The story of the Isle of Harris Brewery has unlikely origins in a small village in Oxfordshire.
Sixteen years ago we were a typical family with two small kids and one large mortgage. We knew nothing about craft beer or brewing until 2003 when Fin and Loz moved next door. They introduced us to a world of interesting new beer flavours and styles. Together we visited breweries, beer festivals and pubs all over Britain and Europe. For the next ten years we shared our love of real ale by holding a beer festival twice a year in our home village of Merton. Fast forward to 2014 and after hosting one final 'Farewell Festival' we said goodbye to our old life and fulfilled our family's dream of moving to the Isle of Harris. A few years later we moved to our small croft in Borrisdale overlooking the Sound of Harris. After years of kitchen table brewing, and despite having a croft house to renovate, our first priority was setting up the Brewshed. Being glass half full sort of people we couldn 't have known just how long it would take to get everything up and running but after many long nights and a lot of red tape the Isle of Harris Brewery is now open... the croft house renovation, however is still ongoing!
We hope this blog will help us share our family's journey in the Brewery, the house and the croft.
It's great to have you along for the ride.
