...
Brief history:
Robert Barr's company started producing soft drinks back in 1880, but their big discovery (Irn Bru of course) was not launched until 1901 under the rather ordinary name 'Iron-Brew'. This single handedly changed their fortunes almost overnight!
During the Second World ... Read review
Advantages: Very tasty, and a great hangover cure (as most Scots and students will tell you!) Disadvantages: Gassy, and nowhere near as nice if it isn't ice cold
...introduced new labelling legislation, and Barr were forced to rethink the naming as Iron Brew wasn't an actual brewed drink. As you can see, the government haven't just got picky recently!
With some quick thinking from the Company Chairman, Irn-Bru was born as a brand!
In 1959 Robert Barr's company was bought by A.G Barr & Co Ltd (incidentally owned by Robert Barr's brother). This company became A.G Barr PLC in 1965. ...interested):
A.G. Barr PLC,
Freepost SCO1572,
Glasgow,
G31 1BR
and of course... there is the rather bizarre website www.irn-bru.co.uk (doesn't work unless you have shockwave/flash installed)
To sum up (and other info):
Irn Bru is a very distincive, and almost mystical concoction that is both refreshingly satisfying and strangely addictive. A long standing favourite in ... more
Ever since meeting my wife I have been hooked on this most peculiar drink. So here it is... a review on Scotland's 'other' national drink from an English point of view!
Irn Bru is a sweet fizzy drink with an undescribable taste (although I shall try my best later on), which is much copied, but no-one else ever comes close.
Brief history:
Robert Barr's company started producing soft drinks back in 1880, but their big discovery (Irn Bru of course) was not launched until 1901 under the rather ordinary name 'Iron-Brew'. This single handedly changed their fortunes almost overnight!
During the Second World War it was withdrawn from sale as it was a non-essential item. Thankfully when the war ended, non-essential stock started to gradually reappear in the shops (meaning you could make cakes without using mashed potatoes again!). By this time the British government had introduced new labelling legislation, and Barr were forced to rethink the naming as Iron Brew wasn't an actual brewed drink. As you can see, the government haven't just got picky recently!
With some quick thinking from the Company Chairman, Irn-Bru was born as a brand!
In 1959 Robert Barr's company was bought by A.G Barr & Co Ltd (incidentally owned by Robert Barr's brother). This company became A.G Barr PLC in 1965.
To this day, sales of Irn Bru have increased steadily each year, making it the best selling soft drink in Scotland (up until this year, when Coca Cola overtook), and a good seller worldwide.
It is exported to many countries and is actually produced under license in the USA and Russia of all places! One thing that may hurt Scottish national pride is the fact that the UK's production is entirely Manchester based.
They are still rapidly expanding as we speak down to their widely reknowned advertising campaigns (whether people love them or hate them, they always get people talking!)
Packaging:
Whether you buy it in cans, plastic bottles, or the much preferred glass bottle, Irn Bru always has the same orange and blue label with what seem sto be a kind of strongman symbol striped across the orange part.
Available in 330ml cans, 500ml and 2 litre plastic bottles, and 750ml glass bottles (also various multipacks).
As almost any Scot will tell you, Irn Bru is always best ice cold and out of a glass bottle. Don't ask me why, as I still do not know myself.... it just seems to taste so much better!
Nutrition:
AMongst the usual ingredients, Irn Bru contains Flavourings (god knows what they are!), A good deal of Caffeine (not a lot of people realise that!, Some pretty brutal colourings, and 0.002%Ammonium Ferric Sulphate (basically liquid rust!).
There are no nut or gluten allergy warnings, which is good, and also I see no reason why it wouldn't be suitable for vegetarians. It can enhance hyperactivity though (my wife is a prime example!)
And as labelled this product DOES stain. Not only clothing, carpets, but faces as well!
One interesting thing to add. A diabetic workmate of mine tends to favour this to Lucozade for medicinal reasons (although I could be way off the mark).
I cannot find any info on values such as kcal, carbohydrate, protein etc. right now, but I will add when I do find out!
Taste:
Extremely difficult to describe, bu tI will try my best.
Irn Bru is a very fizzy, refreshing drink which I'm certain used to be labelled as a 'sparkling fruit flavoured soft drink', but has now dropped the 'fruit' part. This makes it even more difficult to describe.
I suppose I can start by saying there's a hint of cough syrup in there (much like Root Beer), but also what seems to be lemon, or maybe lime. Also I'm sure there's a hint of bubblegum and maybe even cream soda!
The Ammonium Ferric Citrate add's the Iron, which is the only bit that is actually good for you! Perhaps this is why it tends to react with metal tooth fillings, making your mouth taste like a battery....
Also available in a Diet version, which actually doesn't taste all that different to the full sugar type (as long as it is ice cold!)
Cost:
Latest offer I have seen is a 24 can pack for £6.45, but you can pick up these packs for a tiny £4 in Safeway if you are lucky!
An idividual can costs around 55p, 500ml bottle is 79p and 2 litres usually £1.09. Glass bottle prices are a bit different. 89p for the bottle, but you get back 20p when you return the empty bottle!
In fact, around where I live these glass bottles are delivered much like milk, along with Tizer, Orangine, Ginger Beer and Barr's Lemonad & Cola. Absolutely ingenious.
Contact details (if anyone is interested):
A.G. Barr PLC, Freepost SCO1572, Glasgow, G31 1BR
and of course... there is the rather bizarre website www.irn-bru.co.uk (doesn't work unless you have shockwave/flash installed)
To sum up (and other info):
Irn Bru is a very distincive, and almost mystical concoction that is both refreshingly satisfying and strangely addictive. A long standing favourite in Scotland, it can be found in the pumps at many fast food restaurants up here! I am yet to find someone up here that doesn't lik ethe stuff.
I always seem to have a bottle of it in the fridge, and get through at least two cans while sitting here at work. My favourite drink by far.
As many Scots (and students I must add) will tell you, it is also a very effective hangover supressant, which makes it ideal for 'the morning after'. I really do not know why this is, but try it! I swear by it these days.
Recently Red Square have brought out a very welcome edition of their vodka based bottled drinks which is mixed with real Irn Bru! I have tried the stuff and I can tell you, you really cannot taste the alcohol in it. Quite scary, but good in the same breath!
Give it a try.... to gratuitously steal a catchphrase "what's the worst that could happen?"
Thanks for reading
Marc (honourary Scot)
*UPDATE*
As read in today's Daily Mirror:
Posh store Harvey Nichols has today started selling Irn Bru!! Word gets around eh ;)
Advantages: Refreshing, invigorating and tongue-tinglingly different Disadvantages: Not a one
The Barr family have been producing soft drinks in Scotland for well over 100 years. Robert Fulton Barr set up a factory in the Parkhead area of Glasgow in 1887 where, with the help of his brothers, he began manufacturing a range of drinks, culminating in the creation of Iron Brew in 1901. At the time of WWII, it was deemed by the Government of the day that Iron-Brew was not actually a "standard drink". Therefore, it was decided to remove it from ... ...the war. After the war, all those previously unavailable products began to fill the shelves of the shops, but the Government brought in new regulations regarding food labeling. Because Iron-Brew was not actually brewed, or made of iron, it had to change its name. So in 1946 Barr's Irn-Bru was born. it has since grown steadily in popularity and is now a staple part of the Scottish national diet - something uniquely Scottish to wash down those other ...
proxam 14.06.2002 (20.10.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Barr Irn Bru
...no. It’s a hard drink. Barr used to say that it was ‘made from Girders’. Apart from the health and safety aspects of that, it could be.
It is coloured a rusty orange, and looking at it makes you VERY thirsty. I think the colour is meant to emulate rust (hence rusty orange in my description) on the girders.
The Barr Family have been making drinks since 1880, but it was only in 1901 that Iron Brew (its original name) was discovered.
It didn’t last ... ...1946, and 13 years later Barr was bought by it’s founders brother to create A.G.Barr & Co. Ltd. A large family business.
Now Barr is one of Europe’s top drink makers, thanks to clever advertising and efficient making.
Barr also makes Drinks like Tizer and Orangina, for you all to enjoy, although these do not come as cheaply as Irn Bru
‘Scotland’s other National Drink’ is linking with ‘Scotland’s National Drink’ to form Irn Bru Whiskey. If anybody ...
Tribute 26.05.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Barr Irn Bru
Advantages: A great taste Disadvantages: Unhealthy
It's Phenomenal. As the bottle says, bru'd in Scotland to a secret recipe for over 100 years. Irn Bru is manufactured by Barr's who also make Tizer amongst other soft drinks. It is the third best selling soft drink in the UK, after Coca-Cola and Pepsi. This just shows how much the Scots love it, as it can be hard to find elsewhere. Current sales between coke and Irn Bru in Scotland are roughly even. It truly is a national treasure. The spelling is ... ...supermarket own brands that carry the spelling 'iron brew'.
The fizzy drink is coloured bright orange (only comparable in colour to lucozade) and tastes oh, so sweet and heavenly. The taste cannot be compared to anything else on this world. I find it utterly addictive and without getting carried away, it is truly the stuff that dreams are made of! I don't drink much fizzy juice these days as I prefer a healthier alternative, but I cannot deny the ...
mackry 19.04.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Barr Irn Bru
...Bru is made by the Barr family from the Scottish town of Falkirk, currently the fifth best place in the UK for shopping and home to the Wheel.
Founder Robert Barr began business in Callendar Riggs as a cork cutter and in 1873 his son began the manufacture of aerated water at Burnfoot Works which I believe is still standing to this day. His range of products grew rapidly and included the famous "Iron Brew", which was changed to the more familiar ... ...turn taken over by A.G. Barr in 1959, bringing both sides of the family business under common management.
***Did You Know?***
Barr's used delivery horses extensively, the most fammous of which was Carnera. Bought in 1930, he was 19 hands 1 1/2 inches (6ft 6ins) tall and was the largest working horse in the world. Carnera slipped on frost in the Cow Wynd, Falkirk in 1937, and had to be destroyed
So contary to popular belief Irn Bru wasn't first ...
Sam_the_man 12.09.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Barr Irn Bru
This is the national drink of Scotland, in my opinion anyway and I'm sure for alot of other people aswell. And since I am Scottish and live in Scotland I drink a whole lot of this brillaint orange drink. First produced in 1901, with a fair bit of mystery surrounding it because of special ingredients. One of which had to be revealed. I'm pretty sure it was a very tiny amount of alcohol. This brand of soft drink is also quite popular for their ad campaigns ... ...In Scotland Irn-Bru is available just about every shop, resteraunt or bar you go into. In England I'm pretty sure it's available in just about evety shop and in a large majority of bars and resteraunts. I'm not sure about the rest of the Uk, because I haven't visited. I'm sure someone can fill me in. In Europe however it is a different case. It is not as easily found, but popularity is increasing. I always have to track down a shop selling Irn-Bru ...
Wils0408n 06.03.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Barr Irn Bru
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Advantages: A pleasant ruity I think drink Disadvantages: none really
A&G Barr were initially formed in 1875 by Robert Barr who started the business in Falkirk, Scotland. In 1887 a further factory was opened in Glasgow by his son Robert Fulton Barr and this factory was later taken over by his brother Andrew Greig Barr from which the current company takes its? name. In 1901 both businesses jointly introduced the world to IrnBru. The phonetic spelling of the drink was brought after concerns over regulatory changes to food labelling. There are several other popular drinks associated with the company perhaps the other most common being Tizer. In Scotland where IrnBru is known affectionately as our other national Drink 4 litres are sold every second.
The packaging of the IrnBru brand has always been that of a bright orange and blue, this changes ever so slightly in the diet version where the actual label ...
Advantages: Diet, Low calories, Tasty Disadvantages: Not the best thing for teeth or health
(plastic) 2ltr or 1.5ltr share size
Coca Cola Product
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As you will be aware Coca Cola is is a massive drinks industry. They have various drinks products, not just Diet Cola and Coca Cola.....Coke is now available in various different flavours including:
· Cherry Coke
· Caffeine Free Coke
· Diet Coke with Lemon
Coca Cola products are actually available in a massive 149 countries around the world.
They are famous with their Coca Cola trademark and logo of 'ALWAYS COCA COLA'.
Overall Thoughts and Opinons
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I would not hestiate in recommending Diet Cola, afterall, I can drink it, its just not my preffered drink (hence I am Scottish and addicted to BarrsIrnBru). :)
I think if BarrsIrnBru was not invented, I would be drinking Coca Cola, perhaps thats why I drink it abroad ...
carol_uk 18.11.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Coca-Cola, Diet
Advantages: A refreshing carbonated drink. Disadvantages: E Numbers.
and orange in colouring and featuring the silver 'strong' man in an orange strip. The words IRNBRU are slashed in white down the sides of the bottle against a bright blue background and IRNBRU is made by the BARR Company in Glasgow. The price is £1.40 for the 2 litre bottle which I purchased from Tesco and it states on the bottle that it is a "100 year old Secret recipe that is bru'd in Scotland" which is best served chilled. Also WKD do a vodka based drink with the IRNBRU contained as the mixer and it is very nice indeed. -
IRNBRU is a bright orange sparkling flavoured soft drink. It has a great smell and I suppose it tastes a little like Tizer and a bit like Lucozade, but really IRNBRU has a unique flavour all of it's own I would say. It's very easy to drink down and it is not too sweet tasting. Carbonated and refreshing, it's great ...
