This week, on the Hop Forward Podcast, we talk to a businessman who is going after the macro-brands with his eco-friendly, vegan lager, Bumble Beer.

Jason Winter is the entrepreneur behind Bumble Beer: a premium, pilsner-style craft lager that is fully vegan on a mission to save our nation’s bees, provided sustainability within the entire supply chain for both his brand and other brewers to build upon, and promote eco-conscious causes.

At the heart of Bumble Beer are a set of founding principle that all brewers and people in the business of beer could learn from.

Jason shares his experiences as a marketer and brand builder on contract brewing, generating press, bringing his product to market and the securing sales, without being able to brew himself.

For more information visit http://www.bumblebeer.net/

Fermenting Thoughts are bonus mini-episodes aimed at getting you ahead in the brewing and beer business where Hop Forward founder, Nick Law, shares his knowledge, thoughts and expertise on various aspects of running a beer business.

In this episode, Nick explore why branding is so important for you and your beer business and share about the best beer you'll never try.

We explore what a brand isn't (hint: it's not just a snazzy logo!) and explore various aspects of what a brand is and what makes a good brand.

If you want to find out more about brands and how Hop Forward can help develop your brand for your beer business, visit www.hopforward.beer/brands

Our senses and being able bodied is something many of us take for granted. But how would you respond if you were to lose your eyesight, hearing or a limb?

Life for you would change dramatically as the everyday things we take for granted, such as ordering a pint over the bar or navigating through your favourite brewery tap room, would suddenly become extremely challenging.

Unfortunately, this is how many people live their everyday lives. And there are a group of brewers who are passionate about beer and disabilities in Glasgow looking to do something about it...

Ride Brew Co, Late Night Hype and Bute Brew Co took up the challenge with the help of Social Enterprise Scotland to create Glasgow's first 100% accessible tap room.

And while their crowdfunding campaign was unsuccessful (for reasons which will become apparent when listening to the podcast), the respective breweries are still looking to fund the venture out of their own pockets to realise their vision.

We talk to Div and Simon from Ride Brew Co at this year’s SIBA Beer X about the ambitious project.

For more information on the project, visit http://www.glasgowbrewerycollective.co.uk/

Make sure you subscribe to our social media feeds @hopforwardbeers and visit our website www.hopforward.beer for more articles and podcasts like this one, as well as a range of brewery consultancy and branding services aimed at getting you ahead in the brewing and beer business.

There's never been a better time to keg beer. One way packaging means brewers don't have to round up empty steel kegs from bars and pubs, whilst landlords can dispose easily of the container once it's been used... right?!

But where do our one-way kegs end up? Many can't be recycled easily.

That's where Ecokeg are fighting the battle of sustainability with their line of fully recycled and recyclable kegs.

This week, we catch up with Lewis Jones from Ecokeg looking at the various disciplines brewers and bars can do to ensure they stay green, and talk about entering into kegs for those who haven't yet taken the plunge.

Also, Nick shares his secret idea that's going to make him a millionaire overnight...!

Fore more info on Ecokeg, visit www.ecokeg.com

SIBA, the Society of Independent Brewers, was established in 1980 to represent the interests of the growing number of breweries in Britain, and currently represents around 830 independent craft breweries in the UK.

Regardless of your own thoughts on SIBA, there’s no denying their active role in lobbying government helped bring about Small Breweries’ Relief, which has played a pivotal role in the new wave of independent breweries launch since the turn of the Millennium.

Plus, they hold the 2nd largest industry trade show in Europe with a national beer competition - a well attended event and highlight in many brewer’s calendar.

In this week's episode, we catch up with Head of Public Affairs and Communications, James Calder, to throw some challenging questions in his direction about the role of SIBA for independent brewers, and talk about Peanut Butter Snickers Stouts!

For more information on SIBA, visit www.siba.co.uk

When news broke that Magic Rock Brewing sold their fledgling business to Australia's Lion, Twitter started trending with #MagicRock as people in droves started discussing 'What does this mean?!' yet again.

Hot on the heels after independent bottle shop closures and Tesco's all-singing, all-dancing craft beer range moving up a gear, the perfect storm was brewing for emotions to run high and opinions to get aired in the echo-chamber of social media.

So, we felt it was the perfect opportunity to reach out once again to beer writer Matthew Curtis to discuss everything from brewery sell-ups, supermarket beer, and 'Bread Twitter'.

Abbeydale Brewery have been around the block and then some!

Founded by Patrick Morton and with his father Hugh in 1996, they quickly carved out a reputation for themselves in Sheffield and beyond by brewing traditional cask beers such as the award winning 'Moonshine', 'Daily Bread' and 'Absolution'.

Over the last three years, Abbeydale Brewery have grown substantially, re-establishing themselves in the market with their Emporium range and barrel-ageing and souring project, the Funk Dungeon.

In this week's episode, we talk to Sales Director, Dan Baxter, and Head of Marketing, Laura Rangeley, about what makes Abbeydale so successful, how they managed to shake off some of the old perceptions surrounding 'traditional ales' vs 'craft beer' and talk about what lays ahead for this fledgeling brewery.

In this week's episode, we catch up with Charles Sibbald, a man who built his own canning machine!

Having been challenged by a fellow brewer to come up with a solution for his own brewery, he set his hand and finances towards developing a micro-canning line for breweries similar to his own.

Charles talks about the advantages and disadvantages of cans over bottles, what brewers should consider when moving to canned products, and talks us through his machine whilst at SIBA Beer X a couple of weeks ago.

Yeastie Boys isn't your conventional brewery. They span the northern and southern hemisphere, operating out of the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia, their products are readily available in national supermarkets, and yet they don't own a brewhouse of their own.

This week we talk to the benevolent dictator of the Yeastie Boys, Stu McKinlay, about moving his family from New Zealand to brew their beers at Brew Dog and establish beers like Gunnamatta and Digital IPA.

Now, Yeastie Boys has a head brewer and brews out of Dark Revolution Brewery as well as across the country, collaborating with the likes of Thornbridge, Abbeydale Brewery, Vocation and many more.

Also, Nick shares some exciting news from SIBA Beer X...!

In this week's episode we chat to Willy Mayne of Bullhouse Brew Co based in Belfast, who talks about some of the difficulties selling beer in Northern Ireland due to archaic laws surrounding licensing and public houses, exporting to mainland Britain and the challenges with wholesalers, and moving beer into the Republic of Ireland; also discussing what Brexit could beer for craft beer in Northern Ireland.