James “Jimmy” Sands announced on Wednesday that he intends to build the 40,000 square foot building that will be the home to fine quality beers and lagers.
Mr. Sands, a native from West End and the son of Everette Sands, owner of Butler and Sands, said the brewery will be first class, and outfitted with state-of-art equipment.
He said the brewery is a dream that both he and the late Edward St. George shared, which he has waited a long time to fulfill.
“It has been two years in the planning. Everything has been negotiated and worked out and so we hope to be up and running in another two years, although it should be before that,” he said.
Mr. Sands noted that the 100 percent Bahamian-owned brewery will be European styled, and created with the expertise of a German-based company.
Fred Smith, Mr. Sandsﾒ attorney, said the process has been challenging but has also proven to be educational and rewarding.
The company, Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company, has retained the services of a German brewery plant engineering company, Brewtech, from Hamburg, Germany, which will be building the brewery plant.
The company has experience in building brewery plants throughout the Caribbean.
Consultants have also been hired from the University of Munich, which represents leading professionals in the field of beer brewing.
Mr. Smith said the brewery will boast many fine quality beers and lagers, including a Bahamian beer.
“Mr. Sands and his company hope to quench the Bahamian publicﾒs thirst for a variety of beers, which I believe will include a fresh new beer for Grand Bahama that will not only taste good, but will hopefully cost less,” he said.
Mr. Smith said the company intends to market the new beer ambitiously.
“We expect to market the beer first in Grand Bahama then the rest of The Bahamas, but with the synergies available at the Container Port and [the new brewery] we hope to market this beer worldwide.”
The brewery will be built on 20 acres of land located in close proximity to and thus taking advantage of the Harbour Container Port, and Freeportﾒs Maritime Centre, the officials announced.
Mr. Smith said the project is about to break ground, with plans not only to build a brewery on that site, but also a Bavarian Beer theme attraction.
“[The Bavarian Beer Garden] will include a restaurant/bar and retail theme park attraction and outletﾅwe hope it will also act as an attraction for the tourists, especially cruise ship passengers.”
Seventy people are expected to be employed either directly or indirectly by the project, according to Mr. Sands.
By: Daphne McIntosh, The Bahama Journal
