Down Recorder

Brewing firm looks forward to new success

A local brewing company's unprecedented success looks set to continue in the New Year.

The Strangford Lough Brewing Company, which is based in Killyleagh, has experienced major growth since its launch and currently distributes its real ales in England, Scotland and America.

Its range of beers are all named after historical characters associated with the Co. Down area and are based on traditional recipes. Now the company is set to launch two new brands.

Its famous Barelegs and Legbiter Brews are already very familiar in parts of America and Europe and are now on the shelves of major stores across Oslo.

Norway's Smart City supermarket chain recently got a taste for the local brew and conscious of Oslo's large Irish community, it purchased a consignment of the beer which was on the shelves in time for the Christmas rush.

The toe in the Norwegian door was provided by Select Wines and Food and it is so impressed with the local brews that it is now looking at the possibility of importing more of the company's beers into Northern Europe.

Export

The local company is also looking into the possibility of brewing an export version of its Legbiter brand.

The Killyleagh firm has already broken into the lucrative American market with two new brews about to be launched later this year, it has demonstrated it has no plans to sit back on its laurels.

It has also been short-listed by a few United Kingdom and Irish supermarkets which are keen to stock the company's range of ales.

A number are considering having the brews on the shelves in time for St. Patrick's Day and the man at the helm of the Strangford Lough Brewing Company is hoping 2005 will be successful.

Managing Director, Mr. Tony Davies, admits while the Killyleagh company is small, it is efficient and has a large market potential.

The two new beers which are to be introduced this year will be added to the company's popular St. Patrick's range which is going down a storm on both sides of the Atlantic.

Both beers are designed to complement the St. Patrick's Gold, Best and Ale beers.

The brewing company is offering a prize to anyone who has any ideas about what the new beer could be called. Ideas can be posted on the brewing company's website.