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

In these Fermenting Thoughts, Nick and Sean get festive and discuss plans for Christmas and our ideal cask beers for Christmas, which leads us on to a question, 'What Makes a Good Pub?'.  Sean shares from his experience of running hospitality venues over the many years why a pub should be like a warm hug, while Nick goes off on a rant about some craft beer venues alienating families with children while, at the same time, claiming they're 'inclusive'.

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On Monday 4th December 2022, it was announced that Warrington's Twisted Wheel Brew Co had ceased trading.  Numerous factors contributed to the closing of this much loved brewery, including Covid, consumer confidence, cost of living crisis and the escalating costs of raw materials.

The announcement came within days of Wild Beer Co - a brewery renown for its barrelling programme - statement that they had gone into administration and were seeking a buyer for the business.

As you can imagine, the craft beer industry is on tenterhooks right now as businesses throughout the supply chain do what they can to survive the bleak midwinter.

Former Twisted Wheel brewer, Anthony Barrett, joins us this week to share his experiences of working as a brewer over the years, including his time at Vocation Brewery, and shares his reflections on the state of the industry and moving forward once a brewery has ceased trading.

This conversation was recorded the day after the announcement went live.  By the time you're listening to this, Twisted Wheel may be resurrected with Anthony at the helm or may, like many other, be another causality of the economic wrecking ball.

We're also joined again this week by Will Rogers, Technical Director of Charles Faram & Co, who gives us an update on their breeding programme.

THIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF THE PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY:

Charles Faram & Co
Charles Faram have been hop factors and merchants since 1865 and hop growers for even longer than that.  

While importing a vast catalogue of international hops, they have also developed their own varieties through their Hop Development Program set up to create wildly different aromas and flavours whilst also working closely with growers to produce varieties with good yields and disease resistance.

Every year a new class of plants are set off on their journey, involving disease assessments, aroma assessments, plot and brewing trials, to get from 10,000 individual variety seedlings to one super successful variety for commercial release.  The Faram’s Family range brings to you Archer®, Emperor™, Godiva™, Harlequin®, Jester®, Most™ (pronounced Moss-t – it’s Czech for bridge), Mystic™, Olicana®, and Opus™.

They stock nitrogen flushed leaf hops, Type 90 pellets 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 in the UK and Yakima in the USA, with their Yakima site being a staging point for quality checks and the safe journey of US hops to the UK

Charles Faram are fully committed to providing quality hops to customers at home and around the globe through their Well-hopped quality program.

Did you know that they also supply yeast, malt, fruit purees and other brewing products?  Get one delivery and one invoice.  The full range and product specifications can be found on their website charlesfaram.co.uk.

If you would like more information or expert advice on the different uses, applications and recipes, one of their Technical Advisors will be really happy to help.  Visit charlesfaram.co.uk for more details

Notes:

All brand varieties are British and grown in Herefordshire and Worcestershire except for Most™ which is Czech.

Charles Faram have site in the US (Charles Faram Inc), Canada (Charles Faram Brewing Supplies Inc.), and Poland (Charles Faram Europe).

Partners in Charles Faram's portfolio (but aren't limited to):

Fermentis – yeast / Crisp – malt and malt extracts / Weyermann® - speciality malt and malt extracts / Murphy & Son – Brewing aids / Rankin Brothers & Sons – Closures / Totally Natural Solutions – Hop products and non-hop flavourings

https://www.charlesfaram.co.uk/

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In a new series of industry insights, Hop Forward host Nick Law is joined by The Beverage Agent Sean Robertson for their regular reflections on the beer, beverage and hospitality industry.

This week, in response to two announcements from Wild Beer Co and Twisted Wheel, we discuss brewery closures and try to take a practical look at what breweries can do in these unstable economic times to try to save their businesses.

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Times are tough for brewers, retailers, hospitality and supply chain businesses at the moment.  Raw materials, chemicals, packaging costs and even blue roll has increased exponentially in price.  And that's not even to mention business rates, taxation and the like.

In a recent blog post, Steve Dunkley of Manchester's Beer Nouveau reported that no less than 47 breweries have closed in 2022.  Similarly, various announcements from community pubs, beloved craft beer bars and bottle shops have come thick and fast, sometimes with several announcements in one day.

In this week's episode, we're joined by bar and bottle shop owner Dave Hayward from Windsor and Maidenhead's A Hoppy Place to reflect on the issues for beer businesses during these challenging times.  We also discuss tips for brewers looking to sell to independent venues such as his, how pinning your values to the mast is a double-edged sword, and how building a strong community around your brewery or bar creates an asset that no amount of money can buy.

We're also joined by Technical Director Will Rogers of Charles Faram & Co to chat about how brewers can save money with their hop usage, while still creating world class beers with great flavour.

THIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF THE PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY:

Charles Faram & Co
Charles Faram have been hop factors and merchants since 1865 and hop growers for even longer than that.  

While importing a vast catalogue of international hops, they have also developed their own varieties through their Hop Development Program set up to create wildly different aromas and flavours whilst also working closely with growers to produce varieties with good yields and disease resistance.

Every year a new class of plants are set off on their journey, involving disease assessments, aroma assessments, plot and brewing trials, to get from 10,000 individual variety seedlings to one super successful variety for commercial release.  The Faram’s Family range brings to you Archer®, Emperor™, Godiva™, Harlequin®, Jester®, Most™ (pronounced Moss-t – it’s Czech for bridge), Mystic™, Olicana®, and Opus™.

They stock nitrogen flushed leaf hops, Type 90 pellets 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 in the UK and Yakima in the USA, with their Yakima site being a staging point for quality checks and the safe journey of US hops to the UK

Charles Faram are fully committed to providing quality hops to customers at home and around the globe through their Well-hopped quality program.

Did you know that they also supply yeast, malt, fruit purees and other brewing products?  Get one delivery and one invoice.  The full range and product specifications can be found on their website charlesfaram.co.uk.

If you would like more information or expert advice on the different uses, applications and recipes, one of their Technical Advisors will be really happy to help.  Visit charlesfaram.co.uk for more details

Notes:

All brand varieties are British and grown in Herefordshire and Worcestershire except for Most™ which is Czech.

Charles Faram have site in the US (Charles Faram Inc), Canada (Charles Faram Brewing Supplies Inc.), and Poland (Charles Faram Europe).

Partners in Charles Faram's portfolio (but aren't limited to):

Fermentis – yeast / Crisp – malt and malt extracts / Weyermann® - speciality malt and malt extracts / Murphy & Son – Brewing aids / Rankin Brothers & Sons – Closures / Totally Natural Solutions – Hop products and non-hop flavourings

https://www.charlesfaram.co.uk/

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We celebrate episode 150 of the Hop Forward Podcast by travelling to England's Rural Capital of Food to visit Round Corner Brewing.  Situated in the market town of Melton Mowbray, famous for the pork pie, co-founder of the brewery Combie Cryan joins us to answer the question that many brewing businesses may be asking during the current economic crisis: what does it take to run a brewery in 2022?

Over a delightful Baltic Porter, we try to answer that question, while also looking back at the brewery's journey thus far to celebrate the successes and consider the challenges that have presented themselves to their business in particular.

Additionally, Andrew Paterson from Lallelmand joins the show to talk about their latest hybrid-lager strain, Lalbrew NovaLager yeast.  LalBrew NovaLager™ is a true bottom-fermenting Saccharomyces pastorianus hybrid (non-GMO), selected to produce clean lager-style beers with the optimal fermentation performance of ale yeast.

Also, be sure to check out our good friends at Great Beyond Brewing Co in Hoxton, London, who are launching their brewery and taproom this weekend.

THIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF THE PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY:

Lallemand Brewing
LalBrew NovaLager™ is an innovative new hybrid lager yeast from Lallemand brewing. Belonging to the newly created Group 3 lager yeast category, Novalager exhibits increased temperature tolerance for faster and more forgiving fermentations.

Produced using a non-GMO yeast breeding technique, Lalbrew Novalager incorporates a patented technology, which prevents the creation of hydrogen sulphide which can lead to sulphureous off flavours in the final beer. Additionally, Lalbrew Novalager produces a reduced level of diacetyl, allowing for shortened storage times post fermentation.

Lallemand Brewing, ‘We Brew With You’.
https://www.lallemandbrewing.com/

Charles Faram & Co
Charles Faram have been hop factors and merchants since 1865 and hop growers for even longer than that.  

While importing a vast catalogue of international hops, they have also developed their own varieties through their Hop Development Program set up to create wildly different aromas and flavours whilst also working closely with growers to produce varieties with good yields and disease resistance.

Every year a new class of plants are set off on their journey, involving disease assessments, aroma assessments, plot and brewing trials, to get from 10,000 individual variety seedlings to one super successful variety for commercial release.  The Faram’s Family range brings to you Archer®, Emperor™, Godiva™, Harlequin®, Jester®, Most™ (pronounced Moss-t – it’s Czech for bridge), Mystic™, Olicana®, and Opus™.

They stock nitrogen flushed leaf hops, Type 90 pellets 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 in the UK and Yakima in the USA, with their Yakima site being a staging point for quality checks and the safe journey of US hops to the UK

Charles Faram are fully committed to providing quality hops to customers at home and around the globe through their Well-hopped quality program.

Did you know that they also supply yeast, malt, fruit purees and other brewing products?  Get one delivery and one invoice.  The full range and product specifications can be found on their website charlesfaram.co.uk.

If you would like more information or expert advice on the different uses, applications and recipes, one of their Technical Advisors will be really happy to help.  Visit charlesfaram.co.uk for more details

Notes:

All brand varieties are British and grown in Herefordshire and Worcestershire except for Most™ which is Czech.

Charles Faram have site in the US (Charles Faram Inc), Canada (Charles Faram Brewing Supplies Inc.), and Poland (Charles Faram Europe).

Partners in Charles Faram's portfolio (but aren't limited to):

Fermentis – yeast / Crisp – malt and malt extracts / Weyermann® - speciality malt and malt extracts / Murphy & Son – Brewing aids / Rankin Brothers & Sons – Closures / Totally Natural Solutions – Hop products and non-hop flavourings

https://www.charlesfaram.co.uk/

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On the Hop Forward Podcast this week, we're joined by Neil Rothwell - co-founder of Liverpool's Top Rope Brewing.  Coming up to their 6th birthday celebrations, we take a look back at their journey and explore Liverpool's beer scene.  We also discuss the many challenges they (and similar breweries) have and are facing as they wrestle their way through these turbulent times.

THIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF THE PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY:

Charles Faram & Co
Charles Faram have been hop factors and merchants since 1865 and hop growers for even longer than that.  

While importing a vast catalogue of international hops, they have also developed their own varieties through their Hop Development Program set up to create wildly different aromas and flavours whilst also working closely with growers to produce varieties with good yields and disease resistance.

Every year a new class of plants are set off on their journey, involving disease assessments, aroma assessments, plot and brewing trials, to get from 10,000 individual variety seedlings to one super successful variety for commercial release.  The Faram’s Family range brings to you Archer®, Emperor™, Godiva™, Harlequin®, Jester®, Most™ (pronounced Moss-t – it’s Czech for bridge), Mystic™, Olicana®, and Opus™.

They stock nitrogen flushed leaf hops, Type 90 pellets 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 in the UK and Yakima in the USA, with their Yakima site being a staging point for quality checks and the safe journey of US hops to the UK

Charles Faram are fully committed to providing quality hops to customers at home and around the globe through their Well-hopped quality program.

Did you know that they also supply yeast, malt, fruit purees and other brewing products?  Get one delivery and one invoice.  The full range and product specifications can be found on their website charlesfaram.co.uk.

If you would like more information or expert advice on the different uses, applications and recipes, one of their Technical Advisors will be really happy to help.  Visit charlesfaram.co.uk for more details

Notes:

All brand varieties are British and grown in Herefordshire and Worcestershire except for Most™ which is Czech.

Charles Faram have site in the US (Charles Faram Inc), Canada (Charles Faram Brewing Supplies Inc.), and Poland (Charles Faram Europe).

Partners in Charles Faram's portfolio (but aren't limited to):

Fermentis – yeast

Crisp – malt and malt extracts

Weyermann® - speciality malt and malt extracts

Murphy & Son – Brewing aids

Rankin Brothers & Sons – Closures

Totally Natural Solutions – Hop products and non-hop flavourings

https://www.charlesfaram.co.uk/

Lallemand Brewing
LalBrew NovaLager™ is an innovative new hybrid lager yeast from Lallemand brewing. Belonging to the newly created Group 3 lager yeast category, Novalager exhibits increased temperature tolerance for faster and more forgiving fermentations.

Produced using a non-GMO yeast breeding technique, Lalbrew Novalager incorporates a patented technology, which prevents the creation of hydrogen sulphide which can lead to sulphureous off flavours in the final beer. Additionally, Lalbrew Novalager produces a reduced level of diacetyl, allowing for shortened storage times post fermentation.

Lallemand Brewing, ‘We Brew With You’.
https://www.lallemandbrewing.com/

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This week on the Hop Forward Podcast, we're joined once again by author Pete Brown to discuss his latest book, Clubland: How The Working Men's Club Shaped Britain.  We explore some of the questions surrounding classism, the preconceptions many people have about social clubs and working men's clubs, as well as exploring whether craft brewers should be creating offerings that cater to social clubs and their patrons.

THIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF THE PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY:

Lallemand Brewing
LalBrew NovaLager™ is an innovative new hybrid lager yeast from Lallemand brewing. Belonging to the newly created Group 3 lager yeast category, Novalager exhibits increased temperature tolerance for faster and more forgiving fermentations.

Produced using a non-GMO yeast breeding technique, Lalbrew Novalager incorporates a patented technology, which prevents the creation of hydrogen sulphide which can lead to sulphureous off flavours in the final beer. Additionally, Lalbrew Novalager produces a reduced level of diacetyl, allowing for shortened storage times post fermentation.

Lallemand Brewing, ‘We Brew With You’.
https://www.lallemandbrewing.com/

Charles Faram & Co
Charles Faram have been hop factors and merchants since 1865 and hop growers for even longer than that.  

While importing a vast catalogue of international hops, they have also developed their own varieties through their Hop Development Program set up to create wildly different aromas and flavours whilst also working closely with growers to produce varieties with good yields and disease resistance.

Every year a new class of plants are set off on their journey, involving disease assessments, aroma assessments, plot and brewing trials, to get from 10,000 individual variety seedlings to one super successful variety for commercial release.  The Faram’s Family range brings to you Archer®, Emperor™, Godiva™, Harlequin®, Jester®, Most™ (pronounced Moss-t – it’s Czech for bridge), Mystic™, Olicana®, and Opus™.

They stock nitrogen flushed leaf hops, Type 90 pellets 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 in the UK and Yakima in the USA, with their Yakima site being a staging point for quality checks and the safe journey of US hops to the UK

Charles Faram are fully committed to providing quality hops to customers at home and around the globe through their Well-hopped quality program.

Did you know that they also supply yeast, malt, fruit purees and other brewing products?  Get one delivery and one invoice.  The full range and product specifications can be found on their website charlesfaram.co.uk.

If you would like more information or expert advice on the different uses, applications and recipes, one of their Technical Advisors will be really happy to help.  Visit charlesfaram.co.uk for more details

Notes:

All brand varieties are British and grown in Herefordshire and Worcestershire except for Most™ which is Czech.

Charles Faram have site in the US (Charles Faram Inc), Canada (Charles Faram Brewing Supplies Inc.), and Poland (Charles Faram Europe).

Partners in Charles Faram's portfolio (but aren't limited to):

https://www.charlesfaram.co.uk/

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There's no doubt that the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme will cause unnecessary disruption to beverage producers here in the United Kingdom.  But how much havoc will this ill-thought-out scheme actually have on its micro-brewers?

Coming hot on the heels of a pandemic, an economic and energy crisis, historic changes to how alcohol tax is calculated and a war that has had a major impact on the supply chain, the Deposit Return Scheme could be viewed as yet another nail in the coffin for brewers struggling to stay alive.

On the Hop Forward Podcast this week, we talk to Barry Watts - Head of Public Affairs at SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers Association) about what can only be described as a 'slow train crash hurtling down the tracks'.

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A recent article from Paste Magazine called Iconic Craft Breweries Are Completely Surrendering to IPA Dominance has divided opinion on IPAs in discussions online amongst beer lovers.

As someone who has a love-hate relationship with IPAs (mostly Hazy IPAs using Citra, Simcoe and Mosaic that look and taste like the next Hazy IPA), this article got me thinking about the nature of marketing IPAs, why we brew them more than anything else, and how lager fits into it all.

Maybe there's room for breweries out there to swim upstream and focus their energies on dark beers, such as Anspach & Hobday's London Dark.

Either way, these are my fermenting thoughts on IPA and whether too should be taking a leaf our of Sierra Nevada's book and mainly pushing them to our customers.

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This week on the Hop Forward Podcast we’re asking the question, ‘Is small the next BIG thing?’ when it comes to owning and operating a brewery.  We catch up with David Eastwood from Southsea Brewing Company and Mathew Bould from Brewis Beer Co based in Amble, UK, to talk about nano-breweries and brew-pub models as a viable alternative to large-pack production sized breweries.

In a climate where breweries are struggling to make ends meet, will we see more brew-pubs open up as keen homebrewers look to turn pro?

We ask questions about longevity and sustainability on such a small scale, how to find a suitable location, look at the advantages and disadvantages, and even whether branding plays much of a roll when you’re selling beer made in-house to customers who are attracted first and foremost to the venue and the liquid more than the branding on the beer.

Partly, these discussions were birthed out of my own research for starting an Emmanuales beer cafe, The Everlasting Arms, and business planning.  Therefore, these conversations were edited with any references to specific financial details removed.

Find out more about the breweries we talked to here:

Southsea Brewing Company southseabrewing.co.uk

Brewis Beer Co brewisbeer.co.uk

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