West

West is a Scottish brewery and hospitality brand based in the Templeton Building on Glasgow Green in Glasgow. The business combines a brewery with an adjoining beer hall and events venue, selling beer under the West name primarily in the United Kingdom. Its range is centered on German-style lagers and wheat beers, produced in both keg and bottled formats. West presents its brewing identity around adherence to the 1516 Reinheitsgebot, commonly known as the German Purity Law, which limits traditional beer ingredients to malted barley, hops, yeast, and water. The brewery opened in March 2006, initially producing beer in a microbrewery at Glasgow Green for customers of the adjoining West on the Green beer hall. This combination of brewing, dining, and hospitality gave the brand a distinctive destination-led identity rather than positioning it solely as a packaged-beer label. The venue also developed into a location for family dining, celebrations, weddings, and other events. West Brewing Company later entered administration. In 2008, the business was bought back by Wetzel, allowing the brewery and hospitality operation to continue. The company subsequently expanded its production capabilities while retaining its base in the Templeton Building. In 2016, after approximately a decade in business, West opened a new brewery at the same premises. The reported £5 million investment increased annual brewing capacity tenfold to approximately 2.5 million litres. That expansion supported broader production of the brand's lager and wheat-beer portfolio while preserving its German-inspired brewing approach. The 2016 development also included an adjacent 250-capacity wedding and events space at West on the Green. This broadened the operation beyond beer production into venue hire and hospitality. West's public profile has been supported by recognition for both its beers and its restaurant operation. Its Hefeweizen received gold awards in two SIBA categories in 2011, while Munich Red and Dunkel were also recognized in the coloured and dark lager category. West on the Green received hospitality awards including AA Pub of the Year for Scotland in 2012–2013, SLTN Family Outlet of the Year in 2012, and Best Family Friendly Restaurant at the 2011 Scottish Restaurant Awards. West is therefore best understood as an integrated brewery, beer brand, and Glasgow hospitality destination. Its core differentiation comes from German-style brewing conventions, a strong connection to the Glasgow Green venue, and a portfolio that emphasizes lagers and wheat beers rather than a broad craft-beer experimentation model. Available reference material identifies the United Kingdom as its principal market; information about international distribution, current ownership, corporate structure, and current leadership is not established here.

West began operations in March 2006 at Glasgow Green in Glasgow, Scotland. Its original model paired a small brewery with an adjoining beer hall, West on the Green, allowing the company to serve beer brewed on site directly to visitors. From the outset, the brewery concentrated on German-style lagers and wheat beers rather than presenting itself as a general-purpose beer producer. The beers were made in accordance with the 1516 Reinheitsgebot, the German Purity Law traditionally associated with the use of malted barley, hops, yeast, and water. The brewery's location in the Templeton Building gave West a strong architectural and hospitality setting. The beer hall functioned as both a customer-facing outlet and a showcase for the brewery's products, while the wider operation developed restaurant and family-dining characteristics. This destination format helped distinguish West from packaged beer brands that operate without a public brewing or hospitality venue. West Brewing Company later experienced financial distress and entered administration. In 2008, the business was bought back by Wetzel. The available reference does not specify the full ownership structure, transaction value, or the identities and roles of all individuals involved, but the buyback allowed the West brewery and venue operation to remain in business. During its first decade, West received recognition for both its beer and hospitality activities. Its Hefeweizen won gold awards in two SIBA categories in 2011: Supreme Champion Craft Beer in Keg and Champion Speciality Beer. Munich Red received silver in the Coloured and Dark Lager category, while Dunkel received bronze in the same category. The associated venue was also recognized, including Scottish Restaurant Awards' Best Family Friendly Restaurant in 2011, SLTN Family Outlet of the Year in 2012, and AA Pub of the Year for Scotland in 2012–2013. A major operational turning point came in 2016, when West opened a new brewery in the same Templeton Building premises. The reported investment was £5 million, and the new facility increased annual capacity tenfold to approximately 2.5 million litres. This expansion gave the brand substantially greater production capability while maintaining its German-style brewing focus and its connection to the Glasgow Green venue. The same year, West on the Green added an adjacent wedding and events space with capacity for 250 people. The move expanded the business's role as a hospitality destination, creating an additional commercial use for the site beyond beer production, dining, and ordinary beer-hall service. West's documented business remains primarily UK-focused. Its principal product formats are keg and bottled beers, with the range centered on lagers and wheat beers. Current ownership, executive leadership, corporate parentage, distribution outside the United Kingdom, and the present operating condition of the brand are not established by the supplied reference material.

1. 2016Expanded brewery opens

   West opens a new brewery at the Templeton Building after an approximately £5 million investment, raising reported annual capacity tenfold to 2.5 million litres.

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2. 2016Events venue added

   West on the Green expands with an adjacent wedding and events space for up to 250 people.

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3. 2011Hefeweizen receives SIBA recognition

   West Hefeweizen wins gold in two SIBA categories, while Munich Red and Dunkel also receive category awards.

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4. 2008Business is bought back after administration

   West Brewing Company enters administration and is subsequently bought back by Wetzel.

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5. 2006West opens at Glasgow Green

   West begins brewing at a microbrewery in the Templeton Building and serves its beer through the adjoining West on the Green beer hall.

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A Glasgow-based brewery and hospitality brand focused on German-style lagers and wheat beers brewed according to the 1516 Reinheitsgebot, with a destination beer hall and events-led customer experience.

• HefeweizenWheat beer

  A German-style wheat beer and one of West's most recognized products. Hefeweizen received gold recognition in two SIBA categories in 2011: Supreme Champion Craft Beer in Keg and Champion Speciality Beer. It is produced within West's Reinheitsgebot-oriented brewing framework and has been offered through the brewery's hospitality operation and beer distribution formats.

• Munich RedColoured lager

  A coloured lager in West's German-influenced portfolio. Munich Red received a silver award in the SIBA Coloured and Dark Lager category in 2011, providing documented recognition for the brewery's darker lager offering.

• DunkelDark lager

  A dark lager associated with West's German-style range. Dunkel received a bronze award in the SIBA Coloured and Dark Lager category in 2011. The beer reflects the brand's emphasis on traditional lager styles and its stated adherence to the 1516 Reinheitsgebot.

• West on the GreenBeer hall and restaurant2006

  West's adjoining beer hall and restaurant at Glasgow Green. It originally served beer made in the site's microbrewery and remains central to the brand's destination-led identity. The venue has received Scottish hospitality awards, including recognition for family-friendly service and pub operations.

• West on the Green wedding and events spaceEvents venue2016

  An adjacent venue added to the West on the Green operation in 2016. The space has reported capacity for 250 people and extends the business into weddings, private functions, and other hosted events.

• 2016Major brewery-capacity expansionStrategy

  After roughly ten years in operation, West required greater brewing capacity while continuing to operate from the Templeton Building at Glasgow Green.

  What changed. The company opened a new brewery at the same premises.

  Aftermath. Reported annual production capacity increased tenfold to approximately 2.5 million litres.

  Brewery investment and annual capacity. Microbrewery capacity before expansion; exact volume not stated → Approximately 2,500,000 litres per year (2016)

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• 2016Expansion into weddings and eventsStrategy

  West's business already combined brewing with beer-hall and restaurant hospitality at Glasgow Green.

  What changed. West on the Green added an adjacent wedding and events venue with capacity for 250 people.

  Aftermath. The operation broadened its hospitality offer beyond beer service and dining to include private and hosted events.

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• 2008Buyback following administrationM&A

  West Brewing Company entered administration, creating uncertainty around the continuation of the brewery and its associated hospitality operation.

  What changed. Wetzel bought back the business, allowing the West operation to continue.

  Aftermath. The brewery remained active and later proceeded with a major production-capacity expansion.

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• 2016West opens expanded brewery at Glasgow Green

  West opened a new brewery within the Templeton Building after an approximately £5 million development. The project increased reported annual capacity tenfold to about 2.5 million litres.

  OtherProduct generation
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• 2016West on the Green adds a wedding and events space

  The hospitality operation expanded with an adjacent venue capable of accommodating up to 250 people for weddings and other events.

  Other
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• 2008West Brewing Company enters administration and is bought back

  West Brewing Company entered administration before the business was bought back by Wetzel, enabling the brewery and its associated Glasgow Green hospitality operation to continue.

  BankruptcyM&A
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1. West (brewery)