The Pellicle Podcast

How important is the role of sustainability in brewing? How does beer actually get made sustainably when it’s an incredibly energy-intensive process to actually get your beer from the farm to your glass? And how does the industry avoid greenwashing as it attempts to be more responsible about its impact on our climate and the environment? All these questions and more are answered in our latest podcast episode: An Open Discussion About Sustainability in Beer. Recorded live at IndyManBeerCon in October 2023, this episode features Ben Stubbs of Rivington Brew Co, Chris Drummond of Allkin Brewing, IMBC founder Jonny Heyes, and is hosted by our very own Jonny Hamilton. At the start of the episode there’s also some reflection from our regular host Matthew Curtis about IMBC’s decision not to hold an event in 2024, and what the festival means to him. We’re able to produce The Pellicle Podcast directly thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and our sponsors Loughran Brewers Select. If you’re enjoying this podcast, or the weekly articles we publish, please consider taking out a monthly subscription for less than the price of a pint a month.

Cast your mind back to February 2021, when I published episode 20 of this podcast. In an effort to experiment with the format of the show, I’d begun recording long monologues loosely based on the idea that I would ask myself a question and try to both answer and contextualise it in under an hour. One of the first questions I asked myself was “does cider have an image problem?” And, over the course of about 55 minutes, I sent myself down a rabbit hole of loaded opinion in which I expressed some deep feelings about cider and perry. It proved popular, in fact to date it is the third most popular podcast we’ve ever published. Why it has been listened to so regularly is largely down to the fact it split opinion about 50/50. Some relished the idea of cider’s image being challenged, while others found little to agree with. One bone I picked at relentlessly during the episode was the existence of a supplier and trade body called Cider is Wine. I considered their use of terminology, in particular its decision to refer to cider and perry as ‘orchard wines’ to be somewhat self-defeatist. I’ve long considered that language and its use to describe alcoholic beverages to be a powerful tool. I also believe that for cider and perry to win more hearts and minds, it needs to be true to itself and not look to beer or wine for answers (or customers). This includes directly referring to itself as wine, and not cider, as Cider is Wine chooses to. Not long after the episode was published I was contacted by the founder of Cider is Wine, Alistair Morrell, and we had a relatively healthy conversation about my views—well, as healthy as you can do via Twitter and email. What we did agree on, however, was that when Alistair found himself in Manchester we would sit down face to face and record a podcast, which we finally did in November 2023. Remarkably, as so often happens when you allow time for proper, in-depth, face-to-face conversation, we found that we had more common ground than we suspected. Well, I have a feeling that Alistair did suspect it, because cider is his business after all. While we didn’t agree on everything, we did speak constructively about the future of cider and perry, and discussed his use of specific terminology in depth. After the heated part of the interview, we also took the chance to taste through a few of the ciders he distributes, all of which were stunning. (Please note, this episode was recorded in a moderately busy bar, so there is a little background noise, but nothing hopefully too distracting.) We’re able to produce The Pellicle Podcast directly thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and our sponsors Loughran Brewers Select. If you’re enjoying this podcast, or the weekly articles we publish, please consider taking out a monthly subscription for less than the price of a pint a month.

In hindsight, it’s easy to say that when writer David Jesudason pitched me a story on the history and significance of Desi Pubs, I bit his hand off. But reality is never that simple. While it’s true that I was desperate to commission stories by writers from non-white backgrounds, and publish stories that explored previously uncovered elements of British beer culture, I am always wary before I commit to an idea. The question I ask myself before I commission a story, whether I like it or not, is “would our readers enjoy this.” Although I get the final say over what we eventually publish on Pellicle it’s not really about what I like, it’s about meeting the expectations of the people who come to the site every week to read about beer, pubs, or whatever we happen to be talking about at the time. Thankfully, I loved David’s pitch, and we eventually published his first story on Desi Pubs on the 2nd of June, 2021. It was a hit, and in addition to opening up our readers to this vastly undercovered area of British pub culture, it sent David down a rabbit hole, as he delved ever deeper into researching and covering this topic. The eventual result of this would lead to the publication of his first book Desi Pubs, in 2023. On the book’s surface it’s a guidebook to British-Asian pub culture and some of the amazing Desi Pubs that can be found in certain parts of the UK. It’s fantastic, and if you haven’t already I urge you to buy a copy for yourself. A few months after the publication of his book, I had the chance to invite David up to Manchester, to join me in conversation for a live podcast, recorded at IndyManBeerCon (or, if you prefer, the Independent Manchester Beer Convention.) We chatted about Desi Pubs, the book itself, about bigger subjects such as the colour bar, and on David’s thoughts and approach to writing about beer and pubs in general. We’re able to produce The Pellicle Podcast directly thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and our sponsors Loughran Brewers Select. If you’re enjoying this podcast, or the weekly articles we publish, please consider taking out a monthly subscription for less than the price of a pint a month.

Please note this is the second part of a two-part episode. Find part one, Episode 50, right here. There exists a curious tension at Roosters Brewing Company, one that few other breweries have to navigate in terms of both their identity, and their position within the UK beer market. On the one hand this is a resolutely contemporary brewery, creating modern IPAs as delicious and precise as the cask ales loved by locals it built its reputation upon. But there’s also the fact that this is a three-decade old brewery, with a considerable legacy established by its previous owner, Sean Franklin, and its flagship beer, Yankee. It’s a persistent problem, one that’s always snapping at the heels of twin brothers, Tom and Ol Fozard—the commercial director and head brewer, respectively—who took on this considerable stewardship when, along with their dad, Ian, they acquired the brewery in 2011. Since the acquisition they have done their best to put their stamp on it, while also clinging to the story and substance that makes Roosters Brewery what it is today. They’ve achieved this through beers such as their best-selling IPA, Baby Faced Assassin, and by relocating the brewery from its original home in the town of Knaresborough to a new site, complete with an American-style taproom, on the outskirts of Harrogate, North Yorkshire. In 2023 they celebrated the brewery’s 30th birthday in style, holding a beer festival at the brewery called Suds With Buds. They were joined by contemporaries from both sides of the Atlantic, and ably demonstrated that this is a brewery that more than holds its weight within the highly competitive British beer market. Please enjoy this bumper length interview with Tom and Ol, split into two parts for brevity. This is a candid, warts and all account of one of the UK’s most interesting breweries, and a fascinating look at one that is navigating an industry under so much pressure, as it continually seeks to define itself within it. We’re able to produce The Pellicle Podcast directly thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and our sponsors Loughran Brewers Select. If you’re enjoying this podcast, or the weekly articles we publish, please consider taking out a monthly subscription for less than the price of a pint a month.

There exists a curious tension at Roosters Brewing Company, one that few other breweries have to navigate in terms of both their identity, and their position within the UK beer market. On the one hand this is a resolutely contemporary brewery, creating modern IPAs as delicious and precise as the cask ales loved by locals it built its reputation upon. But there’s also the fact that this is a three-decade old brewery, with a considerable legacy established by its previous owner, Sean Franklin, and its flagship beer, Yankee. It’s a persistent problem, one that’s always snapping at the heels of twin brothers, Tom and Ol Fozard—the commercial director and head brewer, respectively—who took on this considerable stewardship when, along with their dad, Ian, they acquired the brewery in 2011. Since the acquisition they have done their best to put their stamp on it, while also clinging to the story and substance that makes Roosters Brewery what it is today. They’ve achieved this through beers such as their best-selling IPA, Baby Faced Assassin, and by relocating the brewery from its original home in the town of Knaresborough to a new site, complete with an American-style taproom, on the outskirts of Harrogate, North Yorkshire. In 2023 they celebrated the brewery’s 30th birthday in style, holding a beer festival at the brewery called Suds With Buds. They were joined by contemporaries from both sides of the Atlantic, and ably demonstrated that this is a brewery that more than holds its weight within the highly competitive British beer market. Please enjoy this bumper length interview with Tom and Ol, split into two parts for brevity. This is a candid, warts and all account of one of the UK’s most interesting breweries, and a fascinating look at one that is navigating an industry under so much pressure, as it continually seeks to define itself within it. We’re able to produce The Pellicle Podcast directly thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and our sponsors Loughran Brewers Select. If you’re enjoying this podcast, or the weekly articles we publish, please consider taking out a monthly subscription for less than the price of a pint a month.

During one of our first ever panel discussions at FyneFest, held way back in 2019, we spoke about the importance of independence in brewing. Not only were the results of the conversation inconclusive, two of the breweries represented in that discussion—Hawkshead and Harbour— have since sold out to larger corporations… With several years having passed since this talk took place, and the brewing landscape also having changed dramatically during this time, we felt it was time to return to it once again and ask: is independence more important than ever? Join Matthew Curtis for a debate featuring an expert panel to work out if there is still genuine value for both breweries and their customers in remaining independent, or if it’s time to sell out and cash in, while there’s still time. Featuring Darron Anley (Siren Craft Brew), Vik Stronge (Magic Rock), Matt Clarke and Michelle Gay (Lakes Brew Co.) We’re able to produce The Pellicle Podcast directly thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and our sponsors Loughran Brewers Select. If you’re enjoying this podcast, or the weekly articles we publish, please consider taking out a monthly subscription for less than the price of a pint a month. Get your tickets to FyneFest 2024 here.

There is no getting away from the fact that producing beer is a hugely energy intensive process. The very nature of brewing requires boiling a huge vat of liquid, which then needs to be cooled quickly, and kept at near freezing temperatures for several weeks. The finished product also needs constant refrigeration if it’s to be kept at its best. Other processes connected to brewing, such as the farming of ingredients, and the production of the chemicals used for sanitisation, all add to its large carbon footprint. In this panel discussion, hosted by Matthew Curtis, we examine what both breweries and the folks who drink their beer can do to encourage breweries to take responsibility for adopting more sustainable practices in brewing. There’s plenty to debate, from the use of organic grains, to carbon dioxide capture and reuse, to the controversial deposit return scheme that is just around the corner for the United Kingdom. Featuring Sarah Luxon (Wiper & True), Jamie Delap (Fyne Ales), and Sam McMeekin (Gypsy Hill). We’re able to produce The Pellicle Podcast directly thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and our sponsors Loughran Brewers Select. If you’re enjoying this podcast, or the weekly articles we publish, please consider taking out a monthly subscription for less than the price of a pint a month. Get your tickets to FyneFest 2024 here.

We can all agree that the last few years have been tough, and as a result, it can be difficult to find the joy in life’s simple pleasures — of which beer is one of the best. The past decade in British brewing has been pretty exhausting, with thousands of newcomers entering the category, many of whom have been in a race to make the haziest, juiciest, pastriest, and most intense beers possible. As a result, many of us have reached our saturation point within beer culture. For this panel discussion, Jonathan Hamilton speaks to people from within the beer industry about their own experiences of what we’re calling ‘beer burnout’ and discuss ways in which we can regain joy from the simple pleasure that is enjoying a well made glass of beer. Hopefully, together, we can learn to Make Beer Fun Again. Featuring Lucy Clarke (Sureshot), Aidy Fenwick (Fyne Ales), and Dominic Driscoll (Thornbridge). We’re able to produce The Pellicle Podcast directly thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and our sponsors Loughran Brewers Select. If you’re enjoying this podcast, or the weekly articles we publish, please consider taking out a monthly subscription for less than the price of a pint a month. Get your tickets to FyneFest 2024 here.

Perhaps one of the most exciting things to have happened within the UK brewing industry over the past decade is the birth of modern British lager. Whether they’ve been directly inspired by the brewing traditions of Germany and the Czech Republic, or by more contemporary influences such as the American West Coast, the wealth of great lager beers now produced by British breweries, from Helles, to Baltic Porters and even newer styles such as India Pale Lager, is breathtaking. For this discussion you’ll join Pellicle co-founder, lager enthusiast, and Heriot Watt brewing and distilling masters alumni Jonathan Hamilton, along with an expert panel of brewers to chat about all things lager. If you want to learn your infusion mashing from decoction, or about things such as the influence and flavour of heritage barley varieties in lager brewing, then this is the discussion for you. Featuring Colin Stronge (Salt Beer Factory), Reece Hugill (Donzoko) and Hannah Davidson (Jolly Good Beer). We’re able to produce The Pellicle Podcast directly thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and our sponsors Loughran Brewers Select. If you’re enjoying this podcast, or the weekly articles we publish, please consider taking out a monthly subscription for less than the price of a pint a month. Get your tickets to FyneFest 2024 here.

From the pandemic to Brexit, the cost of living crisis has impacted everyone’s pockets. For brewers, the price of beer production is through the roof, with rising ingredient costs and soaring energy bills, everything has become significantly more expensive. Perhaps the greatest challenge, however, is passing this cost onto the consumer. Beer is an egalitarian product, and drinkers have always had an expectation that it remains affordable, accessible, and live in hope that it doesn’t become a very occasional luxury. In this debate, featuring members of the brewing industry and hosted by Pellicle co-founder Matthew Curtis, we’ll discuss the difficult subject that is the price of a pint. From the cost at the bar, to concepts like premiumisation, and whether there’s actually a benefit (or not) to the price of beer going up, no stone will be left unturned. Audience participation will be encouraged—think of this as like Question Time but with much more beer. Featuring Andy Parker (Elusive Brewing), Charlie Harding (Bonne Vivante Marketing) and Alice Hayward (Cloudwater). We’re able to produce The Pellicle Podcast directly thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and our sponsors Loughran Brewers Select. If you’re enjoying this podcast, or the weekly articles we publish, please consider taking out a monthly subscription for less than the price of a pint a month. Get your tickets to FyneFest 2024 here.

In a recent team discussion both of our associate editors, Katie Mather and Lily Waite, asked if they could narrate some of their stories for a podcast episode. Long-term listeners will know this is something I experimented with in early episodes, with varying results. I found reading my own stories to be a delight. I felt it gave me the ability to add detail using tone and inflection that might not have quite the same impact when read, but I struggled a little when narrating those written by others. It really needs the writer's voice to help the listener understand the mood that they're trying to communicate with their writing. This is what made me jump at the opportunity as soon as they both asked, and Katie got straight to work recording a narration of a piece of her writing from 2020 called: ‘Hand-Held Rebellion — An Ode to the Burger Van’. It’s a shorter episode than usual. An easy 15 minutes as opposed to an hour; something you can easily enjoy on a lunch break, or during your daily run. Katie is a very special writer. She has this uncanny ability to conjure poetic majesty in topics that some may find mundane. In the latest series in her newsletter The Gulp—which she calls PROCESS—she makes eating spam sound like enjoying a delectable, three-course meal. That Katie’s viewpoint is grounded in her working class roots is arguably what makes her ability to tackle subjects like these so potent. This piece, which internally at Pellicle we simply call ‘Burger Van’, is one of her very best. It’s a tale from memory, about childhood, nostalgia, and how that has manifested in Katie’s adult life. It will absolutely, 100%, make you want to head straight to your nearest butty van and order a belly buster with extra bacon and cheese. Before Katie reads her article, Matthew also takes the time to check in with some thoughts he has on the beer industry after a visit to Duration Brewing in Norfolk for their 4th anniversary celebrations. If you want to read the original Burger Van article, you can do so here. We’re able to produce The Pellicle Podcast directly thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and our sponsors Loughran Brewers Select. If you’re enjoying this podcast, or the weekly articles we publish, please consider taking out a monthly subscription for less than the price of a pint a month.

DEYA. It’s spelled in capital letters, a reminder so you can shout its name joyfully from the rooftops. Joy is certainly one thing the Cheltenham based brewery provides in abundance. This is through their carefully put together beers—such as its flagship pale ale Steady Rolling Man—or its vibrantly colourful, energetic, and yet at the same time peaceful taproom. DEYA is a brewery of multiple dispositions. In November 2022 I finally visited the brewery itself for the first time, doing the 3-and-a-bit hour journey from Manchester (via Birmingham) and back again inside a day to take some photos for another project I was working on. As I was packing my gear, I made a last minute decision to throw my mics and Zoom recorder into my bag, and asked the brewery’s founder, Theo Freyne, if he had a spare hour to be interviewed for an episode of The Pellicle Podcast. Thankfully, he agreed, and we recorded a really fascinating conversation. Together we covered the origins of the brewery, how it has grown and changed so much since it was established in 2015, and how they make their oh-so-delicious beers that have captivated so many drinkers throughout the UK. And then, well, I had a book to finish. A book that is now finished. Unfortunately it meant that the recording was left to languish on my hard drive for several months—almost a year to the day, in fact—waiting for me to find the time to edit it. At the start of the year I had every intention of making sure I was producing regular podcast episodes, but time is not something I have in abundance. Thankfully, however, now the book is out it’s something I have a little bit more of, and on listening back to the episode I was pleased to hear it hadn’t really aged. While it might not include what the brewery has been up to over the past year, it serves as an excellent primer, whether you’re completely new to the brewery, or you’re an experienced Steady drinker, eager to hear more about how this beer is made. Please enjoy this wonderful interview with Theo, and about his brewery, DEYA. I’ll be back with more podcast episodes very soon, (and I really mean it this time.) Special thanks to our pals at Loughran Brewers Select, who in addition to sponsoring our website are now also sponsoring our podcast. A double whammy of support that means more good stuff for you folks! *** Purchase your copy of Manchester’s Best Beer Pubs and Bars (the podcast-not-happening-er) right here. And don’t forget to support us on Patreon if you enjoy these podcasts.

Manchester has a fascinating beer history, stretching back well over two centuries, and into the industrial revolution. What’s remarkable is how that history still influences the northwestern city’s beer culture today, whether via one of its four, storied family brewers like Robinson’s or JW Lees, or one of its modern trailblazers such as Track or Cloudwater. One of the city’s most unquestionably influential breweries is Marble, which was originally established in the Marble arch pub in 1997. The brewery has since gone through two expansions, its most recent in 2019 when it relocated from Manchester to Salford (the difference of which is very important to locals). The latest episode of our podcast takes place here at the brewery, where we hosted a panel discussion in front of a live audience, and delved into the recent history of the Manchester beer scene, as we joined in Marble’s 25th anniversary celebrations, which took place towards the end of 2022. Hosted by our very own Matthew Curtis, the panel features a host of luminaries from within the Manchester beer scene, including Jason Menzies, Marble’s events manager. We’re also joined by Stephanie Shuttleworth, a former Marble employee who has worked in and around the Manchester beer scene for over a decade, and is currently working on a PhD centered around pubs and brewing. Last but not least we’re joined by John Clarke, chair of Stockport and South Manchester CAMRA, who has been living and breathing beer in Greater Manchester for over three decades. It’s a fantastic discussion, and one of our lengthiest to date, as there was so much interesting history to talk about. Thanks again to Marble for inviting us to host this talk, and to our guests for providing such great insight. Don’t forget that if you enjoy this, and other content that Pellicle creates, please consider subscribing via Patreon, and support our independent magazine and podcast.

In a British beer market that has expanded rapidly over the previous couple of decades (before grinding to a halt during the current cost of living crisis), finding a point of difference has been vital for these small businesses to succeed. For some it has meant focusing on particular styles, like Hazy IPA, or crisp, refreshing lager. While for others it could have been producing a rock solid hospitality offering, and direct-to-consumer sales via a bar, or taproom. For Oxford’s Tap Social Movement, which was established in 2016, that point of difference has been about making—well—a difference. Social justice is a part of this brewery's core ethos, and at the heart of this are the efforts to work with individuals exiting the prison system, and finding them employment. In fact, around a third of Tap Social’s employees have been hired through this system, and you’ll hear plenty about this from two of the company’s directors, Tess Taylor and Matt Elliot, in the first of two interviews in this episode. In the second interview, we’ll learn all about the other side of the business—the beer—as we chat to head brewer, Jason Bolger. Our visit coincided with us producing a collaboration beer with Tap Social, a modern British bitter, which we called ‘Wake Up’ after the song by Rage Against the Machine—a little nod to the social justice this brewery was founded upon. Speaking of beer, there’s also plenty of time at the beginning of the episode for our host to talk about some of the things he’s been enjoying lately, and about his recent trips to Edinburgh, and Fort Collins, Colorado. Don’t forget that if you enjoy this, and other content that Pellicle creates, please consider subscribing via Patreon, and support our independent magazine and podcast.

In the summer of 2022 I had the privilege of escorting Topher Boehm and Chris Allen of Sydney, Australia’s Wildflower Brewing & Blending on a day out in which we enjoyed a few beers in Clitheroe, Lancashire. Topher and Chris were keen to visit Corto after listening to the conversation I had previously published on this very podcast between myself and my friend and colleague, Katie Mather. As long time readers and listeners of Pellicle, Topher and Chris were keen to explore the beer scene in the North West—most notably, its traditional pubs, and the bountiful selection of real ale they had to offer. Their keenness to explore the best of the UK's beer traditions is also represented in their own approach to beer making. You might be thinking what does best bitter have to do with the complex, mixed and wild fermentation beers that Wildflower has built its deserved reputation upon? The answer is simple: everything. Since I first had the privilege of meeting Topher at a beer festival in Denver, Colorado back in 2018, I have been fascinated—not just by Wildflowers processes—but by how mindful in their approach to drinking, and the culture of drinking, this brewery is. This approach can be heard throughout this bumper-length interview, which covers everything from their processes in the brewery, to what inspires them as producers, and how they unpack and consider the impact of colonialism on what they make and sell. Need a primer on Wildflower before diving in? Check out this profile we published way back in 2020, written by Australian writer Anastasia Prikhodko, and then dive into this fantastic interview. Thanks again to Topher and Chris for making time in their travel schedule to record this interview, and for sharing some wonderful beers with us during your stay. Don’t forget that if you enjoy this, and other content that Pellicle creates, please consider subscribing via Patreon, and support our independent magazine and podcast.

Growing up in the nearby city of Lincoln, in my late teens day trips to nearby Nottingham held a great deal of anticipation and promise. While my hometown felt, in some ways, culturally deficit, Nottingham had it all—namely venues such as Rock City and The Rescue Rooms where I could see the touring bands I loved. Although, when I eventually moved away from Lincolnshire, so too did I remove myself from the culture of the Midlands, and this absence continued as I began exploring beer. Last year, however, I was presented with the opportunity to visit the city’s annual craft beer week, after being invited to talk about my book, Modern British Beer, at one of the many events happening around town. I was also offered an opportunity to record a podcast at the office’s of Leftlion, the local music, arts and culture magazine that is behind both Nottingham Craft Beer Week, and the annual beer festival that forms the centerpiece to these events. In this bumper-length roundtable discussion I chat to Aimee Harbison of The Barrel Drop pub, Lucy Simons of The Abdication micropub, Alex Wilson of Black Iris Brewing, and Josh Mellor of Neon Raptor Brewing Co. It’s a fascinating conversation that digs into one of the most exciting beer scenes in the UK—and one that, for some reason, doesn’t quite get as much coverage as other, more vocal cities. What I found, however, is that the locals know exactly how good it is, so it was a delight to chat to some of the folks who are making Nottingham such a destination city for great beer. Special thanks to Jared Wilson for inviting me down to Nottingham, and arranging this podcast. Tickets for this years Nottingham Craft Beer Festival are available now, and with the lineup of breweries already signed up, I’d highly recommend paying it a visit. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing via Patreon, and help in our effort to turn Pellicle into a sustainable, profit-making business in 2023.

If you've been on Beer Twitter at all recently you’ll have likely noticed our podcast host Matthew Curtis harping on about bitter and mild. Cask beer is something we love at Pellicle and so we were always going to dedicate one of our panel discussions at Fynefest 2022 to this much debated category. Joined by an expert panel including Mark Welsby of Stockport’s Runaway Brewery, Laura Rangeley of Sheffield’s Abbeydale Brewery, and Malcolm Downie of our hosts Fyne Ales, we attempt to get serious about the discussion around cask. We start by asking whether or not the resurgence in traditional styles such as bitter and mild is here to stay, or if it's merely a flash in the pan. (Or, indeed, consider if it never went away in the first place.) We also dig into some more serious topics. With statistics indicating that the cask ale category is ailing, we ask if premiumisation is the answer to sparking a true resurgence, and debate the much talked over discussion point that is the price of a pint. It’s been a thrill, as always, to host these discussions, and we hope you’ve enjoyed them as much as we have. We’ll be back for more at FyneFest 2023, so make sure you grab your tickets now so you can join us there. And don’t forget to subscribe to Pellicle via Patreon if you’re able to support our website and podcast with a monthly, or yearly donation.

Over the past couple of decades barrel aged beers have become increasingly popular among craft beer enthusiasts. From intensely flavourful spirit barrel aged strong stouts, to more nuanced and complex sour and wild ales matured in former wine casks, the range of barrel aged beers is as breathtaking as some of the beers which eventually emerge from the barrels themselves. But as the market has become saturated with these often costly beers, and the post-pandemic, cost of living crisis driven drinker looks towards simpler, less wallet-intensive beverages, what does the future look like for this subgenre within the beer category? Who’s actually buying them? And perhaps more importantly: how are breweries making any profit from a project that takes an immense amount of time and space to produce, and is largely driven by passion? For this panel we put together a group of brewers making (in our opinion) some of the best barrel aged beers in the UK: Toby McKenzie of Macclesfield’s RedWillow Brewery, Dave McHardy of Fierce Beer in Aberdeen, and Lee Grabham of York’s appropriately named Brew York. The trio discuss everything from the processes behind their barrel aged beers, to what they think the future of the market looks like for them.

Mental health is a seldom talked about subject within the brewing industry. Perhaps this is because the demographic working within brewing skews highly male, and men are infamous for often being unable to discuss this topic adequately. Thankfully, in more recent times, the discussion is becoming more open and more frequent—valuable indeed, considering how tumultuous the past couple of years have been on our minds, as well as our bodies. In this discussion recorded at FyneFest 2022, host Matthew Curtis is joined by Miranda Hudson of Duration Brewing, Vik Stronge of Magic Rock, and Dominic Driscoll of Thornbridge. The panel discusses a range of points within the subject of mental health, from setting boundaries within the workplace, to managing the mental health of our colleagues, employees and friends, as we try to make the beer industry a safer, friendlier place to work. CW: Topics discussed include depression and alcoholism. If you’re struggling with your mental health we urge you not to suffer alone, and recommend contacting an organisation such as The Drinks Trust or The Samaritans for support.

Throughout this month we’ll be bringing you our panel discussions from FyneFest 2022, kicking off with a fantastic, in-depth conversation with Fyne Ale's managing director, Jamie Delap. Founded in 2001 by his parents Jonny and Tuggy Delap, the day-to-day running of the brewery passed on to Jamie when his father passed away in 2009. The following year, Fyne Ales held a small gathering for a few hundred people on the family farm within Glen Fyne, where the brewery is located. They even brewed a special beer for the event at 3.8% ABV, hopped with a new variety of hops from North America called Citra. The event was a huge success, and today FyneFest sees over 3000 people travel from all over Europe (and even from the US) to attend. The beer didn’t go down too badly either, and was eventually given the name Jarl. It now accounts for well over half of the brewery's total production volume. In this conversation Jamie and I discuss everything, from these origins, to how the pandemic affected the brewery, to how it's looking at taking on challenges such as the cost of living crisis, and the means of making the brewery more sustainable. Jamie is undoubtedly one of the keenest minds within the UK brewing industry, and it was a true privilege to have such an open and honest discussion about these issues during the business of the festival. We’re pleased to say we’ll be back at FyneFest in 2023, with a whole new host of guests and topics to discuss. Tickets are available now from FyneFest.com, and trust us when we say this is an event you don’t want to miss. We look forward to seeing you in the Glen later this year. Special thanks to Fyne Ales for hosting us at the event, and for being one of our pro-tier Patreon supporters. Pellicle is supported by our Patreon subscribers—please consider helping to keep our independent magazine and podcast sustainable with a monthly, or yearly donation. If you are interested in sponsoring future episodes, please get in touch.