Brewers Journal Podcast

It goes by a lot of names. Near-beer; non-alcohol beer; no-alcohol beer; non-alcoholic beer; NA, or malt beverage. But for most of the last 40 years or so, ‘good’ is not something it’s been called. Because of the negative stigma that goes with drinking non-alcohol beer, in the States bartenders have been even known to pour the drink into a glass in a cheeky manner so no one can see with the patron is drinking. However, those days are over. Non-alcohol beers are beginning to make an impact on sales and consumer tastes as drinkers look for alternatives to regular beer and spirits. In this episode of the Brewers Podcast – brought to you by Beerwulf – your host Velo Mitrovich will be looking at the recent growth of this market, how the beers are made, and why this time will be different for non-alcohol drinks which have seen so many starts and stops before. Get a pouring and get a tasting – you just might be surprised. SUPPORTER Support for this episode comes fromBeerwulf Beerwulf understands that never before have so many incredible flavours, styles and brands been waiting to be discovered. That’s why Beerwulf has built an online-store to make it easier for you to find delicious beer in a way that’s affordable, convenient and fun. Beerwulf.com gives you access to hundreds of beers, from local and international brewers at the touch of a button, delivered direct to your doorstep in just 24 hours. To find out more about Beerwulf head on over to Beerwulf.com and discover your new favourite beer, whether it’s a New England IPA or a Belgian Blonde there’s a world of beer to unlock. Cheers to that!

We head to the Beavertown Brewery in Tottenham Hale to sit down with founder Logan Plant and discuss the plans for the 500,000hl brewery in Enfield called: Beaverworld. We talk about the pains of growing a brewery, the toll it takes on mental health and your family. Logan gives his advice to brewers embarking on the same journey. And, we talk about partnering with Heineken, the opportunity it gives the brewery and some of the criticism brewers can face when partnering with “big beer”. GUEST Logan Plant, Beavertown

There are two ways to start a craft brewery business. The first is to be born with a silver spoon, have deep-pocketed investors who see your potential, or have fantastic money-raising skills. Any or all of these means you can start with decent new equipment, can afford to pay for a small staff, and even go on a holiday once a year. But, then there is how the majority of us start; with one other partner, a wallet full of maxed-out credit cards, friends or spouses who schlep for free, a willingness to say goodbye to weekends and quality of life; a couple of good core beers, and a wing and a prayer. And, when you look over at your partner, you think: ‘Thank god one of us is knows how to plumb.” We’re borrowing an episode this week from Reby Media’s The Food Business, in which host Rhian Owen talks to Dan Snow, co-founder of Bristol’s Cocksure Brewery. Dan takes us on a tour of his brewery and offers helpful tips on where they’ve saved money, where they’ve splurged it, and discusses the pitfall of any new business. You’ll also hear why Rhian calls the Cocksure lads the ‘scrap metalers’ of the brewers’ world. Enjoy

One of the toughest decisions you’ll make as a brewer is to expand or not; and if you’re a small brewer, the decision is a thousand times harder. In the second of our Brewers Journal podcasts, we’re going to give you advice and help in answering this crucial decision. There are some tough questions you will need to be asking yourself, but the number one question has to be: what are YOU looking for in growing your business. Besides bringing in some industry experts, we’ll also be looking at some similar industries whose owners go through the exact same dilemma. “Growth is the outcome of business done well; it should not be the goal.” Velo Mitrovich of Reby Media and MC of the recent Brewers Congress, will explain all in this entertaining and informative podcast. GUESTS Stuart Howe, Harbour Brewing Jenn Merrick, Earth Station

The clock is ticking. She’s staring at her choices in a pub; he’s looking at the shelf of a bottle shop. Are they going to pick your beer or the other guy’s? To lure in that first-time buyer, what you have on the outside of your can or bottle can be just as important as what is inside. In this first episode of the Brewers Journal Podcast, we’ll be talking to Magic Rock, Cloudwater and Beavertown about their own beer branding and marketing. By telling a compelling story through branding and positioning – which all three have done – you’re going to connect with a certain kind of person. If you do this right – through great beer, branding, marketing, and service – they’ll become your biggest fans and evangelists. And in fact, if you do this really right, you’re going to turn some people off – but that’s okay. To find out why, just listen to the podcast. Velo Mitrovich of Reby Media and MC of the recent Brewers Congress, will explain all in this entertaining and informative podcast. GUESTS Nick Dwyer, Beavertown Richard Burhouse and Rich Norgate, Magic Rock Vicky Carr and Chris Shearston, Textbook Design Studios