Promising collaboration, creativity and a range of beers that are ‘brewed fearlessly’, Drygate, the UK’s first experiential craft brewery, has been unveiled in Glasgow.
With its brewers offering to take drinkers on a journey from ‘the everyday to the exceptional’, visitors can now preview Drygate and watch the beginnings of its first on-site brew take place. A panoramic glass wall will allow guests to watch the brewery in action from its bar and kitchen.
From derelict box factory to brewing centre of excellence
Drygate was a derelict 1960s box factory that has now been transformed into a cutting-edge brewing centre of excellence. By the end of June, there will be the freedom not only to explore, taste and talk about beer at Drygate – but also to imagine and create your own brew too.
Dryburgh Studio Kit
As an experiential brewery, an inclusive ‘open doors, open minds’ approach will see anyone with an interest – from craft beer novices to aficionados – being encouraged to experiment on the Drygate Studio Kit, which can be booked in advance for individuals or groups to brew their own beer. The Studio Kit will be launched from the end of June.
Range of beer
For all visitors, a core range of beer with label artwork designed by Glasgow School of Art alumni will be available at the bar: Bearface Lager, Gladeye IPA and Outaspace Apple Ale. Over the next few months, other guest beers will regularly be created with the first examples expected to be available from early July. It is projected that up to one million litres of craft beer will be produced by Drygate in its first year.
Vintage at Dryburgh Restaurant
Expanding west from Edinburgh, the award-winning Vintage bar & kitchen – which originally opened in Leith and was awarded ‘top 50 UK gastropubs’ in 2014 – will lead the Drygate restaurant.
The Vintage at Drygate will serve a menu of ‘fearless food for the soul’, including British charcuterie such as spreadable chorizo, pork scratchings and smoked pigs’ cheeks.
Drygate also offers a 24 tap beer hall, an elevated beer garden, a bottle shop, a multifunctional venue / gallery space and a craft beer-inspired menu.
As an independent joint venture between C&C Group, the owner of Scotland’s oldest brewer, and Williams Bros. Brewing Co, one of Scotland’s most successful craft brewers, Drygate has brought together some of the industry’s brightest talents to form a brewing collective. Together, Ed Evans, Jake Griffin and Alessandra Confessore will collaborate to create the beer of Drygate.
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About Drygate
Drygate Brewing Co. is located at Wellpark, in Glasgow’s East End, 10 minutes’ walk from George Square.
An upstairs beer hall linking to an outdoor terrace will feature 16 keg and 8 cask beer taps as well as a 200 strong bottle list.
An upstairs venue / gallery space has capacity for 300 people will be used for events such as live music and exhibitions.
The Drygate brewery team includes: Jake Griffin, Edward Furmston-Evans and Alessandra Confessore. Managing Director, Scott Williams, and Operations Director, Colin Johnston, complete the team.
Scott Williams explained how the project came about:
“I was approached by C&C Chief Executive Stephen Glancey who had been watching what other international breweries were doing, particularly those in the US, and he wanted to break the mould here too. He admired what we were doing at Williams Bros. He showed me the Drygate building and said ‘There’s a blank canvas, what can you do with it?’
“As a Glasgow native I’d always wanted to brew in the city, so this helped to accelerate things.
”For both us and C&C Group, Drygate is about investing in the next generation of craft brewers, letting them take the reins and brew fearlessly.”