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

This episode marks a turning point for the Hop Forward Podcast as it will be the last episode of the show before we go on hiatus (or a 'hop rest' as we prefer to call it) for a while.  In this episode, Nick shares his reasons why he's taking some time away from the show.Following this introspection, he dives into a compelling beer conversation with Cameron Brown, the co-founder of Turning Point Brew Co. Together, they explore the brewery's growth journey, navigating the challenges of the pandemic, and the exciting transition into Rooster's former brewery.THIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF THE HOP FORWARD PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY CHARLES FARAM.Charles Faram have been sellers of hops since 1865 and hop-growers for even longer.They stock nitrogen-flushed leaf hops, T90 and T45 pellets, and, to ensure their hops remain in optimum condition, they have state-of-the-art cold stores at their sites in Worcestershire and Yakima in the USA.At charlesfaram.com brewers can shop by pay-as-you-go or using agreed credit terms for yeast, malt, fruit purees and other brewing products.  In addition to leading varieties from across the world, the Faram’s Family range brings to you Archer®, Emperor®, Godiva™, Harlequin®, Jester®, Most™, Mystic™, Olicana®, and Opus® from their Hop Development Programme right here in the UK.If you would like more information or expert advice visit the brewer’s resources and FAQ pages of the website or contact their technical advisors for different uses, applications and recipes. They’re always really happy to help.Visit www.charlesfarm.co.uk to find out more.Follow Hop Forward:hopforward.beer | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram

On the podcast this week, Nick is joined by Chris Terry from 86 Carbon to talk about the impacts of climate change on the brewing and hospitality industry and explore ways to make your business more sustainable and eco-friendly.86 Carbon specialise in Accredited Carbon Literacy training, which leads to an understanding of how climate change will affect individuals and the industry around them.  They help those in the brewing sector acquire the skills and knowledge to lower their carbon footprint by as much as 15%, and certification from the Carbon Literacy Project is recognised internationally.Chris and the company support businesses in the brewing and hospitality sector find a pathway to net zero so they can save money, gain customers and protect the planet.In addition, we're joined by Will and Peter from Charles Faram to discuss sustainability on the hop farm and how climate change is and could potentially impact the industry as a whole, including asking the question, 'Will climate change be the end of Citra hops...?!'.THIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF THE HOP FORWARD PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY CHARLES FARAM.Charles Faram have been sellers of hops since 1865 and hop-growers for even longer.They stock nitrogen-flushed leaf hops, T90 and T45 pellets, and, to ensure their hops remain in optimum condition, they have state-of-the-art cold stores at their sites in Worcestershire and Yakima in the USA.At charlesfaram.com brewers can shop by pay-as-you-go or using agreed credit terms for yeast, malt, fruit purees and other brewing products.  In addition to leading varieties from across the world, the Faram’s Family range brings to you Archer®, Emperor®, Godiva™, Harlequin®, Jester®, Most™, Mystic™, Olicana®, and Opus® from their Hop Development Programme right here in the UK.If you would like more information or expert advice visit the brewer’s resources and FAQ pages of the website or contact their technical advisors for different uses, applications and recipes. They’re always really happy to help.Visit www.charlesfarm.co.uk to find out more.Follow Hop Forward:hopforward.beer | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram

Without marketing you may have a flagship beer that no one will ever taste.  Marketing is one the most important aspects of your business that often gets overlooked or is grossly misunderstood as merely posting a few images to social media and watching the sales come flooding in.But in a crowded beer market, how should we be marketing our breweries, bars, bottle shops and brands?  What can we do to stand out on the bar, pop-out of the fridges and get repeated sales?In this week's episode, we return to Moonwake Beer Co (see episode 108) and catch up with Marketing and Events Manager, Sarah Sinclair.  Drawing from a wealth of experience working in beer and hospitality, Sarah took up the position with Moonwake in January 2021, helping the brewery to establish the brand nationally.THIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF THE HOP FORWARD PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY CHARLES FARAM.Charles Faram have been sellers of hops since 1865 and hop-growers for even longer.They stock nitrogen-flushed leaf hops, T90 and T45 pellets, and, to ensure their hops remain in optimum condition, they have state-of-the-art cold stores at their sites in Worcestershire and Yakima in the USA.At charlesfaram.com brewers can shop by pay-as-you-go or using agreed credit terms for yeast, malt, fruit purees and other brewing products.  In addition to leading varieties from across the world, the Faram’s Family range brings to you Archer®, Emperor®, Godiva™, Harlequin®, Jester®, Most™, Mystic™, Olicana®, and Opus® from their Hop Development Programme right here in the UK.If you would like more information or expert advice visit the brewer’s resources and FAQ pages of the website or contact their technical advisors for different uses, applications and recipes. They’re always really happy to help.Visit www.charlesfarm.co.uk to find out more.Follow Hop Forward:hopforward.beer | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram

On this episode of the Hop Forward Podcast, we delve into the often-overlooked art of selling craft beer.  While we've covered a wide range of brewing topics in the past, it's time to explore the other crucial half of the beer industry: sales. We examine the challenges of selling beer and the importance of building trust and relationships with customers.  Featuring the insights of Darren Filsell and Ben Stephenson, seasoned bar owners who are about to launch a Belgian Beer Cafe, Devil’s Depot, in Chesterfield, this episode provides valuable perspectives on what bar owners look for when purchasing beer from breweries.Tune in for an insightful discussion that sheds light on the craft beer sales landscape and offers tips for success in a saturated market with wavering consumer confidence.Nick is also joined by Will and Ben from Charles Faram to discuss dry hopping techniques and how everybody's brewhouse is unique when it comes to adding hops on the cold side.THIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF THE HOP FORWARD PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY CHARLES FARAM.Charles Faram have been sellers of hops since 1865 and hop-growers for even longer.They stock nitrogen-flushed leaf hops, T90 and T45 pellets, and, to ensure their hops remain in optimum condition, they have state-of-the-art cold stores at their sites in Worcestershire and Yakima in the USA.At charlesfaram.com brewers can shop by pay-as-you-go or using agreed credit terms for yeast, malt, fruit purees and other brewing products.  In addition to leading varieties from across the world, the Faram’s Family range brings to you Archer®, Emperor®, Godiva™, Harlequin®, Jester®, Most™, Mystic™, Olicana®, and Opus® from their Hop Development Programme right here in the UK.If you would like more information or expert advice visit the brewer’s resources and FAQ pages of the website or contact their technical advisors for different uses, applications and recipes. They’re always really happy to help.Visit www.charlesfarm.co.uk to find out more.Follow Hop Forward:hopforward.beer | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram

On the Hop Forward Podcast this week, we take a trip to Gritchie Brewing Company: a 'beer farm' located on the Ashcombe Estate near Shaftesbury, owned by acclaimed screenwriter, producer and director Guy Ritchie.Drawing from the land that surrounds the farm, their 20BBL brewhouse sits within rustic stone-built barns, overlooking expansive fields where their own Maris Otter barley is grown for malting and beer production.From the intimate setting of the Brewery Lodge, a secluded private tasting space reserved exclusively for invited guests, we sit down with members from the brewery, the vibrant Compton Abbas Airfield taproom and eatery, and Ritchie's London pub, Lore of the Land, before being joined by Guy Ritchie.Our discussion covers everything from the brewery's beers and the cultivation of Maris Otter barley grown on the estate, to the complexities and challenges inherent in running a brewery set in such a rural area surrounded by country pubs.  We also explore the unique dynamic of having a high-profile figure at the helm and how it influences the brewery's identity and operations.Guy Ritchie himself explains how growing up in pubs fostered his interest in storytelling and explains why believes that there's no such thing as a bad pub, only different ones, and cherishes the unique character of each one.Find out more about the brewery by visiting gritchiebrew.comTHIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF THE HOP FORWARD PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY CHARLES FARAM.Charles Faram have been sellers of hops since 1865 and hop-growers for even longer.They stock nitrogen-flushed leaf hops, T90 and T45 pellets, and, to ensure their hops remain in optimum condition, they have state-of-the-art cold stores at their sites in Worcestershire and Yakima in the USA.At charlesfaram.com brewers can shop by pay-as-you-go or using agreed credit terms for yeast, malt, fruit purees and other brewing products.  In addition to leading varieties from across the world, the Faram’s Family range brings to you Archer®, Emperor®, Godiva™, Harlequin®, Jester®, Most™, Mystic™, Olicana®, and Opus® from their Hop Development Programme right here in the UK.If you would like more information or expert advice visit the brewer’s resources and FAQ pages of the website or contact their technical advisors for different uses, applications and recipes. They’re always really happy to help.Visit www.charlesfarm.co.uk to find out more.

On the podcast this week, we're joined by Andy from Ampersand Brew Co, based in Diss, Norfolk (UK). Started by a family team of Amy, Andy & Adrian Hipwell in a converted barn on the family farm, the team have now expanded and moved to our current site in Diss.  Their bespoke brewhouse, designed and fabricated to their own unique set up and specification was specifically designed to optimise what they like to brew and to put people at the heart of the brewhouse, to ensure people get home on time.The brewery was set up to produce high-quality small-batch beer, following their simple philosophy of producing the beer we want to drink to the best standard possible.  On their website, Ampersand states, ‘By doing this we hope the beer speaks for itself and that you will enjoy it as much as we do.’Having been kind enough by Andy to send me some of their beers, I can personally attest to the quality of their beers.  Everything from the most straightforward Golden Promise Bitter through to their complex Mixed Ferm Amber Larger truly hit the spot, with no flavour, aroma or mouthfeel out of place.In addition to brewing a variety of clean beer styles, Ampersand has its own barrel farm, purely dedicated to mixed fermentation and wood-aged beers.In this episode, we share a few beers and discuss everything from cask ale, commissioning a new brewhouse and barrel-aged beers, through to how Covid was the catalyst for committing their beers into cans more frequently, which - in turn - allowed the brewery to reach a national audience.THE HOP FORWARD PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY CHARLES FARAMCharles Faram have been sellers of hops since 1865 and hop growers for even longer.They stock nitrogen-flushed leaf hops, T90 and T45 pellets, and, to ensure their hops remain in optimum condition, they have state-of-the-art cold stores at their sites in Worcestershire and Yakima in the USA.At charlesfaram.com brewers can shop by pay-as-you-go or using agreed credit terms for yeast, malt, fruit purees and other brewing products.  In addition to leading varities from across the world, the Faram’s Family range brings to you Archer®, Emperor®, Godiva™, Harlequin®, Jester®, Most™, Mystic™, Olicana®, and Opus® from their Hop Development Programme right here in the UK.If you would like more information or expert advice visit the brewer’s resources and FAQ pages of the website or contact their technical advisors for different uses, application and recipes. They’re always really happy to help.Visit www.charlesfarm.co.uk to find out more.Follow Hop Foward on social media:hopforward.beer | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

On the Hop Forward Podcast this week, Nick & Sean share their Fermenting Thoughts on all things packaging and sustainability.  We discuss everything from the logistics of kegs, supporting venues, the value of cask beer and how simple design elements, such as texture on a label or point-of-sale material - when done properly - can make the difference.THE HOP FORWARD PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY CHARLES FARAMCharles Faram have been sellers of hops since 1865 and hop growers for even longer.They stock nitrogen-flushed leaf hops, T90 and T45 pellets, and, to ensure their hops remain in optimum condition, they have state-of-the-art cold stores at their sites in Worcestershire and Yakima in the USA.At charlesfaram.com brewers can shop by pay-as-you-go or using agreed credit terms for yeast, malt, fruit purees and other brewing products.  In addition to leading varities from across the world, the Faram’s Family range brings to you Archer®, Emperor®, Godiva™, Harlequin®, Jester®, Most™, Mystic™, Olicana®, and Opus® from their Hop Development Programme right here in the UK.If you would like more information or expert advice visit the brewer’s resources and FAQ pages of the website or contact their technical advisors for different uses, application and recipes. They’re always really happy to help.Visit www.charlesfarm.co.uk to find out more.Follow Nick:hopforward.beer | LinkedIn | Twitter | InstagramFollow Sean:LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram

In this episode of the Hop Forward Podcast, Nick chats with Topher Boehm, co-founder of Australia's Wildflower Brewing & Blending.  We discuss everything from how climate change is impacting beer production and Topher's views on terroir and terminology in beer, after reading an article published by Pelicile Magazine recently titled There is No Such Thing as Terroir in Beer.We also chat at length about how the brewery, which focuses on making beer with wild yeasts and bacteria, battled and overcame an infection, which crippled production and beer releases.  We explore how they isolated the source of the infection and the steps they took to identify what it was.THE HOP FORWARD PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY CHARLES FARAMCharles Faram have been sellers of hops since 1865 and hop growers for even longer.They stock nitrogen-flushed leaf hops, T90 and T45 pellets, and, to ensure their hops remain in optimum condition, they have state-of-the-art cold stores at their sites in Worcestershire and Yakima in the USA.At charlesfaram.com brewers can shop by pay-as-you-go or using agreed credit terms for yeast, malt, fruit purees and other brewing products.  In addition to leading varities from across the world, the Faram’s Family range brings to you Archer®, Emperor®, Godiva™, Harlequin®, Jester®, Most™, Mystic™, Olicana®, and Opus® from their Hop Development Programme right here in the UK.If you would like more information or expert advice visit the brewer’s resources and FAQ pages of the website or contact their technical advisors for different uses, application and recipes. They’re always really happy to help.Visit www.charlesfarm.co.uk to find out more.Follow Hop Foward on social media:hopforward.beer | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Nick and Sean's Fermenting Thoughts this week look at the current state of the brewing and hospitality industry across the UK and how some businesses are struggling to survive, while others have come out of the pandemic and are thriving.  We explore some of the reasons why this is the case and take a look at some of the things that all businesses can do to ensure they stay lean and invest in the right areas of their businesses.Follow Nick:hopforward.beer | LinkedIn | Twitter | InstagramFollow Sean:LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram

Beverage can painting has been around since the 1930s but due to the intensive offset lithography process, a common method for printing on aluminium packaging, microbrewers have had to sell massive quantities of cans to justify the cost.Historically, the process has involved prepress preparation of the artwork, followed by the creation of separate printing plates for each colour used in the design.  Ink is applied to the plates, transferred to rubber blanket cylinders, and then onto the aluminium cans as they pass through the printing press.  Each colour is applied in separate passes, and quality control measures ensure the final product meets standards.  After printing, the ink is dried and cured to prevent smudging.But what if there was a way for breweries to utilise the entire can for their artwork without the massive cost or minimum order quantities?  Recently, Oasthouse Engineering - a manufacturer and supplier of cans and machinery in Rotherham, UK, invested in a state-of-the-art digital printer that allows breweries of all shapes and sizes to print their artwork directly onto cans, changing the way that brewers present their beers.As a design and marketing agency, we're heavily invested in making sure our client's beers are presented in the best possible light.  Therefore, we partnered with Oasthouse Engineering for this special episode of the Hop Forward Podcast to discuss all things digital print and cans, before taking a look at the machine and having a few Greg Wallace moments along the way.Many of the leading craft brewers in the UK have already started using Oasthouse Engineering to print their cans, so we ask Sam Morris of the business to talk us through the process and discuss any requirements your own designers may need to be aware of when it comes to setting up designs for print.Moreso, Sam is passionate about sustainability and discusses how on-can digital printing is also beneficial to the recycling chain.To find out more visit https://oasthouse-engineering.com/digitally-printed-cans and visit the Hop Forward Instagram account to see the machine in action.THIS WEEK'S EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY OASTHOUSE ENGINEERINGThis week's episode of the Hop Forward Podcast is brought to you by Oasthouse Engineering.  For over 20 years Oasthouse Engineering has been servicing the food, beverage and drinks dispensing industries. They have worked to secure partnerships with some of the best manufacturers of packaging equipment, as well as significantly investing in their own originally engineered machinery. Whether it be bright, labelled, sleeved or digitally printed cans, Oasthouse Engineering has you covered with low MOQs, excellent customer service and high-quality print and package.Visit oasthouse-engineering.com for more info.Stay tuned to hear more about their state of the art digital printing as we hop into this week’s episode of the Hop Forward Podcast.