Hop Forward: Getting You Ahead in the Brewing and Beer Business

Hops really are the star of the show as far as most modern beers are concerned. However, have you stopped to consider how they're grown and farmed, and their journey from field to glass? We join Will Kirby, who left his job in the city to start a family hop farm, and discuss the joys and challenges that face growing and harvesting hops, how Brexit could effect the industry, and the future of the B...

The old adage is true: 'Brewers make work; yeast makes beer'. However, as brewers, we have much control over how our yeast performs. Healthy, consistent fermentation is at the heart of every brew house, so it's important that a brewer knows how to take care of their yeast. This week, we talk to Casey Helwig from Imperial Yeast based in Portland, Oregon, about the differences between dried and wet...

Magic Rock Brewing have been at the forefront of the UK craft beer scene for eight years. Drawing inspiration from the American market, founder and director Richard Burhouse set to work building a brewery alongside head brewer, Stuart Ross (formerly of Kelham Island Brewery and Crown Brewery in Sheffield) to develop one of the leading modern breweries in the town of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. L...

We all have to start somewhere, and for many, that's setting up a brewery in their kitchen or a shipping container. However, some people enjoy operating on a small scale and wish to stay that way, whilst others use that time to reinvest their money and their skills back into the business in order to grow. Whatever your reasons for running a nano brewery, it can come with its own set of unique chal...

This week, we chat with Chicago Tribune beer writer and author of 'Barrel Aged Stout and Selling Out', Josh Noel. Nick and Josh discuss the lack of transparency by companies such as Anheuser Busch (AB-InBev) and why craft beer customers often feel betrayed when their breweries seemingly 'sell out' to raise capital for growth. Check out Josh Noel's blog at www.joshnoel.net and purchase his book onl...

Hops are often the flavour of the day, with poor old malt being something of an after thought. But without malt, there would be no beer! And, in this week's episode, we talk to a man who not only knows malt, but is a Master Brewer with decades of experience in the beer industry. Carl Heron from Crisp Malting Group talks about malt, how the beer industry has changed, and looks into his crystal ball...

Dark City is Northern Monk's annual beer festival celebrating all things dark. Showcasing a range Imperial Stouts, Black IPAs and dark wild beers from a variety of international breweries, the festival has carved itself out as an iconic event in the annual beer calendar. Nick & Paddy venture to Leeds (the 'London of the North') to chat about everything from cask beer, festivals, and Crunchies,...

In summer, we caught up with Master Brewer Alex Barlow from Sheffield's Sentinel Brewing Co. Covering a range of topics from lagering, running a tap room, the perils of the beer industry, and the challenges of running an ambitious, multi-million-pound project, Alex graciously shares what he learns from his experience after the company entered a Voluntary Creditors Arrangement (VCA), as well as his...

It is widely reported that Millennials and Gen Z are drinking less alcohol than previous generations. "Twenty years of anti-drug, anti-smoking and anti-alcohol education has done its job: it is no longer 'uncool' to not drink or take drugs," Berenberg analysts wrote in a beverage-industry report published in September. As a result, there has been as rising trend in non-alcoholic and low alcohol be...

Untappd and Twitter have a special place in the hearts of brewers and those within the industry. Not only can it be a great way to engage directly with your customers, but its also very satisfying to see who is drinking your beers and where. However, social media platforms such as these have a darker side to them. Negative comments can leave a nasty taste in the mouths of brewers (though some cust...

Clowne: Where the hell is Clowne? In our first episode, Nick pays a visit to the remote ex-mining town in Derbyshire to visit two entrepreneurs who successfully have set up a craft beer bar and brewery in the most unlikely of locations