Diggers 80/-

CHEERS IT'S DIGGERS!

10th May 2007, 1:06pm

For more than a century McEwan's cask 80/- ale was the favourite brew for many Edinburgh drinkers until it was phased out around Hogmanay.

Now regulars at the city's Athletic Arms are supping their own exclusive imitation of the famous heavy after pub bosses contacted local micro-breweries in a bid to produce a replacement that was as near to the original as possible.

Loanhead-based Stewart Brewing met the challenge, and after weeks of taste testing - carried out with enthusiastic help of thirsty locals - have produced Diggers 80/-.

Pub manager Kevin McGhee said: "We were all
saddened when Scottish & Newcastle stopped brewing the cask 80/- as it was easily our favourite pint. But Diggers is proving a popular replacement."

And Steve Stewart of the three-year-old micro-brewery, said the beer had already become their biggest seller - beating their other four premium cask beers, including the popular Edinburgh No.3 and Pentland IPA.