Glen Affric Brewery started brewing in November 2016, but our story goes way back.
While working in Shanghai, co-founder Craig McCormick and his father, Trevor got caught up in China’s craft beer movement. Blown away by the range of modern brewing, Craig joined the team at China’s top craft brewery, Shanghai Boxing Cat Brewery and learned his trade. After further ‘research’ trips to San Diego, the dream of the family brewery started to take shape.
That brewery became Glen Affric, a beautiful part of Scotland where the McCormick family have a long-time family home. Premises were bought in the picturesque village of Cannich, Glen Affric and planning permissions submitted for redevelopment there. While this was in process further premises were secured in substantial brand new units in Birkenhead, close to the family’s base on the Wirral.
Returning to the UK in 2016, and with brother Calum and mother Alison coming on board, the family started with a pilot 500-litre brewhouse, balancing experimental beers with a focus on a core range of delicious, highly sessionable West Coast styles. For the first nine months, local demand meant beers rarely escaped the taproom, but with a significant increase in capacity, the brewery is now distributed and sold across the UK.
