The Beer Rep Chats With – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode of The Beer Rep Chats With, Martin sits down with Elizabeth Townsend, co-founder of Kerroo Brewing on the Isle of Man, to explore the realities of building an independent brewery in a unique island environment.

Elizabeth shares the story behind starting Kerroo Brewing, the motivations that drove her into brewing, and how location influences everything from sourcing ingredients and logistics to distribution and community connection. We discuss the opportunities and challenges of brewing outside major UK beer hubs, access to market, and how independent breweries can carve out their identity while staying true to quality and sustainability.

From early beginnings to future ambitions, this conversation offers an honest insight into the resilience, creativity, and passion required to build a modern independent brewery.

Kerroo Links:

Website - https://kerroo.myshopify.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kerroobrewing

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kerroobrewing

Untappd - https://untappd.com/v/kerroo-brewing-company/12535581

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction & Beginnings

03:16 - Deciding to Start a Brewery Together

05:13 - The Isle of Man Beer Scene

06:54 - The Reality of Starting Up

08:56 - Craft Inspiration & Influence

11:16 - Opening the Taproom Before the Brewery

15:43 - Brewing Identity & Island Logistics

19:47 - Local Drinker Behaviour

24:56 - The Story Behind the Name Kerroo

29:45 - Future Plans & Collaborations

35:28 - Independent Brewing Today

36:51 - Advice for Anyone Starting a Brewery

40:53 - Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up

See more at beerrepchats.com

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In this episode of The Beer Rep Chats With, Martin sits down with Matt Gorecki from Zapato Brewing to explore the realities of building an independent brewery in today’s UK beer landscape.

Matt shares the story behind Zapato Brewing — from early days working in hospitality and beer festivals to launching a nomadic brewery, navigating the pandemic, and building a thriving taproom inside a converted Victorian mill in Marsden.

The conversation dives into the challenges facing independent brewers today, including market saturation, the dominance of big brands on tap lines, the evolution of craft beer trends, and why balance and complexity matter more than hype.

They also discuss collaboration culture, the rise and fall of double IPAs, British vs international hops, and Zapato’s plans to finally install their own brewing kit and expand production.

If you’re interested in independent beer, brewing philosophy, or the future of the UK craft beer scene — this episode offers an honest and insightful perspective from someone deeply embedded in the industry.


Links:
Subscribe to the Podcast: https://linktr.ee/TheBeerRepChatsWith

Zapato Website: https://zapatobrewing.com/

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Martin chats with Tim Weaver, founder of The Brand Weaver, about how indie breweries can level up their branding. From avoiding common mistakes to sharing success stories and practical strategies, Tim reveals what it takes to stand out in today’s crowded beer market. Plus, a sneak peek at his upcoming book Branding for Breweries.

Perfect for brewery owners, beer lovers, and anyone curious about the power of great branding.

Grab Tim's Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FXS1YPXW

The Brand Weaver Socials

Website: https://thebrandweaver.co.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandingforbreweries/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandingforbreweries
Podcast: https://thebrandweaver.co.uk/branding-for-breweries
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrandingforBreweries

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Part one of a four part mini series from The Beer Rep Chats With called The Fab Four, exploring hops, malt, water, and yeast. In this episode Martin speaks with Will Rogers from Charles Faram about the history and sustainability of British hops. They discuss the unique qualities of British hops, the changing demand in the beer market, and the innovative breeding programs aimed at developing new hop varieties. Will shares insights into the challenges faced by hop growers, the importance of sustainability, and the future of hop production in the UK. The conversation also touches on different hop formats, processing innovations, and personal beer preferences.


About Charles Faram: https://charlesfaram.com/hop-suppliers-the-company/

The Hop Farms: https://charlesfaram.com/charles-faram-farms/

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In this episode, Martin speaks with Kate Hyde, the head brewer of Hand Brew Co., about her unique journey into the brewing industry, the ethos behind Hand Brew Co., and the importance of diversity and inclusion in brewing. Kate shares her experiences, challenges, and insights on the craft beer scene, particularly regarding the role of women in brewing and the need for greater consumer awareness of independent breweries. The conversation also touches on the future of the UK beer scene, the significance of community, and the signature beers of Hand Brew Co.

Follow us and drop a comment about the episode.

Hand Brew Co Insta: https://www.instagram.com/handbrewco/

Hand Brew Co Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handbrewco

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In this episode, we chat with Sean O’Reilly, founder of Brid’s Cross Brewery, a Rochdale based brewery where folklore and fermentation go hand in hand. Sean shares the journey of how Brid’s Cross was born from a blend of personal passion, family encouragement, and a love for storytelling.

We also dive into:

• How Sean turned homebrewing into a full-time brewery
• Why storytelling is at the heart of Brid’s Cross
• The challenges of starting an independent brewery today
• Cask vs keg, British hops, and experimenting with yeast
• Getting indie beer into pubs and beyond

Whether you’re a fan of traditional cask ales, modern hop-forward styles, or just love a good origin story, then this episode has something for you.

Check out The Beer Rep store: https://thebeerrep.com

Follow Brid’s Cross on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridscrossbrew

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In this episode, Martin sits down with Dave Hayward, co-founder of Indie Rabble, to explore the bold journey from running one of Berkshire's best-known micropubs (A Hoppy Place) to launching a community-driven independent brewery.

We chat about:

How Indie Rabble was born during turbulent times in the industry

What it really takes to grow an indie brewery in the current market

The release of Indie Pils, their new core range Pilsner

Why pubs need to support true independents, not just big golobal brands

Lessons learned in their first 2 years — and what’s next for Indie Rabble

Whether you’re a beer drinker, homebrewer, or indie beer advocate, this is a real, honest conversation about starting small, thinking big, and staying independent.

👉 Like, subscribe and leave a comment — and don’t forget to check out the featured beers from Indie Rabble at The Beer Rep.

Follow Indie Rabble Socials

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indierabble
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indierabble

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In this episode, Martin sits down with James Stiff from The Malt Miller, which is the go to UK supplier for homebrewing gear, ingredients, and advice.

From his first brew in 2016 to becoming a central figure at The Malt Miller, James shares how his passion for brewing turned into a full-time role helping others discover the joy of brewing at home. We explore:

• Choosing the right brewing kit for your skill and budget
• What’s trending in hops, yeast, and brewing tech
• How The Malt Miller helps new brewers with video content, recipe kits, and  their Home Brewing 101 series
• Recipe design tips using SMASH techniques and pressure fermentation
• Sneak peeks into upcoming collaborations and new product launches

Links:

The Malt Miller site:
https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/

Stiffo's House Hazy Pale recipe:
https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/stiffos-house-hazy-pale-all-grain-recipe-kit/

Buy indie beer (UK delivery only):
https://thebeerrep.com/

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In this episode we speak to Mike from Colbier Brewery who recently won the SIBA business award for Best New Independent Brewery in the UK at BeerX. He shares his journey from a music background to starting a brewery in Liverpool. He discusses the challenges of finding a suitable location, the influence of Liverpool's music scene on their beer themes, and their take on traditional beers. Mike also highlights the current craft beer market, the innovative ingredients they use, and the feedback they receive from the community. He shares Colbier's future plans, including new beer styles and potentially opening a taproom/pub.

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In this episode of The Beer Rep Chats With, we sit down with Jonny Garrett – beer writer, YouTuber, and co-founder of The Craft Beer Channel⁩  – for an in-depth conversation about the future of cask ale and the UK beer industry.

Jonny shares how his love for beer began in British pubs, how the pandemic impacted cask beer, and why he's campaigning to have cask ale recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. We also explore:

• The evolving world of beer publishing and writing
• The role of influencers vs traditional beer writers
• Challenges facing UK breweries: market access, rising costs, and changing tastes
• The birth of The Craft Beer Channel
• A peek at his upcoming homebrew project

If you love beer culture, support independent UK breweries, or are passionate about preserving pub traditions, this episode is a must-listen.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you're passionate about beer and brewing!

Sign the petition to get cask ale recognised as intangible cultural heritage: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/716686

Buy The Meaning Of Beer: https://amzn.eu/d/59HiNUy

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