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"dereko1969":1gcsg9nf wrote: i wonder would a craft bottling plant (for all the microbrewers in ireland) be feasible?[/quote:1gcsg9nf]On the one hand, while the craft brewers seem to be very supportive of each other's work, they don't seem terribly keen to actually get involved in any real coordinated projects. I guess no-one has the money to risk on ventures they don't have total control over.

On the other hand, Cuilan was telling me at Easter about the miniaturised bottling machine he bought for his new operation, which he sounded very pleased with. I'd say this is probably the way to go for the Irish micros interested in bottling, though I should probably reserve judgment until I've tasted something that's come out of it <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

&amp;quot;bigears&amp;quot;:2szxfsnh wrote: I wonder if there's a reason other brewers aren't making use of Whitewater's[/url:2szxfsnh]spare capacity?
[quote:2szxfsnh]The brewery has also invested heavily in the latest bottling technology, which has been backed by Invest NI, to develop the capacity to produce up to 1,000 bottles an hour.[/quote:2szxfsnh][/quote:2szxfsnh]

could it have anything to do with shipping alcohol across the state line and the vat charges?

&amp;quot;bigears&amp;quot;:3fdklxz9 wrote: I wonder if there's a reason other brewers aren't making use of Whitewater's[/url:3fdklxz9]spare capacity?[/quote:3fdklxz9]They may not be willing to give up that capacity, or at least unwilling to guarantee that anyone else can use it on an ongoing basis. A deal with Sainsbury's is a demanding mistress, I would say.

The tax thing could be an issue, as Oblivious says, but that doesn't seem to bother Carlow.