"Hello, I'm phoning from the Hebridean Princess, we were wondering if you would mind if we bring our passengers round by your brewery when we call in on Colonsay over the next few months" said the voice on the telephone.
The cheek of it. I mean who would want a boat load of exceptionally wealthy tourists turning up at the brewery, during opening hours, over 10 Sundays or so in the summer. "Well if you must," came the grudging response. So today the Princess arrived at Colonsay, where she usually takes on some of the finest oysters to be found, deposited her millionaire cargo and sat at the pier in glorious sunshine. Even better the beer has gone down so well its now available on board. This is, of course, the boat the Queen hired to take her family on an 80th birthday jaunt round the Hebridies last summer.
If only we had the sense to have been up and running last year we couyld have had a Royal Warrant - Colonsay Brewery - by appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II beer suppliers.
Imagine if Prince Harry got a taste for Colonsay Lager - we'd be sorted.
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Every so often one comes across a truly great and good man. William Wilberforce, Alexander Fleming, Nelson Mandela - now meet a new hero -
James Wrobel.
Who - only the first cold call that the skiver has managed to turn into a paying customer that's who. Apparently while walkijng along Easter Road the skiver stumbled across this really good offie. He went in - gave some brewery chat - was met with a positive response, went back to his car and left three samples. Dateline 2pm Friday April 27 - Follow up call to the offie, real name Cornelius Beer and Wine - and bingo an order. But, an order for 80/- and Lager. This from the great and good James who at first declined the lager sample saying it would not sell. "That lager's really really good," he now says. Marvellous, another outlet for the lager that's becoming as rare as a 2000 Chateau Le Pins. Perhaps we need to ration it.
Anyway if anyone is reading this near Edinburgh Cornelius is on Easter Road, delightfully near to the Hibees - and better still next door to a very good patisserie (french baker - can't spell) that sells, amongst the fabulous cakes and bread, wonderful Earl Grey Tea. Colonsay Beers and fantastic baking - Easter Road is going places.
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Look at the time. Its seven am. There used to be nothing stirring on this island until a respectable, well semi-respectable - 8, probably 8.30 and sometimes 9. So what's up. Yes - another lager brew. There are just a few boxes of lager bottles left. Instead of sending the skiver round potential mainland outlets he should be going to Southeby's ( if that's how you spell it - not much need of fine art auction houses here ). Its goping to be a collectors item. So the third lager brew is underway and will be in the fermenter by tonight. Will it be ready for the first farmers market outlet next month. Beer Farmer - no there is a job description.
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The lager brew is done, all went well (ish), at least since it wasn't a sunday brew the brewers could swear with impunity.
There is a first mainland outlet for draught beer, the Cropwn Hotel in East Linton which is putting on 80/- over the next few days once they have capacity for it.
East Lothian sales generally seem bouyant not least because of Chris' connections to the county.
Then a man phoned having read some of the weekend coverage saying Colonsay Beers are just what he needs for his Scandanavian beer wholesale business.
We're fighting to see who goes to Stockholm to clinch the deal, but at the same time fearing its likely to end up in a dreary meeting in Aberdeen - nothing to loose.
It does seem a hurdle too far at the moment. Oban is about the limit of our overseas ambition for now.
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I think it’s fair to say the top brewing team imagined their work was done for some months when they cast their eye over the stock of product (big business chat). However Keith being the clever counter that he is has worked out that two thirds of what has been produced so far has been sold. This was not part of the plan.
So again before the rest of the island has stirred, Bob and Chris made their way to the brewery to start all over again. Lager, predicted by us to be the potential slow seller, has all but gone thanks to its great taste and the sunny weather and so lager is being brewed today.
IPA is being bottled tomorrow, and there will have to be more brewing next week. After hundreds of years of laid back peaceful existence Colonsay now has its first stressful enterprise.
We have PR too. After the oban times came the Press and Journal, now the Daily Mail and Mirror. It may be in other papers too but it will be monday before Saturday's papers get here. If you see it anywhere add a comment please (it will save us buying)
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