Episodes
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Did you know that the UK's biggest low and no alcohol brewer is based right here in South Wales?
Drop Bear was formed just 5 years ago by two women in South Wales with a mission to put the craft into low and no alcohol brewing... and their success has been incredible.
The beers are good. That's the starting point. But the business sense, the ambition, the upward trajectory, the commitment to genuine planet-friendly policies... put all these together and it's seriously impressive.
I couldn't wait to meet them and my visit to their new brewery and chat with co-Founder Joelle did not disappoint. So much to take from the episode - brewing geekery, industry analysis, business savvy... and just inspirational stuff.
Check out Drop Bearer yourself at dropbearbeers.com
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Batemans is the type of brewery that used to be common all throughout the UK. Now it's vanishingly rare. 150 years old. All that time brewing at the same site. All that time independent. All that time run by 5 generations of the same family.
World wars. Covid. 1980's Dallas and Dynasty style internal family ownership wrangles. The fall of cask beer. The rise of industrial brewing. The rise of craft beer.
Batemans has survived it all. And throughout it has brewed some of the most distinctive and tasty traditional British ale you will find in these isles.
Author Adam Cartwright - who has written the brilliant book 'Good Honest Tales - 150 Years of Batemans Brewery' - joins me on this episode to tell this Lincolnshire brewery's incredible story.
The episode is about beer and a brewery but its also about business savvy, community spirit, determination and the roll-your-sleeves-up spirit of just keeping going.
Get your copy of the book here:
https://www.amberley-books.com/good-honest-tales.html
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Episodes manquant?
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Jon Saunders is a Cardiff legend for whom beer, booze and good times have delivered amazing highs and shocking lows in his life and career.
An entrepreneurial hospitality expert in the first part of his career, he ran the legendary TigerTiger club in the Welsh capital before starting his own mini-empire of bars including 10 Mill Lane, Dead Canary and 29 Park Place.
But, the empire didn't last, Jon went bust and had to pick himself up and start back from scratch. This is where he started to focus on the ethos that has formed the backbone of his new career - the "Crack On' spirit. It's what Jon is all about. Getting on and taking action to progress even when it is tough.
Jon now has an impressive Crack On brand that includes Crack On Coaching (helping senior leaders and companies progress) and the Crack On Podcast (which he and I work on together).
Jon knows the "other side of the bar" back to front (and he shares some fun stories from his experiences), but he's also seen the other, darker side of drinking itself.
Admitting he had a problem with overdoing it on alcohol after several scary episodes... Jon made an important choice. He is now a non-drinker and hasn't touched alcohol in a decade.
In this episode Jon is incredibly candid and shares the most amazing life lessons from painful moments in his life. This is a powerful and inspirational episode which hopefully will encourage anyone who listens to embrace their own highs and lows and find the strength to crack on.
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Have you ever been to a Desi pub? Do you even know what one is? I haven't and I didn't until I stumbled across David Jesudason's book on the subject. It was getting rave reviews and there seemed to be loads of people on social media having amazing experiences in these pubs with cold lagers, incredible Indian food and a warm welcome.
So, I ordered the book, tried to track David down for a chat... and we finally managed to get it scheduled in. It's a fascinating story. Have a listen, buy the book, and soon, like me, you'll be planning a visit to a Desi pub very soon.
Also, David has some great insights and opinions on the subject of India Pale Ale. It's the poster boy for the craft beer revolution... but it has a dark past linked to Empire and colonialism that we all should be aware of.
There's a lot to learn, be inspired and get fascinated by in this short episode, so take a listen and enjoy.
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Emmie Harrison-West is an award-winning beer writer with an ever more important voice within the industry.
When she won a Guild Of Beer Writers Award last year she sent an X/tweet that went viral. In it she dedicated her award to all the people (mainly men) who had made her feel uncomfortable, unwelcome and threatened in beer spaces (think pubs, beer festivals etc) over the years. It hit a nerve, and rightly so.
From the moment I saw that social media post, I wanted to invite Emmie on the podcast as a guest to discuss this question: Is beer for everyone?
Of course, it should be! But does everyone feel they are equal and welcome and safe?... and if they don't, how do we all work together to improve things?
This is a fascinating episode that goes into some really important areas. Listen, learn and be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
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Pop n Hops is a Cardiff institution and the result of Trev McCabe's passion for beer and music. Six and a half years in, a lot has changed, but the dedication to serving superb beers in perfect condition... always remains.
In this episode host Andy Taylor interviews Pop n Hops Founder Trev McCabe in the tap room. There's even some customers drinking in the background (they saw the lights on and took the chance to come in and enjoy some great beer - who can blame them?)
Trev shares the story of this much-loved local tap room - what the initial vision was, how it ended up all beer and no records, why and how it serves beer to a standard that few other places around the UK can match... and how the cost of living crisis has made thriving (and even surviving) a challenge.
If you love beer, passionate people and stories of positive endeavour you will love this episode - a real uplifting and fascinating listen for the holiday period.
Visit the Pop n Hops website for more info and to buy beer, merchandise and more:
https://popnhops.myshopify.com/
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Pubs around the UK are closing at an alarming rate. In rural areas, when the pub goes, a key community hub and place of support and celebration disappears with it. Pubs can be the glue that keeps communities together.
Is it possible to save a pub once it has gone? Yes, it is. But it requires the whole community to support and a few hardy souls to really roll their sleeves up. They need to take action, but they need to be savvy too.
This episode of Nant Fawr Brews features the story of the Miners Arms in Nenthead, Cumbria. This much-loved pub, thanks to the efforts of interview guest Laura Seaton, Mac and many others... is in the process of being saved.
There is so much to like here. And so much to learn. If you live somewhere where your local has shut, or is under threat, then this is an essential listen. You'll pick up solid advice and the right steps to take and in what order.
And if, like me, you love beer and pubs and like to hear about good people doing positive things... settle down, grab a nice beer and prepare to have your mind inspired and your heart warmed.
To find out more about the Miners Arms in Nenthead and to help them out in whatever way you can, go to their website:
https://www.minersarmsnenthead.com/
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What does it take to start a tap room and brewery that is loved by the local community but can also run as a sustainable business?
Beer and brewing is a hobby for many, but taking it to the next level and making a living out of it is a big step. It's one that John Jackson did not take lightly.
John's brewery and taproom - Wild Parrot Brewing Company in Pasadena, California, USA - took a while to go from concept to actuality, because he took his time and did it right.
His story is fascinating and funny at times, but also instructive and thought-provoking. Beer and community are in his heart, but his head is screwed on tight.
There are brewing, business and life lessons galore in this episode... plus once you've listened, you'll truly understand why "pandemonium" is in the title of the episode.
Enjoy.
To check out Wild Parrot, go to:
www.wildparrotbrewing.com
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Why do beer bottles and cans look the way they do? Do we choose beers only with our tastebuds... or are we more influenced by branding and marketing than we care to admit?
Ben Dunning is Course Leader & Senior Lecturer BA(Hons) Graphic Design (Visual Communication and Illustration) at University of West London. So, when it comes to design he knows his stuff.
He's also a good friend of mine, my brother-in-law and a beer lover. So we came up with an idea. Wouldn't it be fun to pick 3 beers each and talk about why they look the way they do? With Ben's expertise he could weave in some design theory and together we could analyse the bottles and cans we choose to drink in an entirely new and revealing way.
I had a feeling this would be fun and fascinating and it really is. From legend beers and local upstarts to infamous newcomers and jump-out-at-you-from-the-beer-fridge curveballs, they all have a design story... and they've probably all been telling you things (subconsciously) that you didn't even realise.
Grab a beer, find a comfy spot and have a listen - you will never look at a beer quite the same way again!
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Des de Moor knows his stuff. A hugely respected beer writer, critic and author, he has decided to write the book about Cask Beer that fills the gaps in all of our knowledge of this legendary ale style.
Des's new book - 'Cask Beer: The Real Story of Britain's Unique Beer Culture' - is out today, August 1st 2023.
What a brilliant excuse to talk all things Cask with such a global authority. Our conversation dispels myths, unlocks hidden history and - perhaps most importantly - brings to life the unique heights that this traditional style reaches.
A well-brewed, properly looked after and carefully served pint of Cask Beer is simply magical. It gives you a drinking experience that no other beer style can.
Listen to this episode, get enthused... then go out to your local Cask-friendly pub and sample a pint or 3 of Cask (and why not order Des's book while you do - link below):
Order your copy of 'Cask Beer: The Real Story of Britain's Unique Beer Culture' here
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There's a contradiction at the heart of beer, drinking and pub culture. Sharing a drink with your mates, or even just with the people you only ever see down your local... is great for your mental health. Support, community, conversation and laughter are all good positive things.
And yet...
Alcohol is dangerous. Sadly it is that simple. It's too easy to drink to self-medicate or attempt to ease anxiety is a non-healthy way.
All of which makes this episode about beer and mental health absolutely fascinating. Emma Inch is a highly regarded beer writer and critic... and also a mental health professional. She is about to launch a podcast called 'Same Again' which will explore this exact subject, so I wanted to talk to her about it and support the discussion she is trying to enable.
As well as mental health, we discuss Emma's beer writing (she has written with some legends in the game, let's put it that way) and she has some cracking recommendations on beers to try from near and far.
Plus, as an industry expert, Emma has some insightful thoughts on the current state of the UK beer scene.
Get comfortable, grab a beer and enjoy listening to this one...
To find out the latest about 'Same Again' and all of Emma Inch's other work and projects, follow her on Twitter (@fermentradio)
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Steve Dunkley (aka Beer Nouveau) has done everything you can do in beer. From glass collector to cellarman, home brewer, commercial brewer, taproom owner, beer writer, critic and everything else in between. He is just a hugely respected grassroots beer expert... and I'm so grateful to have him as a guest on Nant Fawr Brews.
We cover a lot in this episode. First up, #LabelsOff, which is Steve's brilliant new initiative to bring the fun of blind tasting back to beer... but with a purpose. The aim is for everyone to be able to understand beer styles better and, as a result, be brave enough to move past the hype, bluster (and often confusing) label-speak that has gone a little over the top. Move beyond the hype and you find brilliant beers made by smaller breweries that will only survive with our custom.
Steve and I also discuss the overall state of the UK brewing industry. Few are better placed than Steve to comment. There is fascinating stuff here on what new beer duty rules mean for the industry and the kind of future they might bring.
Finally, Steve gives some lovely insights on what all brewers can learn from finding out more about brewing's incredible history. In particular, he makes a great case for seeing hop creep as an essential benefit of cask brewing, not something to be managed out of the process with modern methods.
...and his final sign-off advice for home brewers is one we all need to engrave on a sign and put up in our kitchens / sheds / garages... so make sure you listen all the way to the end for that one.
To find out more about Steve and Beer Nouveau, follow him on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/BeerNouveau
To learn more about #LabelsOff and to get involved, follow the project on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/LabelsOffUK
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Do you dismiss no and low alcohol beer as something you'd only have as a last resort? This episode may convince you that it's time to change your mind...
A recent concussion left me off the booze for a while (and also partly explains why there hasn't been an NFB episode in a few weeks). But in a way, I'm grateful. It made me look again at low and no alcohol beer... and that led me to an old friend and a new episode.
A Glimpse Of A Better Future
Years ago, I was one of Dry Drinker's early customers. I was training for a marathon and wanted to lay off the alcohol for a while. I searched online and found a local company - Dry Drinker - specialising in low and no alcohol beer. I ordered a box and the owner himself - a guy called Stuart - turned up on my doorstep to deliver the beers. We got chatting and he shared his vision for a future where low and no alcohol beers would be comparable in range and quality to traditional beers... and that we would all be drinking a lot more of them.
Fast forward 6 years and that guy Stuart is chatting to me again, this time on the Nant Fawr Brews podcast. Things have gone brilliantly for DryDrinker.com in the intervening years and it's all turned out pretty much as Stuart hoped. That's something he deserves some credit for because he showed belief early and made it possible for UK drinkers to access the higher quality low and no alcohol beers that previously only existed on the continent.
Now the "no and low" scene is thriving and the UK brewing community has embraced the opportunity. Tastes, behaviours and attitudes to alcohol are evolving and the market is responding. In this episode, Stuart Elkington (CEO of Dry Drinker) tells his story. There's the lovely tale of what made Stuart first move toward low and no alcohol beer and how that initial pivot turned into a vision and a business that would change his life. We also talk about some fascinating innovation in the industry as relaxation-encouraging ingredients other than alcohol start to appear in completely new types of drink.
Time To Try Again
My recent reconnection with low and no alcohol beer was born of necessity. But the step change improvement in quality I found has already changed the way I drink. One particular brand of beers - Insel Brauerie's Alcohol-Free range - I've found to be so good (honestly better than some traditional beers I've had) that I will look forward to drinking them regularly. My plan is to drink them on a Sunday night so I can try to stick to a 5-2 plan (5 days no alcohol, only drink on Fridays and Saturdays) more regularly.
"My brain doesn't care whether it's got alcohol in it or not, it's the combination of those ingredients, nice and cold... the "Aaah" moment on a Friday evening" - Stuart Elkington, Dry Drinker
Low and no alcohol beer is now good enough that it can deliver what Stuart called the "Aah moment" when you crack open your first beer of the evening on a Friday night. That wasn't always the case, but I genuinely think it is now. What that means for the beer drinker is choice... and an opportunity.
Stuart says that 80% of his customers are drinkers of alcohol, which means they are using low and no alcohol beers as part of a mixed approach. It doesn't have to be binary. I don't think the dividing lines between drinkers and teetotallers are especially useful. We all know it is good to drink less, but that doesn't have to mean giving up entirely (though I understand and respect that approach is the right choice for some).
Have A Drink On Us - A Discount Code for Dry Drinker
If you'd like to have a try of some low and no alcohol beers, then NFB and DryDrinker have got you covered. Use this exclusive discount code and get 15% off at DryDrinker.com. The code is: NFB15
Resources:
Here's a link to the Dry Drinker - https://drydrinker.com/
For a closer look at Insel Brauerie - https://insel-brauerei.de/en/All-beers/Alcohol-free-Series/
My Twitter handle is @ProducerAndy
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Simon Oakes is a Cardiff-based musician who, as well as having a bona-fide rock'n'roll pedigree (supporting Phil Collins at Hyde Park no less) is a Geography academic and author.
But more importantly than any of that, he has - in exchange for a batch of homebrew of his choice - composed the new theme tune for the Nant Fawr Brews podcast. In this episode we're treated to a live performance of the theme, enjoy a fascinating exploration of how beer is responsible for one of the most legendary blues guitar techniques... and hear about beer's role in one of applied geography's finest moments (that's the Cholera stuff).
Let's rock!... (with a cornet).
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I first became aware of Dog's Window thanks to beer writer Melissa Cole, who tweeted that it was producing some of best beer in South Wales. I contacted Lee the brewery owner (in fact the brewery everything... he's a one-man-team) and he kindly agreed to a visit, tour and interview. This is the kind of episode I started this podcast to make. Visiting, talking to, spreading the word of and supporting brilliant breweries here in Wales, specifically in my local area of South Wales. Lee is a hugely inspirational character and his beers are of the highest quality.
And what's this thing about it being the best brewery in the world? Well, they do, in a very specific way, have a legitimate claim to that title. You'll have to listen to the end of the episode to find out how that works.
Back to the beers - you have to try them. Go to dogswindowbrewery.com, buy some and feel good about the fact that not only will you have some lovely beers to drink... you'll also be supporting the vital grassroots of the brewing industry.
I absolutely loved making this episode and hope to make many more like it highlighting other great local breweries.
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Industrial breweries were very different places 45 years ago. Today's guest knows all about just how different because he spent the early part of his career working in one of London's most legendary ones... The Truman Brewery on Brick Lane, East London. David Cowan is retired now. I met him a few months back on a tour of Palmers Brewery in Dorset. We reminisce about that tour, then get cracking on a trip down (Brick) Memory Lane. David was a young graduate microbiologist when he walked into the famous Truman Brewery (where there were no other scientists). His stories are brilliant. From stone and metal steps awash with wort, to the generous staff beer ration and the scary reason why you had to be very careful going into some rooms alone. But the most fascinating story is something of a whodunnit. A mystery that only a smart young scientist could solve, and when he eventually did, it made a huge difference to the output of one of the UK's most important breweries. This episode was fascinating to record and a great listen. Enjoy.
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Each year we see a whole load of Christmas and Winter themed beers hit the shelves in the beer aisles of the mainstream food stores... but how good are they? And which ones that are out this year are worth having in your holiday season stash? Friend of the show and fellow Cardiff beer-lover Tom Baker joins Andy to do a blind taste test on 5 beers that you can currently find in your local supermarkets. This episode could be the difference between you having a great Christmas Ale on the big day, or a bit of a ropey one, so well worth a listen. There are some surprises - we would have expected better from the lowest placed brand... and the winner is one you might not expect (and is a bit of a hidden gem). Happy beery Christmas one and all!
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It's a simple but brilliant idea - why not try to assemble a beer brewed in each of the 32 countries playing in the upcoming football World Cup? It's the kind of thing you wonder about doing with your mates down the pub... but Gus Hully has actually done it. He's become a beer celebrity, being interviewed on media outlets around the world. But now it's time for the big one... the Nant Fawr Brews podcast.
Gus has great stories to tell. Why the Senegal beer troubled him for so long and required him to borderline stalk a random fella called 'Russian Rat' on Instagram. How he solved the puzzle of sourcing "beers" from alcohol-free countries and why his choices inspire both joy and sorrow amongst beer lovers and football fans all across the globe.
To see Gus with his beers, and follow his journey through the tournament drinking them, find him on Twitter - @ballstothis
Massive thanks to my friend Tom Baker for finding out about Gus's challenge and coming up with the idea for this episode.
Please be a part of the podcast by suggesting guests or coming on as a guest yourself. Just email me - [email protected]
I'd love you to be on a future episode by recording your answers to 'The Beer Questionnaire' - using this new tech called Rumble Studio you can hear me ask the questions but record your answers in your own time (it's fine to just answer as many of the questions as you want - you don't need to do all of them if you don't want to). Just click the link below:
https://app.rumble.studio/forms/open/3f2a9501-a0cc-4094-a798-1b73db26d04a
Until next time... happy beery times everyone.
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Ransom is my guest this week. Also known as The Revenant Alien (and he explains what he means by that in the episode). Ransom is a fellow podcaster and creative but worried he was not into beer enough to be on the pod. But, as you'll discover during this chat... a) Ransom has a lot more to say about beer than he thought and b) beer acts as a brilliant springboard into a whole world of other topics. We talk everything from IPAs that look like orange juice, to perfectionism, Rage Against The Machine, ancient Czech lager recipes... and even near-death experiences. Pour yourself a cold one, settle in and enjoy.
I mention at the end of this episode that you can have a go yourself at The Beer Questionnaire - this new software called Rumble Studio will allow you and I to do a "virtual interview" - it will record your answers, send them to me, and I can use the audio in a future episode.
It would be brilliant to get some of these in, so please do get clicking on the link below and recording (it's fine to just answer as many of the questions as you want - you don't need to do all of them if you don't want to):
https://app.rumble.studio/forms/open/3f2a9501-a0cc-4094-a798-1b73db26d04a
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Episode notes...
If you want to check out Ransom's podcast, here are all the details you need:
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/arevenantalien
Twitter: @ARevenantAlien / Instagram: @ARevenantAlien / Medium: https://medium.com/@arevenantalien
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Founding a new microbrewery is a dream for many of us beer lovers... so what is it like to actually do it? Zac Fox, COO and Head Brewer of Bad Idea Brewing Co (one of the greatest names for a brewery ever in my opinion) gives a brilliantly honest, passionate and positive account of his experiences. This interview really gets across the special community atmosphere that exists within brewing. There are highs... (Zac explains how brewing gives job satisfaction few other professions can match)... lows... (you won't believe what happened with their first professional brew)... and superbly random moments (toasters, metallurgy and Cinnamon Toast Crunch all get discussed). Enjoy!
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