Hi everyone. We have been very busy since we last updated you. Brewing has continued apace as has bottling. The 2008 Festival Ale has been bottled and will be launched on 24 May at the Bruichladdich day at the Festival. Norma has been busy doing variuos gigs about the Island and we will miss her for the next two weeks as she is off on holiday to Malta with her daughter so look out Malta! We have continued to have wonderful conversations with our visitors. Highlights have included sweets of yesteryear with a lady who used to make liquorice all sorts and whose husband rekons that Morrisons own brand wine gums are the best. Paul C still favours Maynards for the top spot. Paul is also an officionado of mince pies. Yesterday there was a discussion led by Norma amounting to the fact the women run the world, a fact that the Pauls agreed with. We know coz our wives have told us so. And men don't listen. Sorry did you say something? We are brewing Saligo today and will be bottling on Monday, brewing again on Tuesday, bottling on Thursday again. Preparations are well underway for our day on Wednesday 28 May, 11 - 6, fun for everyone, keep intouch with the news for further details as we get closer to the day. Return again soon for the next instalment of "Islay Ales...t'ales you can believe in"

9:31am on 02 May 2008 by Paulh «Edit»

Another stunning sunny day has greeted us today. Walkislay week is underway and so far it has been wonderful weather for walking. Which also means wonderful weather for drinking...Yesterday we had two parties in. The first was a group of Swedes who came here with regular visitors Sven and Helena who organise two trips a year from Sweden to Islay to do tours of the distilleries and the brewery; whisky tastings and a dinner. The second group were the Water of Life Society from Napier University. 26 of them decended on the Brewery, had a few tastings and a tour of the Brewery. Both groups enjoyed their time here. Dont forget, anytime you are on the Island call in and we will be pleased to see you. Turning to this week, we shall be brewing Saligo tomorrow and bottling on Thursday. The 2008 Festival Ale is coming along nicely and we will probably cask it on Thursday. It will then sit for a while before bottling and will be set free on the world at the Bruichladdich day during the Whisky Festival which is Sunday 25 May. Thats all for now but return again soon for the next instalment of "Islay Ales...t'ales you can believe in"

10:28am on 14 April 2008 by Paulh «Edit»

Hi everyone. We might have been quiet on the web but we have been far from quiet in the Brewery and shop. Easter has come and gone but we still have an increasing number of visitors, local customers are placing plenty of orders and today we are brewing the 2008 Festival Ale using Octomore wort from Bruichladdich. We are also setting out on marketing our Ales off the Island having concentrated just hers for the last four years. Did I forget to mention that we had our fourth birthday on 22 March last? Owing to increasing costs, we have had to raise the prices of our ALes in the shop and for mail order. A mixed case of 12 bottles of our Ales is now £25.99 and another £11 for postage to UK mainland destinations - dont forget though that the £11 covers any number of cases delivered to the one address. Get your mates involved in a big order. Plans are progressing for the open day on Wednesday 28 May. Keep checking back as we will be giving details out nearer the day. In the mean time, return again soon for the next instalment of "Islay Ale...t'ales you can believe in"

1:29pm on 09 April 2008 by Paulh «Edit»

With Easter nearly upon us, it full steam ahead with brewing and bottling just now. Paul C brewed Angus Og yesterday and tomorrow will see both Angus Og and Finlaggan Ales bottled, about 1000 in total. Brewing will again take place on Friday with bottling on Monday. Local orders are picking up in adavance of Easter and with the odd holiday arrangements this year we expect the holidays to last about four weeks! Things are progressing on the Festival front. Just in case you have not got the date booked in your diary, Wednesday 28 May from 11.00 until about 18.00 (that's 6.00pm in old money) The tents, music and barbeque are sorted. Next is the licences and then it should all fall into place. We still are after an idea for a competition so if you have any ideas, then please email us at info@islayales.com Today is a busy day with prepearing to bottle tomorrow one job, labelling Angus Og and Ardnave another while yet another job is delivering beer to the Lochside in Bowmore. More beer is going to the Spar Shop in Port Charlotte and yesterday Paul H had a nice run out to Ardbeg with a large order. The Croft Kitchen in Port Charlotte has also received supplies as has the Port Askaig Hotel. As always, the Port Charlotte Hotel keeps us on our toes. So if you are on Islay you should have no fear of not being able to find our cask and bottle conditioned beers about the Island. Return again soon for the next instalment of "Islay Ales...t'ales you can believe in"

10:49am on 19 March 2008 by Paulh «Edit»

Winter has returned with lots of snow yesterday, the bulk of which has unfortunately gone though there is still a lot on the hills. The ligt yesterday was fantastic ranging from real winter, darl snow-filled skies to bright clear sunlight. As for the Brewery, yesterday we bottled Saligo and Angus Og Ales, finishing by 3.00. We have taken to starting early so that we can go home early! We also had two parties come to visit us, one from the Ukraine and one from Sweden. Paul C is now away for a few days. Brewing and bottling will continue while he's away so as to ensure that we can keep up the stocks for Easter and the coming summer! Return again soon for the next instalment of "Islay Ales...t'ales you can believe in"

1:13pm on 04 March 2008 by Paulh «Edit»