St Austell takes minority share in Bodmin’s Harbour Brewing

NORTH Cornwall’s Harbour Brewing Company has this week announced that St Austell Brewery has taken a minority share in its business.

The two independent breweries have a long history of collaboration, and this formal arrangement will make Harbour’s beer available to a much wider audience for the first time.

Harbour Brewing’s founder Eddie Lofthouse said: “We’ve always had a fantastic relationship with St Austell Brewery. When we first started in 2012, they did our bottling before we had the equipment to do it ourselves, and the former brewing director Roger Ryman was a mentor and good friend.

“Since then we’ve built strong relationships across the business, from the brewery team to the board, based on shared values of independence, quality and our connection to Cornwall.

“St Austell Brewery is a world-class brewer, and the leading distributor in the South West, with a vast network of high-quality pubs and bars. Our new partnership means we can reach people all across our home county, who otherwise may not have had the opportunity to try our beers.”

Harbour Brewing’s production will remain at its site in Kirland, close to Bodmin in Cornwall. The brewery’s whole range will be available to St Austell venues, including its core beers such as Daymer pale ale (3.8%), Singlefin lager (4%), Big Wednesday IPA (5.6%), and Arctic Sky cold IPA (4.3%).

Kevin Georgel, Chief Executive at St Austell Brewery, said: “This is a very exciting investment for us. The Harbour team has done an incredible job of building the brand over the past decade, and their beers are truly loved by those in the know. For us, this investment is representative of our desire to bring new beers to our customers, with a focus on craftsmanship and quality. We know Harbour’s brands will be popular in pubs and bars across our region and we can’t wait to work with the team.”