Charlotte Cook, who started out her career at Brewdog, takes over from Lukas Pretzer, who has returned to Germany to work for Kaspar Schulz, and will focus initially on producing the Scottish brewery’s core range.
The masters brewing graduate from Nottingham University has spent the most recent part of her career in London, brewing with Trumans and Coalition, the Croydon-based craft brewer. She has also worked at Cloudwater Brew Co in Manchester, and Põhjala in Estonia.
“The market for our beer is very unique, with lots of tourists and consumers year-round. I’d really like to see Uile-bheist become a destination for beer lovers – a place where they can experience something individual and for locals to come any time and enjoy our products,” Cook said.
“The role appealed to me in terms of how well the overall brewery is constructed to high specification and also the sustainability side of the operation. Moving to a new brewery and adapting to the philosophy, and mutually adapting, is always a challenge but I think we’ll make great beer that people will want to enjoy.”
After years in London’s brewing heartlands, Cook was keen to return ‘home’ to Scotland, with her parents being in Elgin.
She said her own brewing style is “unfussy” but with an emphasis on quality.
“I look at quality first. I don’t like to over-complicate the recipe but want the best ingredients and to make something that is drinkable, tasty and will make people want more,” she said.
With the £47 million Inverness Castle Experience set to open directly behind the brewery - which has the potent to attracting 400,000 new visitors - the brewery hopes to welcome more tour and taproom visitors.
Uile-bheist co-owner, Jon Erasmus, said: “Charlotte brings a wealth of experience in the UK brewing scene and we are excited to see how she develops our existing range but also to hear her ideas for seasonal beers and collaborations, which we have really enjoyed.
“We are a genuine craft brewery and working in partnership with other like-minded local breweries is attractive. We are also looking at expanding local markets.
“The opening of the castle is going to bring a new vibrancy to the city. We want to be a part of that.”
