The site, adjacent to the Wellpark brewery – which previously housed a box factory – is owned by C&C Group.
The new venture is a collaboration between Williams Bros. Brewing Co. and C&C Group and will look to develop a centre of brewing excellence as well as a destination for tourists and craft beer aficionados alike.
Should planning permission be granted, the project is planned to spark major regeneration of the Duke Street area.
The project aims to generate 16 new jobs.
The planning application – lodged with Glasgow City Council on Monday 14th October – requests to change the use of the building with the overall development seeking RSA grant assistance to come to fruition.
The development is a response to the unprecedented growth of craft beer in recent years.
Craft beer – which is brewed by relatively small commercial breweries using traditional methods and an emphasis on flavour and quality – has grown by over 40% in the Scottish off trade in the last two years.
Plans for the Drygate Brewing Company development include:
Visitor Experience – at which tourists and beer enthusiasts will be able to witness for themselves the brewing process at an urban craft brewery.
Brewing Centre of Excellence – at which homebrewers, student brewers and other microbrewers can develop recipes, brewing techniques and share their knowledge and passion for craft beers.
Restaurant, function suite, bar & beer garden – which will attract not only visitors and small events to the brewery but also regular diners and drinkers.
Scott Williams, co-owner of Williams Bros. Brewing Company, Managing Director and creative force behind the Drygate Brewing Company, said:
“The interest in craft brewing, both domestically and worldwide, is growing fast, as we know from our own experience, and we are confident that as a city-based microbrewery, the Drygate Brewing Company will be a big success.
“Glasgow’s Drygate is close to many of the city’s tourist hotspots, including Glasgow Cathedral, the Provand’s Lordship, the St Mungo Museum and the High Street area, and is 5 minutes’ walk from the city centre; it is the perfect location for what we have planned. We think this will be a major regeneration of the Duke Street area.
“The Drygate Brewing Company will be a celebration of craft beer, of brewing excellence and, most importantly, of great tasting beer.
“We are grateful to C&C Group for their support in this exciting new venture, which sees them continue to invest in businesses connected to the licensed trade in Scotland. This new development will also be complementary to the successful Tennent’s Training Academy.
“We’re genuinely excited by the possibilities Drygate Brewing Company offers and can’t wait to brew our first beer and to open the doors to all visitors in spring 2014.”
Ends
For all Drygate Brewing Co. or Williams Bros. Brewing Co. queries, please contact 0131 561 7322.
For C&C Group queries, please contact Callum Spreng on 07803970103 / callum@sprengandco.com
Notes to Editors
About Williams Bros. Brewing Co.
Williams Bros. Brewing Co. was established in 1988 by brothers Scott and Bruce Williams and, since 2004, has been brewing its range of popular craft beers at the Forth Brewery in Alloa, Clackmannanshire. As of 2013, the brewery became Scotland’s most prolific craft brewery in the Scottish grocery sector following a lucrative eleven beer listing with Sainsbury’s. The brewery exports to over 25 different countries with Russia, Scandinavia and North America all considered key territories. www.
About C&C Group plc
C&C Group plc is a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded cider and beer including Magners, the premium international cider brand, the Gaymer Cider Company range of branded and private label ciders and the Tennent’s beer brand. C&C Group also owns Woodchuck and Hornsby’s, two of the leading craft cider brands in the United States. The Group also distributes a number of beer brands in the Scottish, Irish and Northern Irish markets, primarily for Anheuser-Busch InBev. www.candcgroupplc.com