Welcome to We Are Beer People - a podcast all about the many different people who help us enjoy beer.

I wonder how much we stop to think about who is in the pub with us, who's there's having a drink, who's behind the bar, who made the beer you're drink.

And perhaps, the more important question is who is not there? Fewer than one in 20 adults with learning disabilities in England are in paid work.

And that's where the Count Me In Collective comes in. Today's guest, Becky Whinnerah, co-founded the Count Me In Collective with her husband John.

The Count Me In Collective (which you might hear called CMIC or C MIC) is a movement designed to improve the representation and experiences of those with neurodiversities and learning disabilities within hospitality and brewing.

Becky has a background as an artist, a brewer, a landlord, a musician, a lecturer and teacher; and has direct experience as a parent-carer for her children.

Their work begins with networking and collaborations within breweries, pubs and bars, increasing awareness of communities who may not find beer, pubs and bars as inherently welcoming as many of us do.

What started as an idea, has seen several collaborations with Berkshire breweries, a crowdfunding campaign and the creation of a brewery in the back of Reading's Castle Tap pub.

What's been truly wonderful is hearing how much of a difference this is already making to the people that are being Counted In and to the breweries and pubs that are getting involved.

This takes an awful lot of hard work from a collective of volunteers - so if you'd like to help with your time, skills, partnerships, guidance or donations please get in touch with Becky and you can find the details and social media channels at CMIC.UK

With that, I headed to The Castle Tap pub to have a chat with one of the beer people about making beer a place for everybody.

With huge thanks to Cara and the team at The Castle Tap for hosting us and creating such an inviting, welcoming place.

Follow CMIC:

Website: https://cmic.uk

Twitter: @countmeincoll

Instagram: @countmeincollective/

Facebook: Count-Me-In-Collective/

Follow us to stay updated:

Website: www.wearebeerpeople.co.uk

Social media: @wearebeerpeople on X (Twitter) and Instagram

Get in touch on email: [email protected]

Intro/outro music:

That One Time by Midnight Daydream

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to We Are Beer People - a podcast all about the many different people who help us enjoy beer.

Some places are intertwined with particular styles and serves of beer.

Think of foamy pints of cask beer pulled up from a cool cellar with a handpump in a British pub

Travel to the West Coast of the USA and you're at the home of bright crisp IPAs, full of pine and citrus.

When it comes to lagers, these are differentiated from ales by their use of bottom-fermenting yeast at cool temperatures over a relatively longer time, we might think of mainstream examples that are commonly seen at bars. But they have a history that goes back to medieval times when beers were stored, or lagered, in caves for months and months with yeast that happily worked in these temperatures. 

Europe has a rich history of lager production which influenced Bavarian and Bohemian

Today we're chatting with Radim Zvánovec, global brand ambassador at Budweiser Budvar Brewery, the Czech state-owned brewery that is based in the town of Chess Kay bood-yayyo-vitseh at a site where they have been brewing for hundreds of years. The modern brewery has been incorporated since 1895 and uses a celebrated approach to brewing beer that's rigorously followed to this day. Using the same water from artesian wells, malts, hops, yeast and time.

So let's find out a little bit about Radim and his journey into beer, being a global brand ambassador and the wonderful world of lager.

Follow us to stay updated:

Website: www.wearebeerpeople.co.uk

Social media: @wearebeerpeople on X (Twitter) and Instagram

Get in touch on email: [email protected]

Follow Radim:

Instagram: @radim_zvanovec

Twitter: @radim_zvanovec

Follow Budvar:

Twitter: @BudvarUK

Instagram: @BudvarUK and @BudvarGlobal

Year of the Lager

budweiserbudvar.com/uk/yearofthelager-celebration

Intro/outro music:

That One Time by Midnight Daydream

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to We Are Beer People - a podcast all about the many different people who help us enjoy beer.

Today we have a special episode where I headed to SIBA's (the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates) annual AGM conference and exhibition, BeerX, in Liverpool where I got to meet many of the fantastic beer people.

It includes brewers, suppliers, associates as well as speakers and is one of the few times when brewers get a chance to take a moment and meet each other. A big thank you to Ken and Adam at Mysterious Brewing who invited me to join them and hopefully they didn't regret that decision.

Whilst I was there I had a short chat with five of the beer people so today we'll hear from:

• Neil Walker, Head of Comms and Marketing at SIBA
• Axel Jany from Weyermann maltsters
• Jon Cox who works at Willis European, stainless steel brewing, bottling and processing equipment
• Tom Bacon from BarthhaasX
• Paul Corbett from Charles Faram

We talk about SIBA's new branding, how they got into their role, what their role is like and what they've been excited to be talking about and sharing at SIBA Beer X

So with that, grab yourself a beer and let's have a chat with some of the beer people.

Follow us to stay updated:

Website: www.wearebeerpeople.co.uk

Social media: @wearebeerpeople on X (Twitter) and Instagram

Get in touch on email: [email protected]

Intro/outro music:

That One Time by Midnight Daydream

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to We Are Beer People - a podcast all about the many different people who help us enjoy beer.

Today I'm meeting with Emma Inch, beer podcaster and communicator that was voted UK beer writer of the year in 2018 and has a background in radio, DJing, podcasting, writing, judging, teaching and social work.

And Emma's recent project is called Same Again? A Podcast About Beer Pubs & Mental Health. It's a deft, informative and supportive look at the interplay been these three elements told through the experiences of those in the beer world and we'll talk about this in the podcast as well as Emma's journey to getting where we are today.

Emma lives in Brighton and we were spoilt for choice with the number of fantastic places we could have visited. And in the end we chose to duck out of the rain and into the The Hole In The Wall, a beautifully welcoming pub, tucked away just off the seafront, with an excellent selection of beer and cider on keg and cask and from near and far.

So let's head out of the rainy day and into the pub, collapse our brollies, hang up our coats, order a beer, pull up a chair and have a chat with one of the beer people.

Follow us to stay updated:

Website: www.wearebeerpeople.co.uk

Social media: @wearebeerpeople on X (Twitter) and Instagram

Get in touch on email: [email protected]

Emma Inch:

• Podcast - Same Again? A podcast about beer, pubs & mental health
• Website - fermentationonline.com
• Twitter/X - @fermentradio
• Instagram - @fermentationradio

The Hole In The Wall, Brighton

• Website - theholeinthewall.net
• Twitter/X - @hitwbtn
• Instagram - @theholeinthewallbtn

Intro/outro music:

That One Time by Midnight Daydream

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to we are beer people, a podcast all about the many different people who help us enjoy beer.

*This is part TWO of a two-part episode. In the first part we focus mainly on Fuller's and the earlier part of Hayley's career whilst the second part picks up when Hayley joins Siren Craft Brew. If you haven't listened to it already, you might want to listen to the first part of this before this one.*

So today, I'm heading to Staines and to one of the local pubs of Hayley Pearce, shift brewer at Siren Craft Brew. Hayley's brewing career started with homebrewing with her Dad, before joining Fuller's as part of their graduate scheme and going through a number of different stations, training to run the big kit, helping commission and run the pilot kit at the brewery before joining Siren Craft Brew.

We talk about the differences of what it's like working for a family brewer - "standing on the shoulder of the giants" of previous generations that have brewing at that since 1845 - versus at relatively small (although probably medium-sized) craft brewery founded 11 years ago that has a range spanning everything from West Coast to barley wines, braggots and everything in between. 

Along the way Hayley has - in her words - had to figure out her way of doing things in breweries that have often been built around men; with processes, tools and designs that haven't changed much in generations. Hayley's been a proponent for opening doors and removing obstacles to help open brewing up to more people that might otherwise be put off.

We talk about keeping fermenters warm with ski jackets, the ballet performance of getting large malt sacks into the mill with a wheelbarrow and the different languages of brewing that are spoken at different breweries by different people.

So join us as we have a chat with one of the beer people.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to we are beer people, a podcast all about the many different people who help us enjoy beer.

*This is part ONE of a two-part episode. In the first part we focus mainly on Fuller's and the earlier part of Hayley's career whilst the second part picks up when Hayley joins Siren Craft Brew.*

So today, I'm heading to Staines and to one of the local pubs of Hayley Pearce, shift brewer at Siren Craft Brew. Hayley's brewing career started with homebrewing with her Dad, before joining Fuller's as part of their graduate scheme and going through a number of different stations, training to run the big kit, helping commission and run the pilot kit at the brewery before joining Siren Craft Brew.

We talk about the differences of what it's like working for a family brewer - "standing on the shoulder of the giants" of previous generations that have brewing at that since 1845 - versus at relatively small (although probably medium-sized) craft brewery founded 11 years ago that has a range spanning everything from West Coast to barley wines, braggots and everything in between. 

Along the way Hayley has - in her words - had to figure out her way of doing things in breweries that have often been built around men; with processes, tools and designs that haven't changed much in generations. Hayley's been a proponent for opening doors and removing obstacles to help open brewing up to more people that might otherwise be put off.

We talk about keeping fermenters warm with ski jackets, the ballet performance of getting large malt sacks into the mill with a wheelbarrow and the different languages of brewing that are spoken at different breweries by different people.

So join us as we have a chat with one of the beer people.

Follow us to stay updated:

Website: www.wearebeerpeople.co.uk

Social media: @wearebeerpeople on X (Twitter) and Instagram

Get in touch on email: [email protected]

Follow Hayley: On Twitter @sirencbhayley and on Instagram @hayley.pearce

Intro/outro music: That One Time by Midnight Daydream

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to we are beer people, a podcast all about the many different people who help us enjoy beer.

It's no wonder that reconviction rates are so high (42% of all UK prison leavers will be reconvicted within 12 months). Prison leavers aren't always set-up for success, leaving with just £76, they need to build up skills and confidence, find accommodation, a place of work and prospects for the future.

I chatted with Brian Spencer, Marketing Manager at Tap Social Movement (TSM) in Oxford. TSM is a social enterprise with a craft brewery, bakery (Proof Bakehouse) and five hospitality venues. They're brewing award-winning beer but, perhaps most importantly, they've brewed a business that makes a difference.

Tap Social Movement creates training and employment for people in prison and prison leavers. Having a fulfilling job helps build self-confidence and resilience, and equips people for a productive and happy life. Benefiting the individual, but also wider society.

We speak with Brian and hear about his journey into the world of beer and life as a marketing manager at Tap Social and the amazing work that Tap Social does.

We also get the opportunity to speak with Rory, who works at Proof Bakehouse and we hear about the difference Tap Social has made to him and his life.

Certainly recommend visiting Tap Social and one of its venues when you're next in Oxford.

Tap Social Movement has a couple of cool beer festivals coming up in 2024, one in summer and one in winter. Head to their socials and website for more info:

22nd June (summer) and 30th November (winter)

Change Is Brewing Beer Festival

* 14 leading independent UK breweries

* Curated small-batch cask ales

* Live DJs & music

* Sourdough pizza & street food

So grab a purposeful brew and let’s have a chat with some of the beer people.

Follow us to stay updated:

Website: www.wearebeerpeople.co.uk

Social media: @wearebeerpeople on X (Twitter) and Instagram

Get in touch on email: [email protected]

Tap Social Movement:

Web / Twitter / Instagram / Facebook

United We Are:

Web / Instagram

Intro/outro music: That One Time by Midnight Daydream

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to we are beer people, a podcast all about the many different people who help us enjoy beer.

One of the things I love about beer and brewing is that it is of its time, of its place and of its people. We can look into a brewery – see why it brews certain beers, what was popular, who was making it, where the ingredients came from and how it was brewed - and it tells us so much about the time, the place and the people.

That’s why I’m really excited to speak with today’s guest, Ron Pattinson.

Ron’s a beer writer and a beer historian – well known for researching uncovering, deciphering and documenting historical beer styles and brewing practices.

That’s no mean feat, when you might have to navigate a brewery’s idiosyncratic archives take thousands of notes and photos and make sense of large amounts of data recorded and stored with variable consistency.

You might have heard of him from his website Shut Up About Barclay Perkins or his publications, which range from the homebrewers' guide to vintage beer to city and country guides around Europe.

So let’s head into the archives and have a chat with one of the beer people about the beer and its place in history. 

Follow us to stay updated:

Website: www.wearebeerpeople.co.uk

Social media: @wearebeerpeople on X (Twitter) and Instagram

Get in touch on email: [email protected]

Ron Pattinson

• Website - Link
• Socials - Twitter/X - @Patto1Ro

Intro/outro music: That One Time by Midnight Daydream

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to we are beer people, a podcast all about the many different people who help us enjoy beer.

We're speaking with Alex Rowley, co-founder of @thehivecrowthorne, about setting up and running the "hybrid craft beer, coffee shop, taproom, bottleshop" that is The Hive.

It's a home for all things beer, coffee, cheese, cider, rum and gin; and Alex and his wife, Emma, created The Hive to feature all the things they love.

Popular with walkers, runners, cyclists, pets and people from the local area and beyond, Emma and Alex have truly created a hive of community.

Join us as we have a chat with one of the beer people.

Follow us to stay updated:

Website: www.wearebeerpeople.co.uk

Social media: @wearebeerpeople on X (Twitter) and Instagram

Get in touch on email: [email protected]

The Hive Crowthorne:

• Website - Link
• Socials - Instagram, Facebook, Untappd

Intro/outro music: That One Time by Midnight Daydream

Ice Cream Van Sound Effect Sound Effect from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to we are beer people, a podcast all about the many different people who help us enjoy beer.

Today we’re taking a leap from   what is – if we’re honest – the perfectly stable ground beneath our feet and taking the risk and opportunity of the high seas.

In some ways that’s the journey that today’s guest has taken

I’m speaking with Sonja Mitchell, the Managing Director or Beer Admiral of Jump Ship Brewing, an alcohol-free beer brand that started when Sonja – an avid sailor - had had enough of low alcohol beers not coming close to the Scottish beers she enjoyed.

And so Sonja quite literally jumped ship from her day job to brew her own

And after much work and many brews, their lager, Yardarm, achieved best no and low alcohol lager in the World Beer Awards.

Fast forward to today and Jump Ship’s a small crew of shipmates with a brewery under construction in Midlothian with its sights set on making the world a little better along the way.

Follow us to stay updated:

Website: www.wearebeerpeople.co.uk

Social media: @wearebeerpeople on X (Twitter) and Instagram

Get in touch on email: [email protected]

Jump Ship Brewing:

• Website - Link
• Socials - Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook

Intro/outro music: That One Time by Midnight Daydream

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.