Episodes
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Consistency, quality and reliability are all characteristics that brewers strive for in the beers they produce. They are also attributes that consumers seek out when navigating the tap lines and bustling fridges across UK bottle-shops. A sense of familiarity, and trust, is something that more and more drinkers desire when spending their hard-earned money on the beers they love. And for Pietro Maltinti, head brewer at Deya Brewing Company in Cheltenham, those qualities are what he calls the “secret sauce” that make the brewery’s range of beers such as Steady Rolling Man, Boost and Magazine Cove
Richard Bradbury is the managing director at Theakston. An independent, family brewing company founded in 1827, the business is located in the Yorkshire Dales market town of Masham, North Yorkshire, controlled by 5th generation direct family descendants of the founder, Robert Theakston. As one of Britain’s oldest established family brewing companies Theakston is famed throughout the country and overseas for its wide range of premium ales brewed in their historic Victorian tower brewery. The business is chaired by Simon Theakston, with his son William joining the company in 2024. And since 2023
2026 is proving to be another year of change and evolution for the brewing industry. Both in the UK and overseas. And with that, running a successful brewery is a challenge – and opportunity – that many of us are facing. With that in mind, we are revisiting a talk from our 2025 Brewers Congress, which focused on making strategic production choices and outlined why prioritising markets is key. Speaking in London was Marian Reed, the General Manager and Head of Business Development at Sudden Death Brewing in Lübeck, Germany. Throughout her career, she has been able to connect vision to actions,
If you own a brewery, where did you source your brewhouse from? It might have come from one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers in the industry. Or perhaps it was a piece of loved, second-hand kit that needed a new home. You were unlikely, however, to have been chased around the streets of Vienna by an angry auctioneer looking for their money. But that’s exactly what happened, through no fault of his own, to Reece Hugill. And thankfully the whole saga would result in the creation of one of the UK’s finest breweries. In an industry often seduced by the pressure of relentless expansion, m
With judging well underway for our 2026 Brewers Choice Awards and with planning in full flow for the Brewers Congress we are taking a step back to revisit one of the highlights of last year’s event. In his talk on ‘Reflections on Authenticity’ at the 2025 Brewers Congress in London, Matthew Curtis posed a question. In an increasingly digital world, how do modern marketing strategies resonate with consumers who are looking for something more tangible, something genuine, something authentic? Matthew is a writer and photographer obsessed with beer, pubs and their culture. Based in Manchester, he’
Simon Rundle. Simon is the founder of Ivybridge, a not-for-profit brewery that is dedicated to providing job opportunities to individuals with learning disabilities. They believe that everyone deserves a chance to succeed. And with every purchase of their beer, customers are not only supporting their mission, but also enjoying a high-quality product, too. The company he started provides paid work, training, and volunteering opportunities for people with learning disabilities. They believe that everyone has the right to fulfilling work and an opportunity to contribute to their community, regard
There is little over a week left to enter the 2026 Brewers Choice Awards. To enter or make your nomination please visit our website www.brewersjournal.info before the 10th July. Showcasing and celebrating the finest beers and breweries from around the globe is one of the most rewarding parts of the brewing industry. But for these events to happen, breweries need to be prepared to show off their latest creations and decorated judges from far and wide need to assess the great and good. So what better opportunity to hear from Lotte Peplow. Lotte is is the Brewers Association’s American Craft Beer
A move from the corporate world to craft beer is path trodden by many of this sector’s brewers, business owners and beer professionals. And since taking the plunge for herself, Catherine Webber has become a well-known and much-loved figure in the fantastic fabric that is beer and hospitality. Catherine is the brand and business development manager at Attic Brew Co. Celebrating more than four years with the Birmingham brewery this year, Catherine previously worked for Mondelez International in food safety, quality and training before the world of beer would come calling… A love of cask beer, an
When you’ve worked in the fields of technology, restaurants, modelling and music management, where do you turn next? For Michel Lu, that meant the world of drinks. And he’s on a mission to bring the diverse, rich tapestry of Asia, and the untold myriad of flavours it boasts, to consumers through a series of drinks designed to showcase just that. Michel Lu is the founder of The Orientalist Spirits. A company described as the world’s first premium pan-Asian craft spirits company. They produce a range with an award-winning collection of artisanal spirits crafted from only the best premium ingredi
It’s looking like some more excellent weather for much of the UK this weekend. And with higher temperatures and blissful sunshine, there is also an increased appetite for refreshing beautiful beverages. And while we primarily focus on the wonderful world of beer and brewing here at The Brewers Journal, it’s important to take time to look at the excellent innovation taking place across the wider world of drinks. So at our Brewers Congress last Autumn, we invited the team at Botivo to share their story. Botivo, which is non-alcoholic, is an intensely refreshing aperitivo with a bittersweet backb
It’s official. Beer festival season is in full swing. We’re seeing new beers and new collaborations at every turn.What’s even better is that we’re seeing new breweries come to life, too. And in London last week, the capital’s latest brewing business sprung into life.So say hello to South London’s Palindrome Brew Co.Founded by Paul McTernan and Alin Sas, they’re on a mission to make their mark with a community-focused brewery that puts hazy, hop-forward beers at the fore. But that’s not to say you shouldn’t expect other styles, too.Combining Paul’s wealth of sales experience working for compani
Starting this June we're opening entries for the 2026 Brewers Choice AwardsSo what better time to revisit our visit to the 2024 winners of our 'Brewery of the Year' category - Wiper and True. The brewery, which is known for beers such as its Kaleidoscope Pale Ale, Milkshake Milk Stout and a wealth of other fantastic creations besides, toasts its 13th anniversary in 2026.Based in Bristol, their goal is clear – that’s to make beautiful beer.Whether it’s at their original site at St Werburgh’s, which is focused on barrel ageing and mixed fermentation, or their stunning new Old Market brewery and
Did you catch our excellent recent article? Titled Beyond Aroma: Hop enzymatic activity, diastatic power, and fermentation control, Francesco Lo Bue and Philip Wietstock, Professor and Chair of Brewing and Beverage Technology at TU Berlin, brought together recent research on hop diastatic power with observations on enzyme distribution within the hop cone, to provide a more complete understanding of how hops influence fermentation beyond flavour. As they explain, hops have long been evaluated through aroma and bitterness. That framework no longer reflects how hops behave in modern brewing. So w
The UK beer landscape looks a lot different today than it did ten years ago. We’ve seen breweries and trends come and go. But certain names have stood the test of time by focusing on one thing: quality. Today’s guest is someone who transitioned from a decorated homebrewing career to founding one of the most respected independent breweries in the country. Based in Finchampstead, Berkshire, Elusive Brewing is officially hitting double digits in 2026.To help mark their 10th anniversary, which they’re celebrating this very week, we caught up with brewery founder Andy Parker. An award-winning brewe
Welcome to The Summer of Lager. As we race through 2026, the longer, warmer months are fast-approaching. And with that, so does the consumer appetite for cold, beautiful lager. And in Scotland, one of the country’s finest breweries has just launched a new beer that’s sure to be a hit in 2026 and beyond.Independently owned and proudly based in Alloa — the historic brewing capital of Scotland — Williams Bros Brewing has brewed, packaged and shipped every beer from its Scottish site for over 30 years. Best known for creating Joker IPA, one of Scotland’s most iconic modern beers and the country’s
Meet Pete Brown.Pete, as many of you will know, is a British author, journalist, broadcaster and consultant specialising in food and drink.In his latest columns for the Sunday Times he’s discussed everything from supermarket beer to where to turn when nothing catches your eye on the bar.And last year he released his latest book ‘Tasting Notes: The Art and Science of Pairing Beer With Music’.Across thirteen books, his broad, fresh approach takes in social history, cultural commentary, travel writing, personal discovery and natural history, and his words are always delivered with the warmth and
Meet Red Kellie. Red is joint owner and Head Brewer of the First & Last Brewery. They are a family run brewery, taproom and event space situated in rural Northumberland. The brewery doubles as a community space used for everything from art workshops to gigs and literature events. They brew a wide range of styles from hazy IPAs, through to sours, wheat beers, stouts and Belgian beers. After helping to establish Stu Brew at Newcastle University (Europe's first student run brewery), then Twice Brewed Brewery Red set up the First & Brewery in 2016. Red's main passion is for pairing wild ingredient
Since being founded by Adam Henderson in 2020, Azvex Brewing Company has gone on to become of the UK’s most respected producers of hop-forward pale ales and IPAs, fruited sours, and imperial stouts.And head brewer Jack Walker has played a huge part in that journey.Known and respected across the land, Jack has helped create a wealth of fantastic beers at the Liverpool-based business. And for that reason, we invited him to speak at our Brewers Lectures in Newcastle last month.In his latest talk, Jack walked us through his approach to the production of the brewery’s delicious West Coast Pils.He o
Meet Andrew Barnett.Andrew is the founder of Edinburgh’s Barney’s Beer.He started his career in brewing aged 16 as a lab assistant at the recently defunct Banks’s brewery in Wolverhampton before doing on to study Brewing & Distilling at Heriot Watt. Various roles in research, production & commercial followed at Whitbread, S&N and The Macallan among others.Starting Barney’s Beer in 2012 the brand has grown steadily. However, the strategy was always to keep growth at a modest scale in order to enjoy the ride.In his recent talk at our Brewers Lectures in Newcastle, Andrew talked us through the br
Met Tim Bloomer. Tim is the co-founder and sustainability director at Fell Brewery, an independent brewery based in Cumbria. He holds an MSc in Brewing & Distilling from Heriot-Watt University and was Head Brewer at Fell for many years, helping shape the brewery’s beers and processes before moving into a dedicated sustainability role. Tim now leads Fell’s practical, data-led decarbonisation programme. Following a full, all-scope carbon footprint analysis in 2024 with Small World Consulting, the brewery developed a clear emissions-reduction plan and has already reduced carbon intensity from 300
2026 marks 15 years since Tom Bott and Sam McGregor started London's Signature Brew. The duo combined their backgrounds in the music industry and professional brewing to create a business that aimed to improve the quality of beer at live music events, collaborating with a raft of world-class artists in the process. And 2026 marks eight years since Tom took part in our Brewers Lectures events, so what better time to invite him back? Opening our lectures in Newcastle last week, Tom delivered a state of the nation address. He looked at both how Signature Brew and the wider industry has changed in
Next week our first Brewers Lectures of 2026 takes place at the fantastic Full Circle Brew Co in Newcastle on the 25th February.We've got a brilliant line-up of industry talent taking part including Jack Walker, the head brewer at Azvex.Since being founded by Adam Henderson in 2020, Azvex Brewing Company has gone on to become of the UK’s most respected producers of hop-forward pale ales and IPAs, fruited sours, and imperial stouts.And head brewer Jack Walker has played a huge part in that journey.Next week Jack will share his brewing expertise and give us an insight into how he produces the br
The role provenance plays in beer is something we rightfully celebrate. It can give the beer an identity and a sense of place. And today’s guest has made it his goal to recognise and toast British ingredients, as well as the agricultural excellence that helps make it all possible.Meet Kirk Stamford. He’s the founder of Atlantic Archipelago, an independent beer brand headquartered in Norfolk. Following an extended period of travel across the United Kingdom, the business draws inspiration from the nation’s varied landscapes, longstanding agricultural traditions, and deeply rooted regional cultur
Fresh from celebrating the brewery’s latest birthday at the end of 2025, the team at Full Circle are gearing up for another year of growth and evolution.One of the UK’s most revered and regarded modern breweries, Full Circle’s 2025 was characterised by new releases and collaborations to events, community gatherings, and behind-the-scenes milestones.And later this month, we are thrilled to be heading to their excellent Newcastle taproom for our first Brewers Lectures of 2026.The Brewers Lectures will take place on the 25th February from 12:00-17:00 at the brewery’s taproom, which can be found a
When it comes to brewing, what excites you? The beautiful thing about beer is that we all come at it from different directions, with different passions, different opinions.And for Red Kellie, she loves making a wealth of different beers that end up in cask, keg, bottle and can. But it’s working with wild and foraged ingredients where her and team really come into their own. Red is joint owner and head brewer of the First & Last Brewery. Founded with husband Sam, First & Last is a family-run brewery, taproom and event space situated in rural Northumberland.The brewery doubles as a community spa
