Speaker Evening

Thu, Feb 2nd 2017 at 6:45 pm - 9:00 pm

Mark Moran The Ferry Brewery.

Raffle: David Batty.

Reception: Jim Mculloch / Ed Kelly


Beer was the topic of the evening at the Rotary Club of South Queensferry on Thursday 2nd February. Mark Moran, proprietor of The Ferry Brewery, explained how, after a business career here and overseas, he returned to establish the first brewery in Queensferry since 1851. Inspired by the high quality craft breweries in the United States, Mark and his American wife found premises in Bankhead Farm Steading where they now produce 1,000 litres of  ale twice a week. While brewing is Mark's preserve, his wife looks after marketing and the spacious tap bar which  adjoins the brewery where beer can be sampled and purchased to take home. Ferry Brewery beers, many of which are named after local subjects such as Ferry Fair, Burryman and Ferry Witches Brew, can be found in an increasing number of outlets in Queensferry, Edinburgh and further afield. They use malt from East Lothian and English, US and German hops and have enjoyed great success at beer festivals and CAMRA events all over the UK. Asked about future developments, Mark said expansion was always a consideration. Currently, due to lack of space, bottling happens in a mobile plant. Mark also said that in America, thanks to advances in technology, it was now possible to can relatively small quantities of craft beer in cans which did not affect the quality or taste of the product. No talk about beer would be complete without a chance to taste the product and members thoroughly appreciated the sample bottles to be found on every table. To find out more about Ferry Brewery, visit www.ferrybrewery.co.uk

Mark Moran was introduced by Jim McCulloch. The vote of thanks was proposed by Derek Clark.   

In other business, President Graham Leith thanked those Rotarians who had assisted in the Macmillan Cancer Support collection at Tesco. It raised approximately