As it's claimed there is a real ale renaissance* while consumption of mass produced lager is declining, the festivals are missing an opportunity to support smaller local independent breweries and showcase the excellent selection of Scottish beers now available.

Breweries like Stewart, Black Isle, William Brothers etc produce a wide variety of good quality ales and lagers. The only 'local' beers I have seen at festival venues are Belhaven (rather mediocre and owned by Greene King) and Deuchars IPA ( decent enough session beer but the brewery is owned by Scottish & Newcastle).

It is good to see some local food on offer at the festival but unfortunately this is not the case when it comes to the drink selection.

* http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/aug/29/britons-rediscover-taste-for-beer

I would love to see this happen.

A lot of the bars at temporary venues aren't run directly by the venue themselves, the contract is often awarded to a local business as far as I know. That leaves Spiegeltent, C Venues et al free to concentrate on running the venue. Pleasance and GB use university premises, so EUSA (students association) may be the ones making such decisions.

It was good to see a fair representation of breweries at the Taste and Foodies festivals this summer.

great idea
for some reason latin american beer was served at book festival events, without a scottish beer in sight
fine to serve both, but not only foreign beers