Seagate Brewery, Lamlash
Sparshott’s Dream
Housed in a custom-built shed in Lamlash, within touching distance of the refreshing water of Lamlash Bay, you will find the Seagate Brewery an Award Winning, Independent, Craft Brewery that has been brewing for the people of Arran since 2020.
The Isle of Arran’s youngest brewery has come from humble beginnings to establish a fine range of delicious beers that are originally inspired by the wonderful beers of Belgium but have evolved to suit the island’s culture.
If you are on the Island and fancy a brew, then why not stop into one of the Seagate Breweries’ local stockists and grab yourself a pint?
General Information
Address:
SEAGATE BREWERY
Seagate
Lamlash
Isle of Arran
KA27 8JN
United Kingdom
Telephone:
(+44) 01770 600110
(+44) 07798 854295
Email:
Website:
Seagate Breweries Origins
The Seagate Brewery is the brainchild of Stephen Sparshott who took his inspiration from 15 years of visiting friends in Belgium. Belgium is a place synonymous with beer and in the fairy-tale city of Bruges, you are confronted with the evidence around every corner. Bruges’ love of beer culminates in an annual beer festival each February at which the finest Belgian Beers are shown and tasted.
“Belgium beers are my favourites due to the immensely wide range of tastes and styles from yeasty blondes to mad dark quadruple beers often over 10% abv”
Stephen Sparshotts 2021
In 2017, with a bit of encouragement from his friends and family, Stephen decided to give homebrewing a go and the Seagate Brewery was born. After scouring Amazon and eBay for some basic stock pots, a sieve, thermometers, hydrometers, a small batch of All Grain Beer Starter, and some bottles, Stephen set about making his first brew. From that very first brew Stephen was hooked as he fell in love with the aromas it produced. He has never looked back.
When the first two patients tested positive for Coronavirus in the United Kingdom back in January 2020 a series of events was sparked into action that would ultimately result in Seagate Brewery products becoming available to the public.
In April 2020 Seagate Brewery applied for its brewing and alcohol wholesalers’ licenses and the rest is history. Seagate now provides the Isle of Arran with a great selection of mainly Belgian-styled beers, handcrafted with the finest ingredients and with meticulous attention to detail.
Stephen Sparshott
Stephen is originally from South London and Essex, with Scottish ancestry, he is descended from Clan Donald. Since the 1980’s he has regularly worked and taken holidays in Scotland spending many months touring all parts of the country.
He always thought he would retire to the Isle of Arran however as time passed, he couldn’t wait forever, and when an opportunity arose Stephen decided to make the move to the island and work earlier than expected.
It was Stephens best decision ever and living on the Isle of Arran is his dream come true. It is a place where every day feels like you are on holiday.
Stephen bought a house which is located just 10 feet away from the sea. The weather in Arran can get a bit hairy and during the storms waves can hit his windows which is both entertaining and terrifying.
The Brewery
In the spring of 2020 The Brewery moved into a purpose-built DuraMaxShed, fully fitted to the specifications required to commercially produce Seagate Beers for the masses.
Among other things the Brewery is equipped with the following equipment:
- 60-litre Dark FarmBrew Tank,
- 30, 50, and 65-litre Hopcats Brewing Machines,
- 50-litre SSBrewtech
- 60-litre Klarstein Stainless Steel conical fermenters.
Stephen loves brewing and spends hours perfecting the brews using the Island’s produce.
And when he needs a break, the brewery is perfectly located to enjoy the stunning views of The Holy Isle across the bay.
Operating a Small Brewery on Arran.
The Seagate Brewery has experienced many challenges associated with being based on the Isle of Arran mainly due to postage/deliveries having to navigate the local CalMac Ferry Service which can be heavily affected by the weather.
Not to mention the difficulties caused by the UK’s exit from the EU. Seagate Breweries bottles, grain and packaging materials used to be purchased from Europe at low cost and with extremely low delivery charges, however, Brexit has led to some companies being reluctant to deal with companies in the UK forcing them to find more expensive alternatives. This is having the effect of pushing up the unit cost of Seagate beers.
On a more positive note, Island Life has provided the opportunity to collaborate with many local businesses within the community, from the local café who are using our Mocha beer in its ginger cake, fruit loaf and chocolate cake to the local coffee bean roasting company who supply whole beans use in the fermenter.
Seagate Brewery’s Light Owl Beer is provided to our local pizza parlour and to a local hotel to create brand awareness. They produce a small batch of peated spirit-infused dark beers using spirits from the local distillery.
The Island also provides some naturally available resources for use in the beers with locally foraged Sugar Kelp seaweed. This is gathered from the beach in front of Stephen’s house, dried in a boiler house until crispy and then added to the brew during the mash stage to add its mannitol natural sugar and savoury rather than the expected saline flavouring.
Try the finished article in the Rise Above 80 shillings ale.
The Awards
In its relatively brief history, the Seagate Brewery has already been recognised by its contemporaries and in 2021 it became ‘LUXlife’ Food and Drink award winners for best craft brewery on the Firth of Cylde 2021 and it is currently the ‘Corporate Livewire’ Scottish Prestige Awards best brewery in Ayrshire 2022.
This is very quick work for a brewery that just started in 2020. The brewery has also made it to the pages of the prestigious CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2022/23 (page number 803).
Where to Buy Seagate Brewery Beers?
Currently Seagate Brewery cannot directly sell its beers onsite at the brewery! This is due to licensing restrictions!
The Brewery is however accepting phone, text, message or email orders from Arran locals and visitors for local delivery!
Telephone:
(+44) 01770 600110
(+44) 07798 854295
Email:
NB: All beers are subject to availability and current stock levels.
If you are out and about on Arran and are looking to try some of Seagate Breweries’ offerings, then take a visit to the stockists at:
- The Parlour, Kames Cottage, Shore Road, Brodick, KA27 8BU
- Lamlash Golf Club, Lamlash, Isle of Arran KA27 8JU
- Arran Botanical Drinks, Cladach, Brodick, KA27 8DE
- The Glenisle Hotel, Lamlash, KA27 8LY
Should you want some to take home or to give to someone as a gift then sets of 3 boxed beers are available from:
- The Arran Gift Box Company, Shore Road, Brodick, KA27 8AJ.
What’s Next for the Brewery?
As the Brewery moves into 2023 Stephen is looking to expand reach across the island and beyond reach out to new local hospitalities to add to its customer base.
It is also looking to expand its range with the development of at least two new beers;
- A new low-alcohol beer for the designated drivers of the world.
- A 10% abv. strong blonde beer.
We at Love Arran are excited to see how these develop and wish the Seagate Brewery all the best for the future!
THE BEER MENU
To Order
Telephone:
(+44) 01770 600110
(+44) 07798 854295
or Email:
NB: All beers are subject to availability and current stock levels.
FULL MOON Light Owl – 5.0% abv
This is a smooth and light blonde ale. It delicately balances the malt body with a light herbal hops finish.
SEAGATE Rise Above 80/- Ale – 4.5% abv
A truly Scottish 80 Shillings Dark Ale made with Sugar Kelp seaweed from Lamlash Bay added to the mash.
SEAGATE RYIPA Pale Rye IPA – 5.0% abv
A USA Style Pale Rye Ale. Full Bodied robust slightly Hoppy beer Amarillo Dry Hopped with a great earthy malt taste and blood orangery marmalade finish.
SEAGATE Moulin d’Or Houblon – 5.0% abv
Citra Dry Hopped Blonde Ale
Belgian-style smooth, yeasty blonde beer based on the famous Brugge Zot.
SEAGATE Honey Morning Mocha – 6.0% abv
Limited edition
This is a velvety smooth dark ale with the addition of Black Malt and locally roasted whole coffee beans and with hints of honey.
SEAGATE Scottie Stout – 5.0% abv
This drink is enough to make you yearn for the highlands as it proves to be a great Scottish Stout. Full-bodied, smooth made with Scottish porridge oats.
Temptress Tripel – 9.0% abv
The Temptress is a Belgian-style heavy blonde tripel beer. A tripel is a Belgian style of beer usually it is very strong. This one has great colour delivering a smooth powerful taste with a rich aroma.
Monday Morning Mocha – 6.0% abv
We love the name of this beer but think it may be a bit dangerous to have one of these on a Monday Morning. This is a Belgian Style Heavy Imperial IPA and incorporates the flavours of coffee beans that are locally roasted and supplied by The Arran Coffee Co.
SAORSA Blonde – 5.0% abv
The name of this beer Saorsa is Gaelic for freedom, deliverance, and redemption and that is exactly what this Belgian style creamy smooth, blonde beer provides. Its pallet is refreshingly light with a spicy banana finish. It is made using Belgian Ale yeast but is a truly Scottish beer.
