l BREWING
The simple keg washing system
and it was also the highest-ranked Irish beer on Untappd.com until recently overtaken by its own barrel- aged Russian Imperial Stout ‘Two Hundred Fathoms’. In the last two months the stout was also named the Beoir Champion Beer of Ireland at the Killarney Beerfest. Will referenced Jason O’Connell’s comment that “export is key to survival now” as he mentioned that locations The Italian company Framax supplied Galway Bay’s 2,200 bph bottling system
of that was in draft form. He showed me the packaging area in the adjacent building unit in the complex, and de- spite its simplicity, the racking station could empty a 40hL BBT into 30 litre kegs in 90 minutes. Fully 38% of their volume went to an Irish distributor, who looked after all the logistics of selling into the multiples and on trade outlets outside of Galway and Dublin. Most of this volume was in the form of 500ml bottles. Five years and beyond Will told me that that even five years ago the brewery’s founders would not have believed the success that the company has achieved. One of the founders, Niall Walsh, has moved on to pursue other interest interests, but the company he has left behind is full of confidence for the next five years and beyond. Its success has been measured not just in volume and growth terms, but in the excellence of its beers. As an example Will mentioned that in 2014 its Imperial IPA ‘Of Foam and Fury’ was named the best beer in Ireland by the consumer group Beoir,
Alfa-Laval disc bowl centrifuge with Sigrist turbidimeters, producing DO levels as low as 6 ppb
ties, soon to be augmented with a single 80hL vessel and four of 40hL. And the BBT capacity would move from one at 40hL and one at 80hL to two new vessels again of 40hL and 80hL capacities. The current 2017 total sales volumes of 7000hL would be the maximum capable from the plant were it not for the new purchases. Again, they are expecting even more volume growth for 2018 and beyond! However, pride of place of routine production in the brewery is its Alfa- Laval disc bowl centrifuge, which has allowed it to produce the Careen Lager in double jig time at the end of its four- week conditioning period. This German-style pilsner lager has been resoundingly popular, even though only introduced last year. It is second only to their Full Sail IPA in volume (Full Sail is over 40% of total volumes). The new tankage will allow even more to be produced. Will told me that 60% of production went to their own accounts, and 95%
The award for the Beoir Champion Beer of Ireland proudly festooned over the barrels in which it was aged. This beer is a collaboration between Galway Bay and Teeling Whiskey Co who supply the barrels, which in turn originated from the Heaven Hills bourbon distillery in Kentucky
The range of beers on tap in the Oslo Bar, including the famed “Of Foam and Fury” Double IPA at 8.5% ABV – served only in 330ml glasses!
Galway Bay’s best seller, Full Sail IPA
12 z Brewer and Distiller International
www.ibd.org.uk
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker