Howe Beer Project couple staging their 'own little revolution'

“It makes sense when you look around Fife,” Kevin Kelly, managing director and brewer at Howe Beer Project, tells me.

“You see all the roofs of the old maltings, and you see field after field of barley. The idea of having a brewery among all that is a bit of a no-brainer.”

Opening Howe Beer Project – something which has been on the minds of both Kevin and director Julia McCarthy for several years – might have been a no-brainer, but it’s taken a lot of work to come to fruition.

The couple have worked tirelessly to convert the old Muddy Boots amusement centre in Balmalcolm into both a striking taproom and functional microbrewery.

The bar at Howe Beer Project. — The space has proved popular since opening. Image: Jacob Smith/DC Thomson.

They’ve done a wonderful job. The room I sit in is clean, bright and – despite its large size – very welcoming.

After opening a few weeks ago, the team at Howe Beer Project have recently ticked off another goal: They are now serving beer that has been brewed on the premises.

However, there is a whole lot they still want to achieve.

Howe Beer Project couple have turned the former Muddy Boots into a space for all

‘Inclusive’ is a word so often used in the beer industry that it’s almost been stripped of its meaning. And yet, no other word can satisfactorily describe Howe Beer Project.

Children are welcome during all opening hours and have access to a range of games, including cornhole, Connect 4 and a foosball table.

An impressive low and non-alcoholic selection – including lager from Jump Ship Brewing – goes a long way in making those who don’t drink alcohol feel welcome too.

The spacious social hall prepared for games including cornhole. — Guests can play cornhole and other games at Howe Beer Project. Image: Jacob Smith/DC Thomson.

The couple’s inclusive approach is encapsulated by their decision to label the space both a taproom and a social hall.

“Calling it a social hall was very much a conscious choice to expand the vision from a place that would feel very welcoming to adults to one that’s welcoming for everyone,” Julia says.

A person pouring a beer. — The team at Howe Beer Project serve several types of beer. Image: Jacob Smith/DC Thomson.

Community is another buzzword that Kevin and Julia hang their hats on. Both are driven by the belief that their business should be a third space where strangers can interact in a healthy, wholesome manner.

One way they are kickstarting interaction is by welcoming local groups and societies. They recently hosted the River Eden Sustainability Partnership’s quarterly collaborative partner’s meeting and are planning to hold a ceilidh for the local community.

Julia – who is a freshwater ecologist by trade – is also keen to have a lecture series in the space.

Cans of beer for sale, sitting on a wooden shelf. — The team at Howe Beer Project support other breweries and businesses. Image: Jacob Smith/DC Thomson.

Their efforts are already paying off.

Kevin described one of his recent shifts by saying: “I saw people bouncing from table to table and – the hairs on the back of my neck are standing up as I talk about this – and I thought, ‘This community thing is real and it’s happening.'”

Howe Beer Project champions indie brews

Since opening, the team at Howe Beer Project have served beers from several local indie breweries, including SaltRock Brewing from Dunfermline and Holy Goat Brewing from Dundee.

The team first served one of their own beers – an 80 shilling – on Friday June 27. This beer is the first of many the Howe Beer Project team will brew and serve on site.

“We’re going to do a stout next, using a recipe I’ve been playing with for ages. It’s a bit indulgent. There are 10 separate malts in it,” Kevin tells me.

As with all of Kevin’s beers, he predominantly relies on Scottish malt to make the stout.

Kevin thinks the stout will be a customer favourite, and I don’t doubt him.

The man has a history of cooking up gobsmacking beers – while working at Loch Leven Brewery one of his beers was even named Best in Category for Scotland at the 2023 SIBA awards.

A row of taps in a brewery taproom. — The team are serving beers made by local indie breweries. Image: Jacob Smith/DC Thomson.

However, Howe Beer Project beers won’t dominate the entire bar.

“We still want to showcase other indie beer heroes,” Julia tells me.

With 10 taps behind the bar, the plan is to eventually offer five of their own beers and five from other businesses.

What’s more, they will continue to serve local cider by the glass.

A new pitch for food trucks in Fife

“We’d like to be a regular pitch for some local food trucks,” Julia tells me when I ask about food.

The team have booked Ember – a food truck that specialises in live fire cooking – for several slots throughout summer. The team are also in discussions with a number of other food trucks.

Picnic benches outside Howe Beer Project. — Howe Beer Project also has an outdoor seating area. Image: Jacob Smith/DC Thomson.

“I think that as the business grows there’s real potential for it to support the community and economy in Fife… This is our own little revolution,” Julia says.

“It’s always going to be food trucks,” Kevin adds.

“These days, people want variety.”