Colonsay beer on Islay

Brewers on the neighbouring island of Colonsay have come up with a unique way of getting their beer to thirsty Ilich. Transport almost proved a bar to inter island trade when Graham Allison inquired about selling Colonsay draught IPA at his Port Charlotte hotel. Then the brewery came up with a novel idea. 'Nearly every day Islay fisherman George Gillies sails past us as he checks his creels,' said brewery boss Keith Johnston. 'It was a bit of cheek on our part but we asked him if he would be able to take kegs across for us and thankfully he was only too pleased to help.' In spring (March 18) a three man brewery team ribbed over to Islay with Port Ellen’s Nichol McKinnon to install taps and other dispensing equipment. Keith Johnston said: 'It seems mad that it is so difficult to get beer to our nearest neighbour – but we knew when we started a brewery on Colonsay it was not going to be easy. 'Our only problem will be at the height of the summer when George moves his creels south and fishes round Oransay – he would’t be up this way very often. 'We will have to get the beer on to the Wednesday Calmac boat.' The Lochside Hotel in Bowmore has also started selling Colonsay beers – in bottles. Keith said bottles were easier because they could be shipped in bulk and had a long shelflife. Colonsay Brewer Chris Nisbet said: 'Its appropriate that the Port Charlotte is taking IPA – properly called India Pale Ale – the beer was originally brewed so that it reached peak condition after being shipped from Britain to the sub-continent. 'Now we can tell people our beer is brewed to ensure it reaches the peak of its condition by the time it gets to Port Charlotte.'

This story was published with kind permission of the Ileach Newspaper.

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