Episodes

  • #164 | Caitlín McErlean, Cloudwater

    #164 | Caitlín McErlean, Cloudwater
    Feb 21 2025
    What beers have you enjoyed brewing lately? For today’s guest it would probably be an alcohol-free Negroni sour, or perhaps an alcohol-free Margarita Gose.Quite the shift from Delirium Nocturnum, the Belgian Strong Dark Ale that helped open her eyes to the wonderful world of beer. But for Caitlín McErlean, part of the team at Manchester-based Cloudwater, her journey in brewing has been anything but conventional.For Caitlín, a love of languages would lead her to a degree in Chinese Studies. Originally from Milton Keynes, a move to university in Durham would not only broaden her linguistic horizons but also broaden her palate, too. In this episode, we discuss Caitlín’s early days working at the Head of Steam in Durham and how that helped introduce her to the myriad of beer styles that exist across the globe. We discuss how becoming a brewing apprentice would help her secure a dream job in her dream city and also how, at Cloudwater, she has been able to further pursue her love of creating no- and low-alcohol beers.
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    25 mins
  • #163 | Alex Kerr, Two Flints

    #163 | Alex Kerr, Two Flints
    Feb 14 2025
    “It takes two flints to make a fire”Where did the inspiration for your brewery name come from? For Alex Kerr, founder of Windsor, Berkshire-based Two Flints, he has his own story to tell. And drawing influence from the famous quote from Louisa May Alcott’s coming-of-age novel Little Women was just the place to start.Opening at the end of 2022, Two Flints recently has marked its second anniversary brewing in Berkshire. A town that has been the home of Windsor and Eton Brewery for more than 10 years, Alex Kerr and his team have given beer fans another new spot for excellent beer. And soon after in 2023, they would soon be joined in Windsor by neighbours Indie Rabble, the brewery founded by Naomi and Dave Hayward. Since starting out, Two Flints has made its name with a series of excellent hop-forward, hazy pale ales and IPAs such as Santiago, Never End and Big Bash. But they also make superb lagers and other styles, too.In this episode we speak with Alex to learn about his early influences and how he found a passion for brewing while living in Singapore. We discuss his fascination with hops and the qualities they impart on the beers they brew, the importance of Two Flints' taproom and also reflect on his desire for continuous improvement in everything that they do.
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    24 mins
  • #162 | Kate Hyde, Hand Brew Co

    #162 | Kate Hyde, Hand Brew Co
    Feb 7 2025
    Which brewery, which style, or which beer, got you into the wonderful world of brewing? We will all have our own response and that’s what makes this liquid so great.And for today’s guest, it was a Bitter that lit that fire. But instead of a beer from a classic British brewery, it was one being produced, and enjoyed, by locals and tourists alike, in the heart of Paris.Because in the brewing industry, some of us are set on our trajectory from early on. Knowing full-well that a career in beer is for them. Others end up part of this sector after working in a different field. And today’s guest, Kate Hyde of Hand Brew Co, is one such example.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. In this episode, we reflect on what it was like working in the burgeoning craft beer scene in Paris. The parallels, and differences, between France and UK and why in Sussex alongside its wealth of excellent breweries, she feels right at home. Production: Ross MacPhersonPhoto Credit: Milly Fletcher
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    26 mins
  • #161 | Russ Clarke, Amity Brew Co

    #161 | Russ Clarke, Amity Brew Co
    Jan 31 2025
    In starting Amity Brew Co back in 2020, the team wanted a business that stood for community, friendship and good beer. And more than four years on, they can proudly say they’ve achieved just that. But that doesn’t mean they’re planning on slowing down, though. Far from it. Because in 2025, the West Yorkshire business is set to take its next exciting step.Amity Brew Co is the brainchild of Russ Clarke, Verity Clarke and Richard Degnan. Opening their doors in 2020, the business is based in Sunny Bank Mills, a commercial and cultural destination in the heart of the local community of Farsley, Leeds.Founded in 1829, these glorious Mills are being regenerated by the sixth generation of the family owners. As a result, they are creating a blend of work, leisure and culture, offering beautifully restored creative business spaces for both small and large organisations like breweries.And since starting out, Amity has gone on to create a wealth of fantastic beers. They’ve become a central community hub and provided employment, too. The brewery also graced the cover of our very own publication in March 2022, and you can conveniently read our profile of the team’s early days via the link above. But nearly three years is a long time, and much has changed since then. So last week with caught up with co-founder Russ to reflect on how the team has maintained its community ethos since day one. Why a strong core range will always complement new and seasonal beers, and how 2025 will mark a year of positive change for the much-loved brewery.
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    22 mins
  • #160 | Simon Webster, Thornbridge

    #160 | Simon Webster, Thornbridge
    Jan 24 2025
    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 embarks on a year that will toast 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. Photo Credit: Thornbridge
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    Less than 1 minute
  • #159 | Evin O’Riordain, The Kernel Brewery

    #159 | Evin O’Riordain, The Kernel Brewery
    Jan 17 2025
    The London brewing scene has changed a great deal in the last decade. Styles have come into, then gone out of, fashion. People have learnt their trade across it and, in many cases, moved on to different companies, different counties, different countries.We’ve also seen breweries open, breweries consolidate, breweries close.But thankfully, one mainstay in England’s capital since 2009 has been The Kernel. Under the stewardship of founder Evin O’Riordain, it is safe to say the brewery has inspired a significant amount of people to get into brewing and for countless more, to look at beer in a different light.And last summer, The Kernel would open its beautiful new taproom on Spa Road. So with the fantastic new space soon celebrating six months since opening to the public, we caught up with Evin to learn more about the challenges and opportunities this move presented.We discussed the brewery’s evolving beer offering, which include a number of regarded and revered collaborations, The Kernel’s position in London’s ever-changing brewing fabric and more besides.
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    26 mins
  • #158 | Vinnie Cilurzo, Russian River Brewing Company

    #158 | Vinnie Cilurzo, Russian River Brewing Company
    Jan 10 2025
    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
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    48 mins
  • #157 | Make your mark in marketing

    #157 | Make your mark in marketing
    Jan 3 2025
    When you’ve worked with award-winning brands in the world of beer and whisky delivering digital communication and paid media strategies, you’re likely to know a thing or two about the world of marketing. And today’s guest, has done just that. Looking back at the last 12 months, Scottish brewery Vault City can toast another incredible year. They released 90 beers in total—up from 84 in 2023. This included 76 sours, 11 imperial stouts, two barley wines, and a Radler. And after four years of brewing in Portobello, in 2025 they are moving to their new forever home in the months ahead. Helping spread the good word of all things Vault City is Richard Wardrop, a marketing manager with more than a decade’s experience on both agency side and in-house.In his career to-date he has received recognition for ‘Best Use of Social’ and ‘Best Low Budget Campaign’ at The Herald Digital Awards and UK Social Media Communications Awards.Based in Scotland, he is currently part of the team at Vault City Brewing, the UK’s largest sour beer producer.Here he is responsible for all elements of brand, NPD, marketing and comms. So in this episode, recorded at our Brewers Lectures event in Edinburgh, Richard explains how brands can make an impact without a big budget, the free insights available to them, the importance of nurturing your community and why you should set goals, be realistic and always focus on doing better.
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    24 mins