THE NEWS ARCHIVES

January - May 2004

09/05/04

All of the brewery plant has successfully been moved from Scotland to North Wales. It took two lorry loads, the first being unloaded in Porthmadog on Saturday 1st May, and the second on Thursday 6th May.

Over the previous month much work had been carried out at Harviestoun Brewery's old premises in Dollar, near Stirling, dismantling all the plumbing between the various vessels, preparing them for removal from the building. The nature of the building was such that each vessel had to be tipped onto its side, then picked up to negotiate a 15 inch step down, before going out through the end doors with only 7.5 feet headroom.

In one day, with the help of some experts in 'making it happen', all of the vessels were removed from the building and arranged in the yard outside ready to be loaded onto the lorry. The loading and unloading of the lorry was then a relatively simple task.

The 'Copper' on its side, ready to be taken out of the building in Dollar, Scotland.

The vessels and forklift outside in the yard.

One of the Fermenting Vessels being loaded onto the lorry.

A Fermenting Vessel being taken into the building in Porthmadog.

The brewery plant inside the new premises in Porthmadog.

The move went particularly smoothly considering the size of the task. Thanks are due to Hughes Specialised Transport of Blaenau Ffestiniog for the lorry, Gareth at Porthmadog Services for arranging forklifts in Porthmadog and transport, David Scobbie from Dollar for loading the lorry with his forklift, Lorraine at Hewden Plant Hire in Glasgow for providing a superb little telescopic forklift at short notice for the work inside the building, and most of all to the infamous George Brown and Barry Tullett for their skill and expertise in removing all the plant from inside the building (in one day!) in particularly difficult circumstances. Thankyou all.

31/03/04

The application for Assembly Investment Grant has been successful which means the project can now proceed at full speed. It is hoped that the brewery will be in production in the summer.

The purchase of the premises in Madoc Street, Porthmadog is currently being processed and should be complete soon after Easter.

A complete 10 Barrel brewery plant is being purchased from Harviestoun Brewery in Scotland, who have just opened their new 50 Barrel plant. This will be moved to Porthmadog during the next month.

The Purple Moose Brewery's first working party took place over the weekend 27th/28th March at the recently decommissioned Harviestoun Brewery. Much of the plumbing connecting the vessels was removed, and other items prepared for transit.

01/02/04

An application has been submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government for Assembly Investment Grant in order to assist with financing the setting up of the brewery.

Meanwhile plenty of work has been going on in the background such as meetings with banks etc.