Photos: Moongate Brewing Opens In St George’s

January 15, 2025 | 1 Comment

Rob Pantry and Zander Dill always believed there was a gap in the market for locally brewed beer.

Both started as self-taught home brewers, but it was not until five years ago that they “ran into each other” and realised they shared the same dream of opening a brewery, the Moongate Brewing Company, on the island.

Mr Pantry, 39, honed his brewing skills while working at the Bellville Brewery Company in South London for two years. From the outset, his goal was to return home and establish a brewery.

“I knocked door to door on different breweries until I found an apprentice job at the Bellville Brewery Company in South London,” Mr Pantry told Bernews.

“My plan was always to brew commercially, and I already had a decent grasp on how to do it. I just didn’t know how to do it on this scale.

“I wanted to learn that, bring it back to Bermuda and open a place.”

Meanwhile, Mr Dill, who also operates Restless Native Catamarans, shared his business partner’s passion for brewing.

“I did some research and realised it wasn’t something I could do alone,” Mr Dill said.

“That’s when I ran into Rob, and we had a lot of similar ideas. It was a perfect partnership.”

Their plans, however, were temporarily shelved during the Covid-19 pandemic. But finally, on December 6, during the Bermuda National Trust Walkabout, Moongate Brewing Company officially opened its doors.

“We soldiered on, persevered, and I think it’s been worth it,” Mr Pantry said.

“The feedback has been fantastic and well-received.

“We’re just focusing on serving our customers quickly and keeping them happy, so they return.”

The brewery, which mills, boils, ferments, and conditions beer on site, is located at 19 Penno’s Wharf, St George’s, in the former Heritage Centre.

The site features a taphouse and beer garden, offering a unique setting for customers to enjoy locally brewed beer.

“We’re the only steam-powered brewery on the island,” Mr Pantry said.

“In our line, it’s all about efficiency, and steam is an efficient and safe way to heat the liquid.

“It’s a beautiful little spot in the heart of St George’s.”

Mr Dill, 35, noted that the historic building, originally a warehouse, required extensive remodelling, including the installation of a pressure-boiler system for the steam-jacketed brewery.

“Getting the building ready took some time,” he said. “It was in a rough shape.

“It hadn’t been touched in a few years. It took a lot of time to restore the building.”

The brewery currently offers four different types of beer: a a traditional German pale lager, an amber ale, and two India pale ales – 4.2 percent and 7 percent.

Moongate Brewing Company welcomes visitors Friday evenings, Saturdays from 12 pm to 10 pm, and Sundays from 12 pm to 8 pm.

Instagram: Moongatebrew