Lurgan’s Spadetown Brewing Co has commissioned three new fermenters and installed an in-house canning line at its Silverwood Road production facility, following an £800,000 investment.
Left to right: Criostoir McConville, brewer; Dave Graham, brew guru; Annie David, commercial director; and Spadetown co-founder, Martin Dummigan
It comes as the microbrewery welcomes two new members to its team and prepares to launch three new beers.
Dave Graham, Spadetown’s new ‘brew guru’, is overseeing the development of three new products; Raging Red Ale and Dark Cloud Stout, both of which will launch in the autumn, and a zero-alcohol IPA, due to be launched early next year.
He joins the Spadetown team alongside its new commercial director, Annie David, who is tasked with developing the Spadetown brand proposition in the local market. This will be achieved through new product launches, securing retail listings, and increasing draught availability in watering holes across Northern Ireland.
Launched in 2021 following a major investment by owners Martin Dummigan and Patrick McAliskey, Spadetown established a dedicated 5,000 sq ft production facility in its hometown of Lurgan.
The latest phase of a long-term investment programme sees three new 2,400-litre fermenters integrate into an existing state-of-the-art automated brewing system to expand the brewery’s production capacity to 2,300,000 litres per annum.
Upgrading its packaging facilities, Spadetown has also installed a new canning line. When fully operational, the equipment will fill up to 2,200 cans per hour.
Patrick said: “With additional capacity offered by our new fermenters and production efficiency improved by our new canning line, we’re equipped with the technology to capitalise on the significant opportunity Spadetown has in the market.
“The investment also solidifies our commitment to re-establishing and re-inventing Lurgan’s rich brewing legacy; to preserve tradition, to create new employment opportunities and fertile ground for future investment in the local area, and to produce a premium export product that is unique to this place and its communities.”
Annie added: “This latest investment sees the launch of three new limited edition brews, which will double our product range, building upon the early success of our core IPA, pilsner, and lager to offer an assorted drinks selection, including a non-alcoholic option, to every consumer.
“The new products also reflect the personality of Spadetown, which is unlike anything else available in the local market. It has an entirely unique, but also typically Northern Irish sensibility, which we believe is a huge selling point for the brand and will sustain its upward trajectory as we expand our presence and grow sales volumes through new listings in on- and off-trade establishments over the coming months.”
Spadetown’s Raging Red Ale and Dark Cloud Stout will be available in retail packs from October and its alcohol-free IPA will be launched early next year.
