Brewers Journal Podcast

Caitlín McErlean, part of the Manchester-based Cloudwater team, took a unique path to brewing after studying Chinese Studies. She shares her first taste of the diverse beer world at a Durham pub and her journey as a brewing apprentice. Caitlín now focuses on crafting innovative no- and low-alcohol beers, like alcohol-free Negroni sours. The discussion also touches on the importance of inclusivity in brewing, ensuring everyone can enjoy unique flavors while emphasizing sustainability and creativity in the craft beer scene.

“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.

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 MacPherson Photo Credit: Milly Fletcher

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.

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

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.

Vinnie Cilurzo, co-founder of Russian River Brewing Company, shares insights on brewing and community impact. He discusses the staggering $8.6 million economic boost from releasing Pliny the Younger. Vinnie highlights the brewery's commitment to quality and tradition while innovating with new hop varieties. The conversation also delves into the importance of maintaining a strong identity amid the diverse craft beer landscape. With Pliny the Younger’s high anticipation, Vinnie emphasizes customer care and a philosophy of steady growth.

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.

Some things are just meant to be. And today’s guests are an example of just that. When Young’s ceased its London brewing operations in 2006, it looked to signal the end of a historic site where beer has been brewed since at least 1533. The brewery would officially close on 25th September 2006 but, thanks to John Hatch, a nano-brewery was kept on-site throughout construction and development. This ensured that Ram Quarter would remain Britain’s oldest continuous working brewery. And two years later in 2008 a new brewery – Sambrook’s – was founded just down the road in Battersea. In the decade that would follow, Sambrook’s would go from strength-to-strength accelerating its need for new premises. And in the same period, development plans for Ram Quarter continued at pace. Thankfully its owners Greenland Group had developed a vision of the quarter’s industrial brewing heritage through discussions with Wandsworth Council and other key stakeholders. Come 2019 Roger Mears Architects was appointed to work with Sambrook’s Brewery on its relocation to the Ram Quarter. The project provided a solution to the vacant site addressing the setting through the creation of a working Brewery linked to a Taproom and a Heritage Centre and shop. And in opening its new site, the Sambrook’s team would welcome the legendary John Hatch to their team. As someone who had kept brewing going on the site, brewery founder Duncan Sambrook and the team knew that John becoming part of Sambrook’s made complete and total sense for all involved. As heritage brewer at Sambrook’s John complements a brewing team led by head brewer Harley Williams, an experienced leader that helped oversee the move to the company’s fantastic new premises. In this episode we speak to John and Harley about life in Wandsworth, John’s storied brewing background, their love and commitment to cask and how, together, they continue to help make Sambrook’s a beer destination in the capital that’s not to be missed.

Did you know that in addition to our Brewers Journal Podcast, we also run The Distillers Journal Podcast, too? And there’s where today’s guest episode comes from. If we’re lucky our careers, coupled with an appetite for new experiences, can allow us to visit, work and live in different countries around the world. And in the case of today’s guest, she’s done just that. And as a result the Scottish distilling industry is all the better for it. Because the Scottish Whisky industry is blessed with a wealth of fantastic, talented individuals. But there’s probably very whose journey has taken them from Sweden via Paris then eventually, aged 21, to Scotland. But that’s exactly how Jenny Karlsson did it. Jenny has a decorated career in Whisky that has taken in roles at outfits such as Springbank, Kilkerran and Brown-Forman, as well as studies at the world-famous Heriot-Watt University. And for the last four-plus years, she has been the marketing communications manager at Ardnamurchan Distillery.Established in 2014, the distillery embodies the spirit of its namesake peninsula, renowned for its wild landscapes and untamed character.  From traditional double distillation to blockchain technology, Ardnamurchan embrace heritage, innovation and sustainable practises throughout the whisky making process.  They use a traditional mix of American and European oak, ex-sherry casks and American oak ex-bourbon casks to mature the biggest share of their whisky, but they also enjoy having fun with other types of oak casks that have previously held anything from white wine to Mezcal, and Sauternes to Madeira.And in this episode of The Distillers Journal Podcast, we delve into Jenny’s career in the whiskey industry and the impact that social media and video-sharing platforms such as YouTube have had on the sector. We also discuss the importance of striking a work/life balance, especially when you have a young family, Jenny’s love of knowledge sharing and education and why now, after roles at a number of other revered distilleries, she says her position at Ardnamurchan feels tailor-made for her.