A Harris brewery has launched two craft beers for sale across the Outer Hebrides.
Loomshed was founded by entrepreneurs Jamie McGowan and Rob McKinnon, who identified a gap in the isles' food and drink market.
It was officially opened in August by Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills, after the brewery secured a £22,000 funding package from Business Gateway .
Loomshed hired Calum Bennet as head brewer following his graduation from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, where he gained his MSc in brewing and distilling.
The brewery's IPA and a craft lager are produced with British hops, Scottish barley and Hebridean water.
Loomshed used the money from the Grants for Growth Scheme, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), to invest in equipment and develop a cost-efficient production system.
McKinnon said, “We are enormously grateful to Business Gateway, as the funding we accessed gave us the ability to scale up our operations and allowed us to work with craft brewery experts to develop our product range.
“There is demand for homegrown products across the Outer Hebrides, from both locals and tourists, and we are confident that there is scope to expand into food and drink categories as Loomshed grows.”
Bennet added, “It has been a brilliant learning curve establishing the brewery, creating the range, and seeing our product become available in bars and restaurants across the islands, where it’s been warmly welcomed.”
Derek Maclean, business adviser at Business Gateway said, “Regardless of whether a business is just starting out or is already established, there are always potential opportunities for Business Gateway to provide support. In this case, Loomshed was able to access a significant funding package that has enabled them to accelerate the growth of their business and expand the food and drink offering of the islands.”
