The Tribune

FREEPORT – Passengers on Carnival Cruise Lines and guests at various hotels on the island are flocking to Bahamian Brewery and Beverage for the fun brewery tours, giving a much-needed boost to tourism activities on Grand Bahama.

The brewery tours, which are guided by Ashford ‘Ash’ Bain, provide an alternative to the more common excursions that cover sea, sun and sand.

Those on the tour get the opportunity to see how Sands beer products are made – they tour the bottling process, plus see how the beer is fermented, stored, and cooled.

“Since our inception, we have known a brewery tour would be a great addition here,” said James ‘Jimmy’ Sands, CEO of Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Co.

“We have already seen the difference that the tour makes, as people all over the world are becoming aware of Sands beer, and asking us to make it available where they live.”

On a slow day, the brewery tour sees about 20 visitors, and on busy day up to 70, the company says.

The final and most popular part of the tour is a beer tasting where customers get a chance to sip a Sands and try any of the other beers made by Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Co.

Sharmonique Taylor Burrow, a resident of Virginia who recently visited, commented on the brewery’s Facebook page, “I had a wonderful time touring the brewery with our tour guide Ash. He was a blast, and we had such a good time. Thanks for the memories.”

Comments like these are frequent as most people notice what a great tour guide Ash is and constantly leave comments on the brewery’s Facebook page encouraging others to go to the tour as well.

“I try to go above and beyond to show customers a good time, and provide them with excellent service so that they would tell others how great the brewery tour is and encourage everyone they know to drink Sands beer,” said Ash. “Every time I give a tour I try to prove that it’s truly better in the Bahamas.”

Brewery tours are offered Monday through Friday, 9am – 4pm, and are open to the public.