Brewers Journal Podcast

Our 2025 Brewers Choice Awards take place on the 30th September and Anspach & Hobday are nominated for both 'Brewery of The Year' and 'Beer of The Year' for the fantastic London Black. With that in mind, let's revisit the talk that Paul Anspach, co-founder of London business, gave in Bristol earlier this year. Every so often a beer comes along and things just click. A combination of brilliant branding, a brilliant brewery and, of course, a brilliant beverage are essential ingredients for a beer that resonates with the consumer. And with London Black, the 4.4% Nitro Porter from Anspach & Hobday, you’ve got just that. The brewery, founded by Paul Anspach & Jack Hobday back in 2013, has gone from strength to strength in recent years and much of that growth can be attributed to their flagship beer. London Black has fundamentally changed and redefined the brewery and business with approximately 70+% of their output the popular Nitro Porter. With that in mind, we invited brewery co-founder Paul to speak at our Brewers Lectures in Bristol last week. In his lecture, Paul outlined the importance of the brand and how crucial factors such as an authentic, believable story coupled with clear messaging have helped elevate the beer. He also explained how the team are striving to establish London Black as The beer of London and to forge the association between London and London Black such that for a beer drinker, any visit to the city would not be complete without a pint of London Black.  Image Credit: Anspach & Hobday

There are little more than three weeks to go until The 2025 Brewers Congress and Brewers Choice Awards. One company nominated in this year’s awards is the fantastic Thornbridge. So what better time for us to revisit our interview with co-founder Simon Webster from earlier this year. There are certain joys, certain constants when it comes to the world of beer. And one of those has to be the pleasure when scanning the bar for a pint and you happen across the pump clip for Jaipur on cask.It’s a seminal beer that has stood the test of time and this year the brewery responsible, Thornbridge, based in the Derbyshire Dales, celebrates the 20th anniversary of both that beer and the business, too.The Thornbridge story began back in 2005 when founders Jim Harrison and Simon Webster recruited two young brewers to brew on a second hand 10-barrel kit in the grounds of Thornbridge Hall.A journey that began in the small Stonemasons Workshop at Thornbridge Hall is one that has gone on to grow into the Riverside Brewery in Bakewell where the team produce some nine million pints of beer each year.Like any good business, the brewery has moved with the times. While Jaipur remains the flagship, its gluten-free Helles Lukas and Green Mountain, a 4.3% Hazy Session IPA, also account for a significant amount of the brewery’s production.Thanks to a brewing team led by Ben Wood, Dominic Driscoll and Rob Lovatt, they create beers that cater for a wide and diverse audience.So as the celebrated brewery comes toward the end on a year that toasts two decades in business, we caught up with co-founder Simon Webster to discuss the Thornbridge journey. We look at the recent fantastic new addition of a Burton Union set, why collaborations continue to play a key part in the brewery’s proposition and, with new pub openings on the horizon, why Simon believes that such environments remain the best choice when it comes to enjoying a beer.

Brian Dickson is the co-founder and technical director at Leeds-based Northern Monk. One of the UK’s finest brewers, he’s been an integral member of the Yorkshire business since it started out in 2014.And an important part of the brewery’s current path is its journey to carbon neutral operations.In his recent talk, he shared some of Northern Monk’s achievements to-date in the fields of water, wastage, electricity and nitrogen.He also outlined the team’s future plans and goals that include biofuel energy generation, process water recycling, AI temperature control and solar installations.

The 2025 release of Pliny The Younger, the ever-popular annual iteration of Russian River Brewing Company's Triple IPA, was unsurprisingly a hit. So what better time to revisit our conversation with Vinnie Cirluzo, co-founder of the seminal US brewery? We hope you enjoy...In the world of beer, there are a number of real positives when it comes to working for, or running, a brewery.Creating something that people enjoy, savour and value is a goal in any artistic venture. And in ownership, so is the ability to provide employment, development and satisfaction to your team. Another purpose for many businesses is the ability to affect a change. Breweries are often the beating heart of local communities. They can offer a place to frequent, to socialise and where possible, also have a positive impact on the local economy they form part of.In the case of Russian River Brewing Company, they do just that. And with the release of the modern phenomenon that is Pliny The Younger, their annual sought-after Triple IPA, on the horizon, what better time to catch up with co-founder Vinnie Cilurzo who, along with his business partner and wife Natalie, is the co-founder of the California business. In this episode he shares his observations on the changing brewing landscape, the importance of community and his love of working with different ingredients.  We also talked about the importance of maintaining a strong identity, integrity and, in an age of countless beer styles, why Russian River will continue doing what it does best – and that’s “staying in its lane” making the beers people love. Photo Credit: Russian River Brewing Company Production: Ross Macpherson

If you’ve not had a beer from Hall and Woodhouse, you’re sure to know someone that has. Blandford Fly, Fursty Ferret Amber Ale and Tangle Foot Golden Ale are long-established household names while the newer Outland brand, with beers such as its Tropical Pale Ale, West Coast IPA and Helles are making a mark on their own terms. And heading up the production of these beers is Toby Heasman. A celebrated and revered brewer that joined the business back in 2006.  Much has changed in the time Toby has been part of the business. And much has changed in the industry, and across the globe, since Hall and Woodhouse started out.Because Hall and Woodhouse, the British regional brewery, was founded by Charles Hall in Blandford Forum way back in 1777. Today, their family of pubs are regarded as some of finest in the country.  With more than 150 iconic public houses and inns at the heart of their communities across the South of England. And ensuring those pubs, as well as countless other customers, have access to great beer is Toby Heasman. In this episode we discuss how Toby found a passion of beer, one that led him into a career that he continues to grow and thrive in.We discuss the balance of brewing different styles for both Badger Ales and the Outland brand, as well as the underlying qualities that make a great beer across the board. He also outlines the responsibilities that come with working for such a prestigious business and why that’s a catalyst, rather a burden, when it comes to his commitment to beer and brewing.

A business and a relationship forged in Liverpool, Neptune Brewery has just celebrated its 10th birthday. But what is the secret to their success? Julie O’ Grady founded the business with her husband and business partner Les back in 2015. In the years since they've helped build a community and grow a team that thrive in making modern beers inspired by tradition. In this episode Julie outlines the brewery's commitment to brewing beers they and their consumers enjoy, the importance of their beerhouse in establishing Neptune's role in the community and why when it comes to social media, apps such as ratings sites shouldn't be the be-all and end-all when it comes to business.To read our profile on Neptune Brewery from 2022, just click here. Production: Ross Macpherson

We are all aware of diacetlyl in beer but how does it originate and importantly, how do we reduce it? Then allow us to introduce Todd Isbell, a senior brewing technician at the University of Nottingham and International Centre for Brewing Science. Todd has a BS in civil and environmental engineering from Clarkson University and is a graduate of the United States Army Chemical School. A professional brewer for more than twenty years in the United States, he has taught fermentation sciences at Rockingham Community College for five years, and was the founding technical chair for the Master Brewers Association of the Americas Carolinas district. In his recent talk, Todd discusses the origins of diacetyl and how it's reduced. He also highlights dry hop creep and how this phenomenon can be dealt with to create beers with higher drinkability as well as shelf stability.

How do you help get the beers you brew into the hands of more people?For Kate Hyde and the team at Brighton’s Hand Brew Co, art is a valuable vehicle to help you do just that.Kate is the head brewer and product director for Hand Brew Co, based in Brighton. She has been brewing for over a decade.  And while Kate’s journey has taken her from the UK to Australia then onto France, she has since gone onto establish herself as a revered member of the brewing community in the South of England. Both through her production prowess, but also as a mentor for Women in Beer, too.During her recent talk at Cloudwater in Manchester, Kate explained why art can, and should, be invested in and protected.She demonstrated how Hand Brew Co has harnessed art collaborations to distill the essence and experience of their brew pub into their beer and helped it travel beyond the walls of its birthplace.She also said that when it comes to producing merchandise for your brewery, repeatability is key and not all merch is good merch - especially when it comes to tea towels….

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 Manchester last month.While he gave us an insight into the brewing process at Azvex during his talk in 2024, this time it was a little different.In 2025 Jack has found himself in the final stages of a coeliac diagnosis and in his lecture he outlines the challenges that has presented for a brewing professional while also outlining some of the misinformation and misunderstanding that surrounds the condition.

Quality assurance helps ensure all aspects of the brewing process are in place to create a product that both meets and exceeds consumer expectation.And at Round Corner Brewing in Melton Mowbray, head brewer Lara Lopes knows just how important quality control and quality assurance is when it comes to producing great beer. Lara began her career with AB InBev in Brazil before moving to the UK to join Round Corner Brewing. During her tenure, the brewery has earned prestigious accolades, including two trophies at the International Brewing Awards and two "World's Best" titles at the World Beer Awards, alongside numerous other international medals and awards. Lara was also named Young Brewer of the Year at our Brewers Choice Awards in 2022 and beyond her brewing achievements, she serves as a judge at international beer competitions.In her recent talk, Lara discussed why QA matters. She highlighted some common challenges for small breweries, suggested simple QA that works and argued why its imperative to make QA a team habit.

Jim Rangeley is the lead brewer of the mixed fermentation Funk Dungeon project at Sheffield’s revered Abbeydale Brewery.He is also a co-owner of the business, which became an Employee Ownership Trust in 2024. In 2025 Jim celebrates a decade of working in the beer industry and he’s also our very own Brewers Choice Awards 'Brewer of the Year'.When not in the brewhouse, Jim is most likely to be found running up a big hill, or recovering from said run in the pub.So on a rare break from both of those ventures, Jim came to Manchester at the end of last month to share his story in beer.He discussed the development of the Funk Dungeon, in the wider context of the changing world the business has seen over the course of its history and the transition to employee ownership and also what that means to him.

Meet Jordan Childs.Jordan is the co-founder and chief product officer at Mash Gang. What started in 2020 as an adventurous experiment in the world of alcohol-free beer, Mash Gang have become a powerhouse in the world of no-and-low.Known for beers such as Chug, Cult and Lesser Evil as well as many more, Jordan and the team have moved the dial when it comes to alcohol-free beers. So much so that last year Mash Gang were acquired by DioniLife, a newly-launched company focused on non-alcoholic adult drinks brands.While Jordan now splits his time between brewing and travelling between the UK and USA, he has maintained his commitment to knowledge-sharing and engaging with the brewing industry far and wide.And earlier this week, at our Brewers Lectures at Cloudwater in Manchester, he talked us through his own journey, the importance of understanding customer needs and why community engagement is integral. He also shared strategies for success while discussing the challenges of producing non-alcoholic beer.

If you ever paid a visit to North Bar, the seminal Leeds-based craft beer bar, sometime between 2013 or 2017 there’s a good chance you might have met Alex Millhouse-Smith or one of his equally excellent colleagues. Working at North Bar, Alex would further develop his love and knowledge of great beer. And he’d share that enthusiasm and expertise with the bar’s wealth of customers, too. A desire to broaden his grasp of beer would lead him to become part of North Brewing on its production side before taking on the brewery’s newly-created brand ambassadorial position. Spreading the word about its beers across the UK, Europe and further afield. But since 2023 Alex has worked in a different part of the brewing sector, as part of the team at BarthHaas, the world’s largest supplier of hops and hop products. As content creator he helps share the latest developments at the company and tell the various stories of how its working with partners and breweries across the globe. In this episode we discuss what led Alex into the world of beer and how working at North Bar opened his eyes to excellent beers and introduced him to equally excellent colleagues. We talk about his love of storytelling and how his peers in the world of branding and marketing helped improve his own work, and how at BarthHaas he’s helping tell stories of a different kind.

In the UK and elsewhere in Europe, there is no shortage of fantastic beer festivals and events to keep the industry busy. And last month one fantastic addition to the brewing calendar returned for its third successful year. At Kirkstall Brewery in Leeds, brewers from across the land descended upon Yorkshire for ‘The Great Exhibition of Prize Ales’. A unique celebration of the history of brewing, Kirkstall challenged breweries across the UK to dig deep into their local history, and exhibit beers with a link to the past.Under the stewardship of brand manager Chris Hall and the team at Kirkstall, breweries such as Amity Brew Co, Anspach & Hobday, Buxton, Colbier, Lost Cause, Northern Monk and Theakston joined in to showcase a raft of excellent beer.  As part of Kirkstall Brewery, Chris has not only worked on such fantastic initiatives, he’s helped develop and convey the story behind the brewery and its beers on a broader basis, too. But before joining the revered Yorkshire brewery Chris was also part of other respected breweries. And in his career to-date, he’s become a sought after and popular part of the UK’s beer and brewing fabric.In this episode, we speak to Chris about his admiration and love of locally-made, sessionable beer and how the UK beer scene has changed and evolved during his time working in it. He outlines that when it comes to showcasing your brewery’s brand, it should communicate your attributes and values and we also discuss why you should always consider the brand story that you want people to know.

A full-scale brand refresh is an important landmark in any brewery’s journey. Even more so when it helps mark the company’s 10th anniversary and the start of an exciting and powerful new chapter following a testing time for both the business and the wider brewing industry.And this month Mondo Brewing Company, the independent London-based brewery, has marked its 10 years in beer with an impressive brand revamp.Ahead of the brewery’s official birthday this July, Mondo have employed a bold new look for their five-strong core range that includes flagship Dennis Hopp’r IPA and beers such as Road Soda, Texas Whistle, Little Victories and Hiker - a beer formerly known as Machina, a previous winner of our Brewers Choice 'Beer of the Year' accolade in 2021.This new branding can be seen across 330ml cans, bottles, and 30L kegs and in the brewery’s own words, it’s more than a new look—it’s a celebration of 10 years of beer, creativity, and community.Mondo’s new look also helps mark a new chapter for the business. Last year Hogs Back Brewery owner Rupert Thompson came on board at the business, becoming chairman and helping secure its future.In this episode, we speak to Mondo's managing director Todd Matteson about the work and decision making that has gone into the brewery’s striking revamp. We discuss their plans to grow the brewery’s on- and off-trade presence, how Mondo and its team have come out stronger following a turbulent period for the brewery and why Todd is more excited than ever about the road ahead.

Staying true to yourself, building a positive working culture, creating a business people admire and also producing beers that consumers and your peers enjoy are traits any brewery owner strives for. Today’s guest has all of those in abundance. Since opening for business in the summer of 2016, Lost and Grounded Brewers of Bristol, have cemented themselves as one of the finest breweries - not only in the UK - but Europe, too.Founded by Annie Clements and Alex Troncoso, the brewery as made its name through early releases such has Keller Pils, Running with Sceptres and Hop-Hand Fallacy and wih more recent additions such as Extra Nice, Wanna Go To The Sun and Helles.So as the brewery approaches its latest anniversary, and with another busy summer ahead helping satiate the nation’s lager lovers, we caught up with Alex to reflect on the Lost and Grounded journey so-far.  We discuss how a commitment to producing lager meant playing the long game, the talented team that helps keep the brewery ticking and why if you’re going to make beer then you should do it for the right reasons. And to read more about the early days of the brewery, you can check out our article from 2016 right here.

Across a 12 month period, Laura Rangeley has celebrated 10 years working at Abbeydale Brewery in Sheffield. And in October last year, alongside the rest of the team, Laura and her colleagues became part of an Employee Ownership Trust, taking ownership of the business from founders Patrick and Sue. Not only that her colleague and husband Jim was recognised as the Brewer of the Year at our very own Brewers Choice Awards, too….At the celebrated Abbeydale Brewery in Sheffield, Laura walked through the doors some 10 years ago and never looked back. In that time the marketing and communications manager, and now also co-owner, has seen much change both in the business and her role. And with a myriad of positive changes to have taken place at the business, the brewery is also gearing up for its 30th anniversary in 2026. So in this episode, we speak to Laura about her own journey in beer, her professional development and as co-owner of the Sheffield business, why Abbeydale Brewery feels very much like home. Photo Credit: Noelia Amado

In the brewing and distilling industries there is a mutual appreciation of the craftsmanship, skill and process involved in creating these fantastic liquids. And today’s guest, having worked and studied in both fields, is well placed to do just that. Earlier this month Glen Scotia, part of Loch Lomond Distillery, unveiled Glen Scotia 50 Year Old. Glen Scotia Elements of Campbeltown Release Number One: Air is described as an exceptional 50-year-old single malt which marks a pivotal moment in the distillery’s history, as its oldest ever release.And this prestigious release follows on from the launch of Loch Lomond Whiskies 50-year-old single malt. These esteemed liquids have seen the light of day thanks to the stewardship of Michael Henry, a reputed distiller who has a background in both brewing and distilling. A whisky five decades in the making, Loch Lomond 50 Year Old is drawn from Loch Lomond Distillery’s oldest reserves and is exclusively limited to 100 individually-numbered bottles worldwide.  Distilled in 1973 in the distillery’s unique straight neck pot stills, it uses 100% unpeated malted barley. It was then aged in a combination of refilled American oak casks, first fill bourbon casks and Oloroso sherry hogsheads. The maturation process was carefully managed by Loch Lomond Whiskies’ master blender, Michael Henry, who joined Loch Lomond Distillery in 2007. And the distillery’s oldest and rarest whisky casks remain exclusively under his personal care.In this episode, Michael talks us through in his involvement in this special project, he takes us through his career to-date and also shares what keeps him driven and inspired.

This year RedWillow Brewery is raising a glass to 15 years of brewing bold, balanced beers. They’re marking the milestone with a packed calendar of collaborations, reimagined classics, and monthly giveaways — as well as a recent haul of prestigious awards.Starting out in 2010, RedWillow Brewery has long since established itself as a leading light in UK brewing. Founded by Toby and Caroline McKenzie, the business has grown and evolved without ever undermining its core values.To mark this prestigious anniversary in 2025, RedWillow is launching a year-long series of collaborations with some of the UK’s most respected breweries, including DEYA, Lost and Grounded, The Kernel, Thornbridge and more. These limited-edition beers will roll out throughout 2025, showcasing the creativity and community spirit that continues to drive the UK craft beer scene.And for Toby, the occasion gives him and the team the opportunity to reflect on a job well done. A brewery that was inspired by their early peers is now one that is revered and regarded by countless others. In this episode we take a whistle stop look back on the brewery’s journey to-date and discuss the creativity, passion, and friendships that make this industry so special.

Securing important early listings is a milestone of any new business. And earlier this spring, Red Fin Cider did just that by sealing a listing for both its Fresh Apple and their Meloncherry styles at Waitrose. 44 Waitrose stores now stock Red Fin Cider, a product launched by three industry veterans and friends, Freddie Rouse, Dave Tugwell and Graeme Baldwin, who saw a need for a new and vibrant brand in the category that was both independently craft but also accessible and a real celebration of Somerset apples, delivering a cider that stacks up in the world of craft beer. This follows on from the business quickly establishing itself in the on-trade, already gaining a significant national presence and loyal following since its launch in June 2024, becoming one of the fastest-growing cider brands and drinks brands in the UK. So what better time to revisit our conversation with co-founder Dave Tugwell. In this episode we reflect on how launching a new business is always an exciting time and a challenging one, too. He talks through the company’s journey so far. We also discuss the trio launching into a competitive category, its place in the wider world of craft beer and its commitment to showing consumers that cider can, and should be, fun.