Episodes

Around 2 ½ years ago when Brewers Journal Podcast visited Stuart Elkington and his online low-to-no bottle shop, his warehouse seemed to consist mostly of malty German beers. Sure, there were a couple that were passable but…on a thirsty day, water was just as good of bet. Now, it’s a whole new game out there...

It’s the most wonderful time of year. Thirsty beer fans have had to wait a little longer than usual but from today, they can get their hands on the annual release of Goose Island’s venerable Bourbon County Brand Stout. So for the latest episode of the Brewers Journal podcast, we thought it was only fitting...

We all come into the beer industry from different angles, with our own perspectives and from diverse origins. Phil Sisson, the founder of Simple Things Fermentations, in Glasgow, Scotland, is no different. Leaving a career in music studio management within London, to move to Scotland for a new life, he would find his true calling...

Located in London, but drawing on global expertise, Mondo Brewing Company has shown how beer transcends cultural and geographical boundaries. Founded by Todd Matteson and Tom Palmer in 2015, the American natives have been creating great beers that span the style spectrum for the last five years. Bonded by a love of Alt beer, the...

Many of us, if we’re fortunate to do so, will travel in our lives. Often it’ll be for holiday and sometimes it will be to live or work elsewhere. Travel, as they say, broadens the horizons. And it’s this mentality that Julia Huber subscribes to, the German native is the head brewer at ORABrewing in...

The UK is blessed with breweries of all shapes and sizes. Some are tight-knit, modest operations while others operate out of facilities that could be mistaken for an aircraft hangar. That doesn’t mean that one is good, and one is bad, or vice-versa. They’re just different and of course, variety is the spice of life....

Bottleshops are such an important part of the fabric of the brewing industry. In a Venn diagram they’re sitting in the middle, fulfilling an invaluable role connecting the breweries with the consumers that enjoy the fruits of their labour. In this episode, we speak to the founder of one such bottleshop – Marius Andrici. On...

Last month, Beavertown opened the doors on its new London brewery. The facility, which will create up to 150 jobs, will enable the brewery to produce up to 500,000hl and to brew in 150hl batches, equivalent of 90,000,00 pints per annum, on its Krones brewhouse. It also boasts a complete KHS, which has the capacity...

If you want something done right, do it yourself.” This mentality has led to the creation countless companies and brands over the years. In the world of beer, brewers across the globe have taken to making their own beers in a bid to recreate styles that captured their imagination during their travels. In doing so,...

Working in the brewing industry involves a lot of hard work, and long hours. Whether you’re in the field of production and packaging, or maybe sales and distribution, it has often been far too easy for many to forget that brewing industry professionals are not robots. And the Covid-19 pandemic has made a challenging career...

You can make your way in this industry with great beer but with that, you need to be genuine in your approach. Brew the beers you truly want to make and people will react in kind, explains Theo Freyne, founder of Deya Brewing Company. “Starting out, my goal was for Deya to become one of...

Brasserie De La Senne has made its name with beers such as Taras Boulba and Zinnebir. Complex, bitter beers underpinned by balance, subtlety and nuance. For Yvan De Baets, co-founder of the Brussels brewery, these are the beers he wants to make and enjoy. He just wishes more brewers would do the same. There are...

Following a decade working in New York State craft beer; Gabe Barry says moving to Paris was like switching to lambics after only ever drinking German Pilsner. Despite her new surroundings, Brooklyn Brewery’s education manager of Europe explained one thing remains the same and that’s the power beer has as a catalyst for positive social...

Harvey’s is truly a brewery for all seasons. It exists within that special sphere that commands admiration and respect. If you’re a beer lover then more than likely, you love the beer produced by Harvey’s. And under the guidance of Miles Jenner, head brewer since 1986 and joint managing director for nearly 20 years, the...

It is a cold, wet miserable day when you decide to visit Hogs Back Brewery in Surrey. The farm fields themselves are muddy, and with their soppy brown colour and the grey, grey, oppressing sky above, it almost seems a reflection as to what the country – and the beer industry – is going through...

In an increasingly crowded marketplace, looking at new avenues to promote your beer is one way to broaden your market reach. Festivals, museums, hotels are three such examples so it’s a good thing then that the operations director at Tate Modern, the UK’s most popular visitor attraction, knows and loves his beer. Andrew Downs has...

In 2005, you would have got some pretty confused looks if you asked after the latest Imperial Pastry Sour. There would have been no Instagram to capture the ‘Iceman pour’ of your beverage and no Untappd to rate said beer on. The beer landscape has, unsurprisingly, changed beyond recognition in the 15 years since Nick...

In 1986, Margaret Thatcher was prime minister, Germany was still divided, a deal was signed to build the Chunnel, and Nethergate Brewery began pouring its first craft beer – although that was an expression no one was using back then. Named after the road it was located on in East Anglia, over the years it...

High IBU beers are back – no they’re not – yes they are – yes – no – yes – no, it’s all enough to drive you crazy. Through our own fault of not educating customers, most of the time they equate IBU solely with hop flavour. No wonder they’re confused and driving us a...

Each year it seems like we’re willing to accept a bit more eccentricity with our beer and not even bat an eye while drinking the latest blueberry IPA or milkshake-flavoured stout. But mention pumpkin beer and the eyes roll back, hands clasp the stomach, and 999 calls are made for a medic. How, we ask,...

It has been a full one, that’s for sure. I look forward to the time when that’s not the case!” says Sam McMeekin, co-founder of London’s Gipsy Hill Brewing Company. Looking back on 2019, there’s no risk of understatement from McMeekin. In addition a brand refresh, the company has completely revamped its brewhouse and fermentation...

To hear some brewers talk, doing a collaboration with another brewery is a rite of passage, something every brewer has to do. But do they? You have your own brewery to run, with your own never-ending workload of paperwork, brewing, testing, delivering, cleaning, packaging, ordering, scheduling, and a whole lot more. Guess what, a collaboration...

Is it a snake-oil scam, a placebo, or something we’ll all be using soon for everything from anxiety attacks to joint pain? Regardless, is taking a dose of hemp through a can of beer the way to go? In this episode of The Brewers Journal Podcast, we’ll be stepping into the CBD debate, we’ll be...

You’re done all you can to make a decent beer, but then the calls start coming in. Pubs are complaining that your cans look like they’re ready to explode. Drinkers are complaining that your beer tastes awful. Another said when they opened the can, all the beer shot out like a geyser. Chances are, you’re...