for the NHS and health care charities.

“Over the past eight weeks, we have made and donated more than £1m worth BrewDog sanitiser to those who need it most.”

He said a case of the gels had been sent to 10 Downing Street with a note that “it is best enjoyed in rose gardens, while discussing all the latest cummings & goings”.

Initial approach

This follows Watt and Martin Dickie, co-founders of the giant Scottish brewer and pub operator, announced they were sacrificing their salary for 2020 in a bid to protect jobs at the business amid the pandemic. Chief operating officer David McDowall also volunteered to take a 50% pay cut.

Following this, the business revealed its initial approach to reopening its bars, subject to official guidance from the Government.

The 10-step plan includes contactless ordering via its order to table Hop Drop app, staff wearing face masks and gloves at all times, easily accessible sanitiser stations for all, and clearly visible social distancing signage and guidelines.

It also stated its proposals encompass amended furniture layouts to create appropriate space, staff monitoring capacity continually, cashless payment only via its app or card payment, single-use menus in use, physical table screens available on request and surface cleaning every 15 minutes.

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