Beer Tastes Better

We asked the question, do Pork Scratchings make beer taste better?

76% said yes beer does taste better1

So far so good, but we didn’t want to leave it there. We then wanted to know, how much better does a pint actually taste with pork scratchings?

We carried out some in-pub testing and found that yes over three quarters agree a pint tastes better and in fact a pint tastes 21% better! 2

Plus, those who paired their pint with pork scratchings were 4x more likely to rate their beer 9 or 10 (out of 10) 2

And that’s why pork scratchings are the No 1 snack to pair with a lager (beating crisps into 2nd and nuts in 3rd place) 1

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We now know for a fact, pork scratchings make beer taste better, but our curiosity didn’t end there we wanted to know why? So we asked brewer and beer scientist Jaega Wise, who totally agrees they’re a perfect pairing and it’s not just the saltines and the crunch but all the memories that scratchings bring too.

Jaega Wise

Beer scientist and British Guild of Beer Writers‘ Brewer of the Year

“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.

There’s also something very nostalgic about pork scratchings. They are so tied to British pub culture that for a lot of people they’re connected to memories of pints with your mates, after-work drinks, of family get-togethers. We know memory and familiarity genuinely affect flavour perception, so all of that becomes wrapped up in the experience too.”

PUB GOERS SAID THIS...

“I’d recommend having a pork scratching with any pint.”

“It’s very difficult to call a pub a pub if they’re not selling pork scratchings.”

“The saltiness of the scratchings really add something to the flavour of the beer.”

A big cheers to The Head of Steam in Headingley for hosting our beer tasting event.

IN THE TRADE?

People are prepared to pay 85p more for a pint when paired with pork scratchings.

Want to stock Midland Snacks and make more from every pint?

Trade Enquiry

Sources: 1 – Censuswide : 2000 UK beer drinkers (those who drink beer at least once every 3 months) who ‘like’ pork scratchings (May 2026), 2 – Tayto Group In-pub testing (May 2026).