Episodios

  • #177 | Laura Rangeley, Abbeydale Brewery

    #177 | Laura Rangeley, Abbeydale Brewery
    May 23 2025
    Across a 12 month period, Laura Rangeley has celebrated 10 years working at Abbeydale Brewery in Sheffield. And in October last year, alongside the rest of the team, Laura and her colleagues became part of an Employee Ownership Trust, taking ownership of the business from founders Patrick and Sue. Not only that her colleague and husband Jim was recognised as the Brewer of the Year at our very own Brewers Choice Awards, too….At the celebrated Abbeydale Brewery in Sheffield, Laura walked through the doors some 10 years ago and never looked back. In that time the marketing and communications manager, and now also co-owner, has seen much change both in the business and her role. And with a myriad of positive changes to have taken place at the business, the brewery is also gearing up for its 30th anniversary in 2026. So in this episode, we speak to Laura about her own journey in beer, her professional development and as co-owner of the Sheffield business, why Abbeydale Brewery feels very much like home. Photo Credit: Noelia Amado
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    20 m
  • #176 | A mutual appreciation

    #176 | A mutual appreciation
    May 16 2025
    In the brewing and distilling industries there is a mutual appreciation of the craftsmanship, skill and process involved in creating these fantastic liquids. And today’s guest, having worked and studied in both fields, is well placed to do just that. Earlier this month Glen Scotia, part of Loch Lomond Distillery, unveiled Glen Scotia 50 Year Old. Glen Scotia Elements of Campbeltown Release Number One: Air is described as an exceptional 50-year-old single malt which marks a pivotal moment in the distillery’s history, as its oldest ever release.And this prestigious release follows on from the launch of Loch Lomond Whiskies 50-year-old single malt. These esteemed liquids have seen the light of day thanks to the stewardship of Michael Henry, a reputed distiller who has a background in both brewing and distilling. A whisky five decades in the making, Loch Lomond 50 Year Old is drawn from Loch Lomond Distillery’s oldest reserves and is exclusively limited to 100 individually-numbered bottles worldwide. Distilled in 1973 in the distillery’s unique straight neck pot stills, it uses 100% unpeated malted barley. It was then aged in a combination of refilled American oak casks, first fill bourbon casks and Oloroso sherry hogsheads. The maturation process was carefully managed by Loch Lomond Whiskies’ master blender, Michael Henry, who joined Loch Lomond Distillery in 2007. And the distillery’s oldest and rarest whisky casks remain exclusively under his personal care.In this episode, Michael talks us through in his involvement in this special project, he takes us through his career to-date and also shares what keeps him driven and inspired.
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    22 m
  • #175 | RedWillow: 15 years young

    #175 | RedWillow: 15 years young
    May 9 2025
    This year RedWillow Brewery is raising a glass to 15 years of brewing bold, balanced beers. They’re marking the milestone with a packed calendar of collaborations, reimagined classics, and monthly giveaways — as well as a recent haul of prestigious awards.Starting out in 2010, RedWillow Brewery has long since established itself as a leading light in UK brewing. Founded by Toby and Caroline McKenzie, the business has grown and evolved without ever undermining its core values.To mark this prestigious anniversary in 2025, RedWillow is launching a year-long series of collaborations with some of the UK’s most respected breweries, including DEYA, Lost and Grounded, The Kernel, Thornbridge and more. These limited-edition beers will roll out throughout 2025, showcasing the creativity and community spirit that continues to drive the UK craft beer scene.And for Toby, the occasion gives him and the team the opportunity to reflect on a job well done. A brewery that was inspired by their early peers is now one that is revered and regarded by countless others. In this episode we take a whistle stop look back on the brewery’s journey to-date and discuss the creativity, passion, and friendships that make this industry so special.
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    17 m
  • #174 | Early milestones and building business

    #174 | Early milestones and building business
    May 2 2025
    Securing important early listings is a milestone of any new business. And earlier this spring, Red Fin Cider did just that by sealing a listing for both its Fresh Apple and their Meloncherry styles at Waitrose. 44 Waitrose stores now stock Red Fin Cider, a product launched by three industry veterans and friends, Freddie Rouse, Dave Tugwell and Graeme Baldwin, who saw a need for a new and vibrant brand in the category that was both independently craft but also accessible and a real celebration of Somerset apples, delivering a cider that stacks up in the world of craft beer. This follows on from the business quickly establishing itself in the on-trade, already gaining a significant national presence and loyal following since its launch in June 2024, becoming one of the fastest-growing cider brands and drinks brands in the UK. So what better time to revisit our conversation with co-founder Dave Tugwell. In this episode we reflect on how launching a new business is always an exciting time and a challenging one, too. He talks through the company’s journey so far. We also discuss the trio launching into a competitive category, its place in the wider world of craft beer and its commitment to showing consumers that cider can, and should be, fun.
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    32 m
  • #173 | Taprooms, the latest legislation and how it impacts you

    #173 | Taprooms, the latest legislation and how it impacts you
    Apr 25 2025
    Changes to off-sales, Martyn's Law, amendments to smoking rules and introduction of Digital IDs are all key developments that those owning and running taprooms need to be aware of. So with that in mind, we welcomed Piers Warne of TLT to our Brewers Lectures in Bristol last month. Piers has 20- plus years’ experience licensing premises for the sale of alcohol and other licensable activities. This includes licensing breweries for direct sales to customers, online sales and for tap rooms. He has acted on the licensing around sale and purchase of major breweries and small start-ups across the country and on registrations for AWRS and other relevant certificates. As well as breweries, Piers has licensed major events, such as the King’s Coronation, large event spaces and festivals and every kind of pub, bar and nightclub you can think of.
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    15 m
  • #172 | Building a Brewery

    #172 | Building a Brewery
    Apr 18 2025
    Earlier this month Lost Cause Brewing, the independent brewery, founded in 2024 by Vik and Colin Stronge, completed a crowdfunding campaign help to bring beer production home to Castleford. So what better time to hear from one of the excellent brewery's founders. Whie Lost Cause Brewing might be new, its founders are no strangers to making great beer. Head brewer Colin Stronge has spent over 20 years crafting beers at some of the UK’s most celebrated breweries, including Marble Beers, Buxton Brewery, Northern Monk, Black Isle, and Salt Beer Factory. His beers have poured at the most prestigious craft beer festivals around the world, earning him Brewer of the Year 2022 at our Brewers Choice Awards as well as a dedicated following among beer enthusiasts. And last year we were thrilled that Colin used our Brewers Lectures at the excellent Wiper and True in Bristol to showcase these debut Lost Cause beers for the first time. During his talk, Colin talked us through his career to-date. But more importantly, he outlines his goals for Lost Cause Brewing Co and why sometimes you need a little bit of discomfort to give you that push in life.
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    18 m
  • #171 | John Driebergen, Great Beyond Brewing Company

    #171 | John Driebergen, Great Beyond Brewing Company
    Apr 11 2025
    Opening your own brewery, at any point is time, comes with its own challenges and hurdles to overcome. Just ask the team at Great Beyond Brewing Company, and many of their peers. But John Driebergen, Ollie Parker and Nick Walsh have shown that with hard work, determination and a wealth of brewing skill you can succeed. Their ever-popular taproom in Hoxton, London, is testament to just that. And in their formative first years they have sealed a trio of awards at our very own Brewers Choice Awards - winning accolades in 2024 for 'Beer of the Year', 'New Beer of the Year' and 'New Brewery of the Year'. In this episode, recorded live in Bristol, John Driebergen stresses the balance between structure and creativity, the significance of sensory analysis, and the impact of leadership and delegation on brewery culture. He concludes by also underscoring the need for breweries to adapt, listen, and empower their teams to thrive.
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    26 m
  • #170 | Tim Weaver, The Brand Weaver

    #170 | Tim Weaver, The Brand Weaver
    Apr 4 2025
    How can you help keep your brewery relevant for the next generation? Tim Weaver, founder of The Brand Weaver, is on hand to tell you how. The Brand Weaver is an agency on a mission to even the playing field in brewery branding and marketing. Right now, he explains, a handful of breweries dominate with slick branding and sharp messaging—while the rest are left behind. Tim is here to change that. His work has helped breweries double their revenue, land two new trade accounts a week, and even win Brewery Rebrand of the Year. Because when branding is done right, the beer is left to do the talking. In this podcast, recorded live at our Brewers Lectures in Bristol in March, he explains why traditional SEO no longer cuts it, argues how the world is changing faster than ever before, and why it's imperative to diversify or die.
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    32 m
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