Windswept Brewing Co
Unit B 13 Coulardbank Industrial Estate,
Lossiemouth
IV31 6NG
History – Former RAF pilots and good friends Al Read and Nigel Tiddy often talked about opening a brewery together. The pair are avid outdoor sports lovers and were equally as passionate about their beer. But having passion for something doesn’t always mean you can make it a business. The pair spent a year researching and honing their skills before buying second-hand brewing vessels from Oban Ales of Fort William. They then created their “accidental” pale ale, so called as the new brewing kit was much more efficient than the small home brew kit they had been using and they had planned on making a Blonde style of beer but ended with more of a Pale Ale style. By the end of 2014 they built their own brewery in Lossiemouth and released Blonde and Tornado to the range and also released a limited edition of 516 bottles of barrel-aged beer The Wolf of Glen Moray. The next four years saw them expanding their production and range as well as importing to different countries all over the world. Last year they put substantial investment into the brewery by opening The Windswept Tap Room and opening for public tours. Even though just recently opened the Tap Room has been a hit, with tourists and the locals loving what they have created.
The Beer – There is something special when people outwith the industry are passionate about beer and decide to just create their own. They don’t feel the same boundaries that sometimes exist in the minds of the old-school brewers. Sometimes this new wave of brewers doesn’t work but in the case of Windswept it certainly does. They have many stand-outs in the range but I particularly enjoy their Typhoon bottling, a single hop Amarillo IPA at 6.2%. It’s everything a classic IPA should be and more.
Interesting fact – Last year Windswept Brewing Co was shortlisted in nine categories at the prestigious Scottish Beer Awards and fought for the top spots against 45 other brewing businesses. The respected competition amongst the beer community was judged by a panel of 35 people drawn from across the industry. Out of the nine of their beers nominated two stood out for the judges in the stout category. BEAR, a barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout, won gold in the “best barrel-aged” category and 1806, a classic Scottish stout, won bronze in the “best stout” category.
Why Visit? – Lossiemouth is a stunning part of Scotland at the best of times but with a tasty beer in your hand its even better. They offer 3 types of tours depending on how into your beer you are. The standard is £10 and lasts about an hour. It is a good idea to call ahead. If you are making the trip up I would recommend call-ing ahead to book in as opening time can vary.
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