A NEW brewery on campus will put education on tap, university chiefs hope.
Heriot-Watt University and craft beer barons Innis & Gunn are bidding to open a new brewery and "world centre for brewing studies".
If planning permission is approved, the new facility on the university's Riccarton campus research park will be Edinburgh's first major new brewery in 150 years.
The collaboration between the beer bosses and university will also be a UK first.
Originally mooted late last year, detailed plans were submitted to City of Edinburgh Council yesterday.
According to the university, the tie-up could help new talent bubble up amongst students at their International Centre for Brewing & Distilling.
Science chiefs there have said the partnership is proof of the institution's "excellence in research in brewing and distilling".
Meanwhile, Innis & Gunn say the £20 million facility would allow them to bring in lower-energy equipment and reduce their carbon footprint by 30%.
Staff would relocate to the new premises from the current head office in prestigious Randolph Crescent, with 30 new jobs also expected to be created.
Canning and bottling would take place there, allowing the firm to stop outsourcing that work.
Dougal Gunn Sharp, master brewer and founder, says he is "excited" about the prospect, but the coronavirus pandemic means the company has no idea when the application will be decided. He stated: "In normal times we would expect this process to take three or four months. However, because of the Covid-19 situation we are not able to say how long this stage might take.
“Right now our priorities remain the welfare of our staff and ensuring the continuing supply of Innis & Gunn beers to our key customers in the UK and overseas, where we have seen surging demand since the start of this crisis.
“Building our own brewery will bring a raft of benefits to the business.
"The Heriot-Watt partnership means their International Centre for Brewing & Distilling students will gain hands-on experience across all aspects of brewing operations.”
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