Stout drinkers needed for consumer taste panel
Queen Margaret University is looking for 150 people to take part in a consumer taste trial where they will sample stout.
Run by the University’s Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation, the team is recruiting 100 people who are already stout drinkers – so those who enjoy the occasional pint of Guinness, Belhaven Black or Murphy’s etc – as well as 50 people who are have not drunk stout before but are keen to try it.
Recruitment for tasters starts now with the trial set to begin later in May. Each participant who completes tastings and provides the necessary feedback will be rewarded with a £10 John Lewis or Amazon voucher as a thanks you for taking part.
Participants, ideally from Edinburgh and the Lothians, will be asked to pick up samples from Queen Margaret University and will be given two sample stout recipes to taste at home. They will need to complete an online questionnaire to provide feedback and highlight their preferred sample. Access to the internet is essential and the feedback process is believed to take approximately 30-40 minutes to complete.
Catriona Liddle, who heads up the Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation at Queen Margaret University, is running the trial. She explained: “Our consumer tasting panels are extremely popular with foodies and people from the local community who enjoy sampling and talking about food and drink. It’s open to people who are already part of our existing consumer panel, but it’s also an opportunity for new people who might like to get involved in further food and drink tasting panels. We normally have multiple sessions running on campus each week across all food types. The only consideration is that sadly we cannot accept any applications from those with food allergies or food restrictions.”
Catriona said: “The samples on this trial will be blind tested, so participants won’t know which type of stout they are tasting, and we will be using the results to help create Scotland’s favourite stout!”
Those interested in the stout tasting session, or our taste panels in general, should contact the food team on E: consumerpanels@qmu.ac.uk to apply.
Participants must be aged 18+ (products contain alcohol), have access to the internet and be able to pick up samples. Any information you provide on product samples will be kept completely anonymous.
Notes to Editor
For more media information contact Lynne Russell, Communications Manager at Queen Margaret University on E: lrussell@qmu.ac.uk, M: 07711 011239.
