The move of the brewery from its temporary location at the owner's farm is still underway. Some required concrete work has been delayed because of the poor weather so far this year, but Mike Bain hopes that the move to its new permanent home just north of Banchory will finally take place this month. Mike has again offered to give the local CAMRA members a look round the facility once it is fully up and running.
The new location is on land and buildings owned by the local Laird - Jamie Burnett and family. It's not far out of Banchory but it is up a quiet, narrow road. Approaching Banchory from the north (Raemoir Road), turn left at the Cowshed restaurant and it's not far along that road:
Tim, the brewer, is going part-time and will be sticking solely to brewing in future. A new full-time sales person, recruited from the hotel trade, is about to start and he will pick all the sales leads formerly managed by Tim.
A couple of new real ale outlets have recently been supplied with Deeside cask ales - the Raemoir Hotel, Banchory and the Deeside Inn, Ballater, but the overall direction of the business is still definitely towards the keg market, and they have high hopes for their new Deeside Lager, which is gaining additional outlets locally.
Some of the perceived past quality issues, including the clarity of the beer, have created some resistance in former outlets and the volumes of cask ale now being sold cannot keep the brewery going on their own - keg and bottled beers are a fundamental part of the business.
The brewery has changed from using liquid finings to making up its own paste now to address the clarity issue.
Bottle conditioned beers will become a small niche market, with limited supplies from time to time to local delis and off-licences.
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