Ahead of this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, brewer and former magician Jonah Theurer has teamed up with illusionist trio Insane Magic to launch Razzle Dazzle, a limited-edition raspberry and lime sour beer.
The collaboration reunites friends who first met through Scotland’s magic community as teenagers, with the 5% ABV beer featuring edible glitter designed to create a shimmering ‘magic trick’ effect in the glass.
Now working as Vault City‘s lead brewer, Theurer spent years performing magic and attending magic societies across Scotland before turning his attention to brewing professionally.
The 30-year-old, from Edinburgh, first learned magic as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Award while still at school, where he quickly became immersed in Scotland’s close-knit magic community.
It was during that time that he met Cameron Gibson, Elliot Bibby and Luke Osey, the trio behind Insane Magic.
More than a decade later, the friends have reunited to create Razzle Dazzle, a 5% ABV sour beer brewed with raspberries, lime and edible glitter designed to shimmer in the glass.
Jonah said: “I got into magic when I was around 15 and that’s where I met Cameron, Elliot and Luke. We were all of a similar age, all learning magic and all spending our weekends at clubs, societies and performances across Scotland.
“We’ve stayed friends ever since, so when the opportunity came up to brew a beer together it felt like the perfect crossover between two huge parts of my life.”
The trio are long-time fans of Vault City and approached Jonah as they prepared for their biggest Edinburgh Fringe run to date.
Jonah explained: “The guys wanted something refreshing, fun and packed with flavour, but we also wanted the beer to have a little bit of theatre to it.
“That’s where the edible glitter came in. When you pour it, it catches the light and creates that moment of surprise that every good magic trick needs.
“Razzle Dazzle is all about putting on a show, whether that’s on stage or in the glass.”
Jonah added: “It’s not every day you get to combine two of your biggest passions in one project. The beauty of my job at Vault City is I get to make magic happen every day… just in a different way.”
Gibson, co-founder and performer with Insane Magic, said: “Edinburgh is our home, so partnering with Vault City was a natural fit. As a local company, it’s important to us to work with fellow Scottish businesses and celebrate two things the city does brilliantly – world-class entertainment and fantastic local beer.
“There’s a real link between magic and craft beer. Vault City is known for creating bold, imaginative flavours that feel genuinely unique, and that creativity mirrors what we aim to deliver on stage. This collaboration brings that spirit beyond the theatre and into the heart of festival season.
“With its sparkle and refreshing raspberry and lime flavours, we hope every sip captures the energy, excitement and fun of the Edinburgh Fringe.”
Razzle Dazzle goes on sale from today, 14 July, while Insane Magic prepares for its biggest-ever Fringe run with 1 Hour of Insane Magic at Gilded Balloon Teviot throughout August.
