Hebridean Brewing Company

Infobox Brewery
name = Hebridean Brewing Company


caption =
location = Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland
owner = Andrew Ribbens (independent)
opened = 2001
production =
active_beers = brewbox_beer|name=Berserker Export Ale|style=Scotch Ale brewbox_beer|name=Celtic Black Ale|style=English Porter brewbox_beer|name=Clansman Ale|style=American pale wheat ale brewbox_beer|name=Islander Strong Premium Ale|style=Scottish Ale brewbox_beer|name=Moo Coo Brew|style=Scottish Ale brewbox_beer|name=Seaforth Ale|style=English pale ale
seasonal_beers =
other_beers =

Hebridean Brewing Company (Companaidh Grùdaidh nan Innse Gall) is an independent small brewery founded in 2001 [ [http://www.beermad.org.uk/brewerydetail/1139 Beer Mad] retrieved 31st August 2007 ] (although production didn't begin until late January 2002 [ [http://www.quaffale.org.uk/php/brewery/715 The Directory of UK Ale Breweries] retrieved 31st August 2007 ] ) by Andy Ribbens in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. The brewery produces cask ale and filtered beer in bottles. The brewery is the only legal alcohol producer in the Western Isles. [ [http://www.travelpublishing.co.uk/CountryLivingScotland/WesternIsles/CSC30007.htm Online Travel guide] retrieved 1st September 2007 ]

History

Beginning

Andrew Ribbens, who originates from the South East of England, founded the Hebridean Brewing Company in Stornoway, on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland in 2001. His previous job, working for a pharmaceutical company, was relocated and Ribbens had the choice of either moving with the job or accepting redundancy. He chose the latter and began a phase of researching into the art and business of brewing beer, lager and ale. [ [http://www.hebridean-brewery.co.uk/ Site] retrieved 2nd September 2007] [ [http://www.travelpublishing.co.uk/CountryLivingScotland/WesternIsles/CSC30007.htm Travel Guide] retrieved 2nd September 2007 ]
Before establishing the company, Ribbens worked at two different independent breweries to gain experience, the Freeminer Brewery in the Forest of Dean near Steam Mills, and the Flagship Brewery in Kent. [ [http://www.hebridean-brewery.co.uk/ Site] retrieved 2nd September 2007]
In late August 2000, the Environmental Services Department received a planning application, from Ribbens, to convert 18A Bells Road, Stornoway into a Brewery. [ [http://www.w-isles.gov.uk/planapps/archive/000901.htm Archive of planning application] retrieved 2nd September 2007 ] During 2002, the HIE Innse Gall, a local enterprise support organisation, received a grant request from the Hebridean Brewing Company. The grant request outlined Ribbens' projected costs to "Plant and install equipment". Ribbens' project cost £28,000, of which, the WIE, the Western Isle's Enterprise, granted £14,000 in assistance. [ [http://www.hie.co.uk/WIE-Approvals/WIE-wie-june-approvals-2002.pdf WIE grant assistance approval's for June] retrieved 2nd September ]

Incidents

In 2004, confusion was raised as to whether a shipment of Hebridean Brewing Company beer, worth over £20,000, would be accepted onto shelves by retailer, Safeway (Now known as Morrisons). An agreement was reached between the independent brewery and the retailer, to supply Safeway stores across Scotland with the Hebridean Brewing Company beer at the end of February, 2004. But following the agreement between the brewery and retailer, Safeway was taken over by Bradford based retailer, Morrisons. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3522286.stm BBC Online News Article] retrieved 31st August ] The confusion was whether or not Safeway's new owners still wished to have the beer, [ [http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/old-news/Beer-glut-for-island-brewer.1177357.jp Online Edition of News Article] retrieved 31st August 2007 ] to which Morrison's stressed that they had been unaware of any problem and offered to negotiate a new deal.

The brewery premises were broken into on the 25th June, 2006. Scottish Police believed several youths gained unauthorised access to the property and stole an estimated £500 worth of bottled beer. Subsequently, through their investigations, police arrested and formally charged two males in connection with the robbery and recovered some of the stolen alcohol. The males, both 17, were charged with theft. [ [http://www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/9868F8FD-2875-4E78-8854-C265563D12F8/0/pol32.pdf Police Report] retrieved 1st September 2007 ]

Expansion

Andy Ribbens, owner of the brewery, stated in 2006 that he would like to expand the brewery to make it more accessible to the public in the form of a tourist area, cafe, shop and sampling room. Ribbens has said that he would like a new premises inside Stornoway town centre. Of his preference for a location, he said would prefer a building away from housing but still visible to passing trade. His reasons for his interest in expanding were to attract the public to visit the brewery. [ [http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news-features/EXPANSION-PLANS-FOR-ISLES39-BREWERY.1769097.jp Online Edition of News Article] retrieved 31st August 2007 ]

Technical Details of the Brewery

The brewery’s production focuses on a mash tun and a wort copper. Specifically, the wort copper is of a fountain arrangement with a steam coil in its interior. Steam powers the plant, which is generated via a boiler, a Fulton 30e. The malt used in the liquor is whole grain, which is milled on the premises by a gristmill. A centralised panel monitors the temperature statuses and operates as the control unit in the brewery.The bottling plant consists of a CW250 double head bottle filling apparatus. The beer and ale conditioning tanks were converted from barrel cellar cylinders. [ [http://www.hebridean-brewery.co.uk/technical.htm Tech.] retrieved 2nd September 2007 ]

Marketing

The cask ales are available in various pubs around Britain and at British beer festivals. The filtered bottled ales are sold in the Scotland and specialist beer outlets in Britain. The company also distributes for domestic consumption, food service, retailing, and wholesale. [ [http://www.scottishfoodanddrink.com/view_item.aspx?item_id=14647&list_id=list1-17149&list_index=215 Scottish food and drink profile] retrieved 2nd September 2007 ]

Advertising

In 2006, the Brewery ran an advertising campaign in the Publican Magazine, a trade publication that focuses on developing and advertising local trade. The advertising campaign ran from early September to Christmas. [ [http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news-features/EXPANSION-PLANS-FOR-ISLES39-BREWERY.1769097.jp Online edition of news article] retrieved 2nd September 2007 ] The company also ran an advert in the Spring, 2007 edition of the Highlands and Western Isles' CAMRA (Campaign for real ale) newsletter. The half page spread advert consisted of the company listing five of its beers and ales, including its new "Seaforth Ale". [ [http://www.highlandcamra.org.uk/Newsletter%20Archive/Spring%202007%20-%20Final%20IV.pdf Highland's and West Isles' Newsletter] retrieved 2nd September 2007 ]

ponsorship

The Hebridean Brewing Company sponsors the "Sail Hebrides Maritime Festival". [ [http://www.sailhebrides.info/sponsors.html Sponsor's Site] retrieved 31st August 2007 ] A boating festival that focuses on yachting and sailing. The company specifically supports the festival by sponsoring a rowing boat race where teams of three compete against each other in and around the Isle of Lewis for the Hebridean Brewing Company Prize. [ [http://www.seabritain2005.com/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.739 Web-site commentary on the event] retrieved 31st August 2007 ] The firm also sponsors the Stornoway Running and Athletics Club. Including its 'Half-Marathon' (Approx. 13 miles) which takes place on an on-road off-road course around Stornoway and Lews Castle. [ [http://www.srac.org.uk/half.htm Athletic's Club Site] retrieved 1st September 2007 ] Since 2003, the Hebridean Brewing Company has sponsored and produced a beer specifically for the Hebridean Celtic Festival. The music festival aims to celebrate the Celtic culture of Scotland as well as the Isle of Lewis. The beer that the brewery has made for the annual event is called the "Celtic Festivale". [ [http://www.hebceltfest.com/backstage/festfolk/maria/ Festival Site] retrieved 1st September 2007 ]

Exhibitions and Festivals

The Hebridean Brewing Company uses various 'Food and Drink' exhibitions and festivals as a method of promoting their brands of beer and ale. Most notable among them are:

*The Taste of Tain, an international food and drink festival promoting produce from in and around Tain, occurred on the 1st of September 2007. [ [http://www.visithighlands.com/events/tasteoftainfoodfestival Site advertising event] retrieved 2nd September 2007 ] Among its exhibitors were the Hebridean Brewing Company. [ [http://www.northern-times.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/2340/Tain.html Online Edition of news article] retrieved 2nd September 2007 ]
*The 2007 edition of CAMRA's Great British Beer Festival was also its 30th anniversary. The Hebridean Brewing Company was one of 18 Scottish breweries that attended the festival. [ [http://www.scottishfoodanddrink.com/view_item.aspx?item_id=52061 Scottish Food and Drink Promoter site] retrieved 2nd September 2007 ]
*Newark Beer Festival, 2006, England. The Hebridean Brewing Company was represented by, the now discontinued, "Firebreak" ale. [ [http://www.newarkbeerfestival.co.uk/beer_06.html Festival Site] retrieved 2nd September 2007 ]

Beers

The brewery produces the following six regular beers: [ [http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3404 BeerAdvocate] retrieved 1st September 2007 ]

Berserker Export Ale

The "Berserker", named after the Viking warrior and the rook in the Lewis Men chess set, is a strong pale ale known as a Wee Heavy.

In November 2006, the Hebridean Brewery won the 'Camra', the "Campaign for Real Ale's Champion Winter Beer of Scotland 2006" for their "Berserker" pale ale. [ [http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news/TOP-OF-THE-PINTS-AT.1872212.jp Online Edition of Newspaper Article] retrieved 31st August 2007 ]

In June 2007, the Herbidean Brewing Company's "Berserker", was awarded the 'Silver medal' position by SIBA, the Society of Independent Brewers, for competing in the regional beer competition. The "Berserker", competing in the 'Strong Ales' section (5% +), placed second to Traditional Scottish Ales' "Red Mist". [ [http://www.siba.co.uk/competitions/index.php?Regional:Scotland:2007%2F2008%26nbsp%3B SIBA competitions result] retrieved 1st September 2007 ]

Clansman Ale

At the Aberdeen Grampian and Northern Isles CAMRA beer festival, 2004, the "Clansman Ale" won 'Beer of the Festival'. The festival, in its 18th year as of 2004, was attended by approximately 3,000 people and 53 different breweries. Festival goers selected the Hebridean ale, chosen out of a pool of 77 other beers and ales, for the title ‘Beer of the Festival’. The "Clansman" beat 2004's Beer of Scotland, Cairngorm's "Trade Winds", into second place. [ [http://aberdeencamra.co.uk/version4/fest_2004.htm Festival Synopsis] retrieved 1st September 2007 ]

Islander Strong Premium Ale

The "Islander Strong Premium Ale" was awarded the Marymas Fair Beer-of-the-Festival award in 2006. The annual Marymas Fair takes place during August in Inverness. The award for beer of the festival was presented to Andrew Ribbens, the breweries proprietor, by Inverness & WesternIsles' CAMRA Chairman Bill Tring. [ [http://www.highlandcamra.org.uk/Newsletter%20Archive/Spring%202007%20-%20Final%20IV.pdf Newsletter Archive] retrieved 2nd September 2007 ] [ [http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news-features/EXPANSION-PLANS-FOR-ISLES39-BREWERY.1769097.jp Online Edition of newspaper article] retrieved 2nd September 2007 ]
In 2003, the "Islander" won the SIBA bronze medal in the category, 'Beer of Scotland Premium Cask'. [ [http://www.isle-of-lewis.com/shops/shops.htm Brief overview of Company] retrieved 2nd September 2007 ]

ee also

*List of breweries in Scotland

References

External links

* [http://www.hebridean-brewery.co.uk Hebridean Brewing Company Website]
* [http://www.ratebeer.com/Brewers/hebridean/3489/ RateBeer]