Bermudians are moving to secure a bigger stake in the Island's beer market.

Three brewing concerns, each at different stages of development, are currently in the mix: Bermuda Triangle Brewing Ltd., at two-years-old the veteran of the trio; North Rock Brewing Company Ltd., which plans to open a brew pub at the Hunt Club; and Miles Market, which recently copyrighted "Longtail Lager''.

Triangle operates its own micro-brewery and was set up by Paul Mason, his brother Philip Mason, Mark Pettingill and Teresa Taguchi. In all, there are nine shareholders.

Triangle president Paul Mason said the company's financial information is confidential but he did say that the past year's sales were up 80 percent over the first 12 months, exceeding expectations.

He also said he believes the company will break even in this its third year of operations.

A big boost has been support from major hotels. Triangle is the exclusive draft beer at Marriott's Castle Harbour Resort and at Elbow Beach Hotel, he said. The Princess hotels also carry Triangle beer, he added.

"The hotels have been very supportive. Because it's a local product it's an easy sell. We've also had some success at the smaller outlets as well.'' Mr. Mason said that in North America there are over 1,000 breweries offering 5,000 different kinds of beer, that includes brew pubs, micro-breweries and big beer companies.

"I just read where in Boston, they opened their ninth brew pub. And that's just in the downtown area,'' he said.

On competing with local distributors of imported beers, he said: "We can't compete on price, our bottles come in empty, so we offer an alternative -- unique beers with unique flavours.'' With a small marketing budget, Triangle depends on word-of-mouth advertising, he said.

On North Rock and Longtail, Mr. Mason said: "I don't see them as competitors at all. I see them as helping by offering an alternative. The more people that convert to fresh beer, beer with flavour, the better it is for everyone. As long as they make good beer.'' North Rock owners David Littlejohn, his wife Heather and brother Frederick Littlejohn, are setting up a brew pub at their recently purchased Hunt Club Tavern in Smith's Parish. Mrs. Littlejohn also sees the potential of an alternative.

"We're looking to the local market and we see this business as complementary to Bermuda Triangle,'' she said.

She said their biggest concern is making sure all the equipment they need will be on site by late December when owners plan to convert the Hunt Club Tavern, which they bought on July 24.

North Rock recently received Development Applications Board approval for alterations needed for brewery operations.

The brew pub idea grew out of David Littlejohn's hobby. He started making home-made beer, then became a distributor of beer and wine-making kits.

Mrs. Littlejohn said the family resognises the risk of such a move but they also are fully involved and "confident'' that the venture will succeed.

A group of individuals recently copyrighted the Longtail name through Miles Market Ltd. Miles president William Cox declined to disclose the names of the individuals but said they feel "there is a market for a Bermuda-style lager to compete with the Amstels and Heinekens,'' he said.

Triangle's products fit a niche, Longtail Lager will fit another niche, he said.

Another Island location that many believe is well-suited to a brew pub is the Dockyard.

West End Development Corporation (WEDCO) development manager Ed Williams said: "I do believe it would be an interesting spot for a brew pub.'' There have been a few such proposals in the past and Triangle had looked at that option before choosing to build in Southampton, he said.

CHEERS -- Staff at the Bermuda Triangle Brewery