Crabbie's facts for kids
| Type | Ginger beer |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | John Crabbie & Company |
| Distributor | Halewood International Limited (United Kingdom, Australia) Bruce Ashley Group (CAN) St. Killian (USA) |
| Country of origin | Scotland |
| Introduced | 2009 |
| Alcohol by volume | 4.0% |
| Colour | golden yellow |
| Flavour | Ginger beer with a spicy sparkling flavor |
| Variants | Spiced Orange Strawberry & Lime |
Crabbie's is a well-known Scottish brand. It was traditionally famous for its green ginger wine and blended whiskies. These were made at John Crabbie & Co's large buildings in Leith, Scotland. Today, the company that owns the brand is different from the original. The Crabbie's brand is now owned by Halewood International Ltd. It is best known for its ginger beers, which are made at Halewood's factory in Liverpool, England.
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The Story of Crabbie's
Crabbie's began its journey in 1801. That's when Miller Crabbie worked as a merchant in Edinburgh. His son, John Crabbie (1806 – 1891), later took over the business. John Crabbie then started his own company, John Crabbie & Co.
In the mid-1800s, John Crabbie bought an old brewery. It was located in Leith, a port area of Edinburgh. Over time, the company added more buildings. Many of these were warehouses for Crabbie's whisky business. The company also made gin and fruit-flavored drinks.
Crabbie's was most famous for its green ginger wine. This drink was made in Leith until the 1980s. Then, another company bought John Crabbie & Co. This new owner moved the ginger wine production to Broxburn, West Lothian. In 2007, the Crabbie's brand was sold again. It was bought by its current owners, Halewood International. Even though the company has a history in Leith, Crabbie's ginger beer is now made in Liverpool, England.
Where Crabbie's is Sold
Since 2011, Crabbie's has been sold in Australia. You can find it in stores like Woolworths Liquor, Beer Wine Spirits, and Dan Murphy's. In 2012, Crabbie's also started being sold in the United States. The St. Killian company helps distribute it there.
Different Flavors of Crabbie's
In the UK, Crabbie's comes in several flavors. These include Original, Scottish Raspberry, IPA, and Stout. A Spiced Orange flavor is also available in the United States. You might find other special flavors in different shops around the world.
Crabbie's ginger beer in the UK is considered a gluten-free product. This means it has very little gluten. However, in May 2019, the recipe changed. It now contains a small amount of actual beer. This means it has some wheat and barley. But, the gluten level is still very low (less than 20 parts per million). So, it can still be called gluten-free. People with a strong wheat or barley allergy might need to be careful.
In the United States, Crabbie's is sold as a malt beverage. This version is not gluten-free.
Crabbie's and Sports Sponsorships
Crabbie's supports many sports teams. They sponsor both big international rugby events and smaller local clubs. They support rugby teams in Wales and Scotland. Some of the rugby clubs they sponsor include Ospreys, Newport Dragons, and Glasgow Warriors. They also sponsor the Rugby League club St Helens.
Crabbie's is also the main sponsor for the Bournemouth 7s Festival. This is a huge sports and music festival. It takes place every May and has over 400 teams.
From 2013 to 2016, Crabbie's was the official sponsor of the Grand National Festival. This is a very famous horse racing event.
Scottish football club Hibernian has also been sponsored by Crabbie's.
