Edinburgh Beer Factory, newly-founded by John Dunsmore, ex-CEO of Scottish & Newcastle and C&C Group, held the huge event to launch the new lager and honour the inspiration behind its name and brand, Leith-born artist and sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi.
Over 200 invited guests, including members of Paolozzi’s family, attended the event which saw the entire frontage of the gallery swathed in stunning projections of some of Eduardo Paolozzi’s most famous works.
Speaking at the event, John Dunsmore said: “It’s an exhilarating experience to be launching our inaugural beer in such a unique venue. A big thank you is owed to the whole team who have worked incredibly hard to help us reach this milestone.
“At the heart of the Edinburgh Beer Factory is a family-owned business based on strong values and a long term perspective. We’re so proud of our inaugural lager and raise a toast to the great Eduardo Paolozzi who we’re sure would love to be here enjoying a glass with us.”
A reinvention of a beer often overlooked, Paolozzi is a 5.2% lager created with contemporary Italian brewing technology. The result is an exceptionally refined beer with a perfect bitter-sweet balance and fabulously sparkling appearance. In Paolozzi’s words, it’s something “sublime in the everyday”.
Paolozzi is already available in some of Edinburgh’s most popular bars and restaurants and is a tribute to the man who helped to create the pop-art phenomenon. Last week it picked up a SIBA award, winning best Scottish bottled premium lager.
Eduardo’s artwork ‘Illumination and the Eye’ is displayed on the bottle and fount, and Edinburgh Beer Factory will be showcasing other artworks at the brewery when it opens next summer to the public. The beer is endorsed by the Paolozzi Foundation, and a charitable donation for every bottle and pint sold will go to promote Paolozzi’s work and ideas to the general public.
Housed in a converted industrial unit in west Edinburgh, Edinburgh Beer Factory is a modern, urban micro-brewery. John’s wife Lynne and daughter Kirsty are also founding members of Edinburgh Beer Factory. They’re joined by fresh brewing talent from local Heriot-Watt university, Head Brewer David Kemp and Mike Meletopoulo; ex-Tennent’s and Harviestoun sales manager Gregor Harris; and colleague from HotHouse investments, Rosie Nicholson, herself from the family behind the historic Sunderland-based Vaux Breweries.
Paolozzi lager is launching in Edinburgh and Glasgow with plans to expand across the UK over 2016. Edinburgh Beer Factory will open to the public in time for summer 2016, providing a visitor attraction for Edinburgh locals and international tourists, local employment and brewery-fresh beer.
