The Long Bay Brewing Company, a locally owned company that produces lager beer, IPA and stout for the local market, held an ‘Open House’ on Tuesday when members of the media, consumers and other were given an opportunity to see up close its operations.
Established some three years ago as part of the Barrett Group, the company has been supplying the local market with beer sold in kegs for bars, hotels and restaurants.
“From this summer we decided to start producing beers in cans and therefore to enter the retail market. Since then, we have had a very positive response to our beer from the consumer,” said marketing consultant, Calvert Francis.
Francis said the company has been sponsoring several major local events as part of its brand awareness strategy. “We participated in Caribana in Barbuda and in fact, we did our activation there before coming over to Antigua. We were the official beer for Carnival ’25 as well as a main sponsor for the Melting Pot show. In addition, we sponsored several mas troupes this past carnival as well as being associated with several of the fetes,” he revealed.
The product is now establishing itself through these partnerships and the company has rolled out an aggressive distribution plan with the beer being available in just about every community across Antigua and Barbuda. “From Freetown to English Harbour to places in and around St. Johns, including the major supermarkets, the Long Bay Beer is available,” Francis stated.
The marketing consultant added that the price of the product has been competitively placed allowing for bars and other outlets to run their own promotions.
Regarding the taste of the beer and how it compares with other more popular and established brands, Francis said the feedback has been good with some indicating that it is similar to their favourite beers.
The company produces between 1500 to 2000 cases of beer per week, but has the capacity is there to produce up to 3000 if the demand is for that amount.
Francis noted that the company is concentrating on establishing the brand in Antigua and Barbuda as its immediate goal. However, he does not rule out regional expansion in the months and years ahead.
