Pork scratchings don't just accompany a pint, they make beer taste better.
Pub-based research commissioned by Tayto Group — producer of the country's leading pork snack brands, Midland Snacks and Mr. Porky — found that drinkers who paired their beer with pork scratchings reported improved flavour, refreshment and overall enjoyment compared with those drinking beer on its own.
In the controlled study, drinkers sampled an unbranded beer and rated it on key attributes. Half had pork scratchings alongside the beer; the rest had the beer with no snack accompaniment. The findings were striking.
The proof, pint by pint.
A controlled study, run where it matters — in the pub.
Real drinkers, a real bar, and the same unbranded beer for everyone. The only variable was a packet of pork scratchings.
Pour the same beer for everyone
Every participant sampled an identical, unbranded beer so the brew itself couldn't sway the score.
Split the room
Half the drinkers were given pork scratchings to enjoy with their pint; the rest had the beer on its own.
Rate the experience
Drinkers scored the beer on measures including flavour, refreshment, enjoyment and purchase intent on a structured feedback form.
Britain's favourite pint partner.
In a wider Tayto survey of 2,000 UK beer drinkers, pork scratchings came out on top as the nation's favourite accompaniment to lager, ahead of crisps and nuts.
First-choice snack to enjoy with a lager. Source: Tayto Group survey, 2,000 UK beer drinkers.
of drinkers favour savoury snacks over sweet alternatives in the pub.
Why a pint and a scratching lift each other
Beer scientist and British Guild of Beer Writers' Brewer of the Year, Jaega Wise, believes the answer lies in the contrast between the two products.
“Beer can bring bitterness, carbonation and that uncanny ability to quench one's thirst, while pork scratchings are salty, rich and intensely crunchy. Put them together and each one lifts the other — making both the beer and scratchings extra moreish!”
Pork scratchings bring intensity — you've got salt, crunch, richness and that deep savoury flavour all happening at once, which is exactly why they've remained such a satisfying snack to eat with a pint for generations.
Salt's a really important part of it too. It enhances flavour and brings a focus to your beer. Then you've got all those deep savoury, umami flavours from the pork itself which pair brilliantly with the maltier, toasted flavours you find in many beers.
The beer bubbles cut through the richness of the pork fat coating the tongue, resetting the palate, making every pork scratching bite feel brand new.
Pork scratchings have been enjoyed with the Great British pint for generations, so it's fantastic to see research supporting what scratchings fans have always known — pork scratchings make beer taste better.
There's something about the combination of a cold pint and the salty, crunchy, savoury flavour of pork scratchings that simply works. It's a familiar pairing that enhances the enjoyment of the occasion and keeps people coming back for more.
For pubs and bars, scratchings are much more than a traditional bar snack. They're an easy way to elevate the drinking experience, increase customer satisfaction and potentially drive additional sales. There really is no matching a scratching.
The right bar snack helps sell the next pint.
With consumers increasingly seeking flavour, texture and satisfaction from their pub visits, the research suggests that the right snack pairing may not only improve the drinking experience but also encourage longer dwell times, repeat purchases and increased spend per head.
According to Tayto Group, operators can easily maximise opportunity:
- Make snacks highly visible at the point of purchase.
- Stock a focused range of customer favourites.
- Encourage staff to suggest a snack alongside every drinks order.
Pub-ready POS: branded bar runners, coasters, clip strips & pubcards.
Award-winning snacks for every pub and bar.
Tayto has a range of best-selling award-winning snacks to suit every pub and bar, for a wide range of ages and dietary requirements, and supplies eye-catching, pub-ready display solutions like bar runners, coasters, clip strips and pubcards.
Midland Snacks Traditional Scratchings
Our best-selling pubcard. Great Taste award-winning, hand-cooked scratchings made to a recipe that has stood the test of time.
Mr. Porky Crispy Strips
A lighter bite, akin to crispy bacon rind, for those who want all the taste of a scratching, with a less hard texture.
REAL Hand Cooked Crisps
Premium, award-winning, food-service crisps with 9 strong flavours. Gluten free, vegetarian and no added MSG, many flavours vegan too.
Golden Wonder Crisps
Irresistible crisps for over 75 years, with 8 customer-favourite flavours including Cheese & Onion, Salt & Vinegar and Ready Salted.
Animal Adventures
Fun animal shapes that big and little kids will love. Vegetarian, gluten-free and with no added nasties.
Pub-ready POS, free of charge
Bar runners, coasters, clip strips and pubcards to make snacks impossible to miss at the bar.
Order free POS →
Love Cask Beer?
Join CAMRA to support the campaign to access more features plus access to a range of different benefits.
Become a member