The Beer Rep Chats With

What does it take to make your mark in the UK independent beer industry? I sat down with two young brewers who are doing exactly that. Sophie Ashdown, Senior Brewer at Buxton Brewery and Natalya Brown, head brewer at State of Kind Brew Co. Both have taken different routes into professional brewing, but they share a passion for creating great beer, learning their trade and helping shape the future...

On this episode of The Beer Rep Chats With, I’m joined by Olly Morgan, co-founder of Brewser , to talk about the story behind the independent beer subscription business, how it connects drinkers with breweries, and why the people behind the beer matter just as much as what’s in the can. Olly takes me back to Brewser’s beginnings during COVID, when he was living in a tiny home in mid-Wales and the...

In this episode I’m joined by Natalya Watson to talk about beer education, tasting and judging. Nat is an Advanced Cicerone, Beer Sommelier and WSET educator, as well as an experienced beer judge. Learning about beer What do you actually learn when you study beer? We talk about WSET and how a more structured approach to tasting can change the way you experience what’s in your glass. How to taste b...

Dean Baker, co-founder of Baker's Dozen Brewery, joins Martin to talk about the journey from running a pub to building a small independent brewery with his wife Jill. Founded in 2015, Baker's Dozen is a five-barrel brewery where Dean and Jill do everything themselves, from brewing and cleaning to deliveries, sales and marketing. We chat about how the brewery started, the influence of Oakham and Br...

In this episode Martin speaks to Ben Addison, Head Brewer at Tap Social Movement in Oxford, about brewing beer with a purpose. Ben shares his journey into brewing, from starting at Purity Brewing and working on large automated brewery systems to joining Tap Social and developing his skills on a hands-on manual brew kit. He also explains how hop dipping works and how the technique can create smooth...

What does it really take to build a successful independent bar and brewery in the UK? In this episode I sat down with John Gyngell, the founder of North Bar in Leeds, to talk about almost 30 years in hospitality, beer and the independent brewing industry. John opened North Bar at just 24 years old, initially with no grand plan to create a craft beer institution. Leeds simply lacked the kind of ind...

What does it take to build an independent brewery from the ground up? In this episode of The Beer Rep Chats With, Martin sits down with George Parker Collins, co-founder and head brewer of Bluntrock Brewery in Rock, North Cornwall, to hear the story behind one of Cornwall's most distinctive independent breweries. George grew up in Burton upon Trent, surrounded by brewing. His parents met while wor...

In this episode of Beer Rep Chats , I'm joined by Jack Hobday, co-founder of Anspach & Hobday , for an in-depth conversation about the remarkable rise of London Black, one of the UK's most talked-about nitro porters. Jack shares the story of how two friends turned a homebrewing hobby into one of London's most respected independent breweries, the inspiration behind London Black, and why it has...

Alcohol-free beer has come a long way in a short space of time, but what's really driving its growth? This week on The Beer Rep Chats With, I'm joined by Sam, founder of We Can Be Friends, one of the UK's few breweries dedicated solely to alcohol-free beer. We dive into Sam's journey from production brewer to launching an alcohol-free beer brand, why collaborations have played such a huge role in...

This week on The Beer Rep Chats With, I'm joined by Kuba Zaleski, brewer at 3 Locks Brewing , to explore his journey from homebrewing to crafting award-worthy beers beside London's iconic Regent's Canal. We discuss how a chance encounter with a bottle of Hobgoblin sparked a brewing career, and why great brewing is about far more than just recipes. Kuba shares his passion for traditional European b...

This week on The Beer Rep Chats With, I'm joined by Ryan Dack, General Manager of Vibrant Forest Brewery. We dive into the brewery's 15-year journey from a garage brewing project to one of the UK's most respected independent breweries. Ryan shares the story behind their iconic Pupa Pale Ale, how the brewery has adapted through changing beer trends, the importance of collaboration in the independen...

This week on The Beer Rep Chats With , I’m joined by Todd Fullarton of Wilful Beer, one of the UK craft beer scene’s fastest rising breweries and multiple gold medal winners at BeerX and Maltings Fest. We dive into Todd’s journey from TQ Beer Works to launching Wilful Beer in 2024, why modern West Coast IPA deserves more attention in the UK, and how the brewery built such a strong identity from da...

This week, I’m joined by Kevin Kelly of Howe Beer Project, fresh off winning Best New Independent Brewery at BeerX. But what really sets them apart? Community. We dive into how Howe Beer Project was built with people at its core, creating a space that’s welcoming, inclusive, and designed to bring locals together. From turning a huge empty venue into a thriving taproom/brewery, to focusing on custo...

In this episode of The Beer Rep Chats With, I’m joined by Ross Gandon, founder of Swallow Brew Co, a new independent brewery based on the outskirts of Folkestone, Kent. Ross shares his journey through the highs and lows of the beer industry, from previous ventures like Angels & Demons and McCann’s Brewery, to starting fresh with a smaller, more creative setup focused on quality, experimentatio...

In this episode of The Beer Rep Chats With, Martin speaks with Ash Corbett-Collins, Chairman of CAMRA, about the growing challenges facing UK pubs and independent breweries. From pub closures and rising costs to the lack of access to market, this conversation dives into why it’s becoming harder for drinkers to find local, independent beer—and what needs to change. Ash also shares insights on CAMRA...

From brewing 100-litre batches beneath a 16th-century pub to building a thriving modern brewery and taproom, this episode dives deep into the journey of Abyss Brewing with founders Andrew and Andy. We explore how a passion for hoppy beers, inspired by early UK craft pioneers and US influences, turned into a business built on creativity, community, and constant evolution. Starting under The Pelham...

In this episode of The Beer Rep Chats With , I’m joined once again by Neil Walker from the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates to reflect on the progress of the Indie Beer Campaign one year after its launch. When Neil first joined me on the podcast, the campaign had only just begun. Now, twelve months later, we look at how the movement has grown across the UK, with hundreds of breweries...

In this episode of The Beer Rep Chats With , Martin sits down with Elizabeth Townsend, co-founder of Kerroo Brewing on the Isle of Man, to explore the realities of building an independent brewery in a unique island environment. Elizabeth shares the story behind starting Kerroo Brewing, the motivations that drove her into brewing, and how location influences everything from sourcing ingredients and...

In this episode of The Beer Rep Chats With , Martin sits down with Matt Gorecki from Zapato Brewing to explore the realities of building an independent brewery in today’s UK beer landscape. Matt shares the story behind Zapato Brewing — from early days working in hospitality and beer festivals to launching a nomadic brewery, navigating the pandemic, and building a thriving taproom inside a converte...

The Beer Rep Chats With celebrates the UK’s independent beer scene. Join me as I chat with brewers, brewery founders, and the people shaping the future of independent beer. Expect stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the art, science, and culture of independent beer. Follow us so you never miss a conversation with the people making the beer you love. Have any questions about the...

In this episode of The Beer Rep Chats With, Martin is joined by Peter Kennelly, Head of Sales at Pillars Brewery , London’s first independent brewery dedicated exclusively to lager. Peter shares his journey through the UK beer industry, from hospitality, BrewDog and Siren Craft Brew, to how he found himself helping grow one of the country’s most respected premium lager breweries. Together, they ex...

In this episode of The Beer Rep Chats With, Martin sits down with Dominic Driscoll, Production Manager and award-winning brewer at Thornbridge Brewery. Dominic shares his journey into brewing, from early days at Marble Brewery to helping shape one of the UK’s most respected independent breweries. The conversation explores how the UK beer scene has evolved over the last 20 years, why Jaipur became...

In the final episode of The Fab Four series, Martin sits down with Ben Saward and Simon Whittington from Muntons to explore the malt that shapes every beer we drink. They break down the malting process of steeping, germination, and kilning, and explain the differences between base malts, specialty malts, roasted malts, and adjuncts. The conversation dives into brewing science, malt extract, consis...

This episode is Part Three of The Fab Four Series, where Martin breaks down the core foundations of brewing with industry experts. Martin is joined by Iain Kenny of Murphy & Son for a practical and approachable look at how water treatment impacts beer. They discuss how water chemistry shapes beer styles, the challenges brewers commonly face, how to build accurate water profiles, and the import...

In this episode of The Beer Rep Chats With, Martin continues The Fab Four mini-series exploring the four core ingredients of beer, this time focusing on the unsung hero of brewing — yeast. Joining him is Paul Malcolm from WHC Lab, a biotechnology company based in Ireland that’s leading innovation in yeast and fermentation. Together, they dive deep into how yeast shapes the flavour, aroma, and mout...