EPISODE 123: CONCRETE BLUES
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I met Al Upshaw from Concrete Blues at Beak's These Hills Festival in August. I was bowled over by his beer, and asked him to be a guest on the podcast, which he agreed to. So here is the resulting conversation.
Also featured on the podcast:
LINKS
Concrete Blues - website / Instagram
Collabageddon 2025 - blog post on Elusive website
Siren's Predator beer : Get 10% off of your Siren Craft Brew order of £50 or more! Click here and use code PREDATOR10
2025 Books:
London's Lost Pubs - Sam Cullen
Beer Breaks in Britain - Phil Mellows and Kate Simon
The Meaning of Beer - Jonny Garrett
A Pub for All Seasons - Adrian Tierney-Jones
Beer Festivals - Laura Hadland
Leave me a message on Speakpipe - CLICK HERE
Email me - beerprimeuk@gmail.com
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EPISODE 122: ST MARS OF THE DESERT
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On a recent visit to Sheffield, I took time out to visit St Mars of the Desert's taproom and sit down with co-owner Dann Paquette and talk about their brewery, the origins of the quirky name, their last brewery in Boston, USA, plus lots more.
LINKS
St Mars of the Desert - website / Instagram
Leave me a message on Speakpipe - CLICK HERE
Email me - beerprimeuk@gmail.com
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EPISODE 121: EXPERIMENTS IN YEAST & BEER SECRET
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I have a packed episode for you today! First off, I speak with Liselot Caura of Beer Secret, a Belgium-based Beer Tour guide; then we have a tasting of Elusive Brewing x UnBarred x Lallemand Brewing's Experiments in Yeast at Two Tails Taproom, followed by some insights into the project from Andy Parker, Jordan Mower, and Alix Blease. Phew!! I need a beer!
LINKS
Beer Secret - website / Instagram
Two Tails Taproom - Twitter / Instagram / Facebook
Elusive Brewing - website / Twitter / Instagram
UnBarred - website / Twitter / Instagram
Lallemand Yeast - website / Twitter / Instagram
Leave me a message on Speakpipe - CLICK HERE
Email me - beerprimeuk@gmail.com
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EPISODE 120: THIRTYFIFTY
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I sat down with Jamie Percival and Chris Scott from ThirtyFifty - a wine and beer educator - all about their WSET courses, and beer tastings. We also had a little tasting of three beers, and I drafted in my son, Luca, for his Beer Prime debut to taste along with me and learn a few things!
LINKS
ThirtyFifty - Twitter / Instagram / website
News stories featured:
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Email me - beerprimeuk@gmail.com
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EPISODE 119: BOHEM BREWERY
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I went down to the Queens Arms in Battersea, where I sat down with Jakub Mikusinec from Bohem Brewery, and we talked all about their authentic Czech lagers produced in the heart of London, as well as all about the Czech way of dispensing their beers, the importance of the Tapster, and much more.
LINKS
Bohem Brewery - Twitter / Instagram / website
News stories featured:
Leave me a message on Speakpipe - CLICK HERE
Email me - beerprimeuk@gmail.com
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EPISODE 118: SOUTHWARK BREWING CO.
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I went down to see Peter Jackson at Southwark Brewing Co and chatted with him about his 11 years as part of the Bermondsey Beer Mile, and his beer industry background before that - 33 years and not a single drop brewed!
LINKS
Southwark Brewing Co - Twitter / Instagram / website
News stories featured:
Leave me a message on Speakpipe - CLICK HERE
Email me - beerprimeuk@gmail.com
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EPISODE 116: SAMBROOK'S BREWERY AND THE RAM BREWERY
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I visited John Hatch at the Sambrook's Brewery taproom in Wandsworth, Southwest London, on the old Young's Brewery site. John works for the brewery, but also brews heritage beers as The Ram Brewery using a "scrapheap challenge" nano-brewery that was cobbled together from materials during the Young's exit. There are plenty of fascinating stories, and John delivers them in style, while wearing his trademark lab coat!
LINKS
Sambrook's Brewery - Twitter / Instagram / website
The Ram Brewery - Twitter / Instagram
News stories featured:
Leave me a message on Speakpipe - CLICK HERE
Email me - beerprimeuk@gmail.com
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EPISODE 116: TAP SOCIAL MOVEMENT REVISITED
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I took a trip to Oxford and dropped in to Tap Social Movement's Kiddlington brewery, and sat down with Brian Spencer to catch up with what they have been up to since the last time we spoke, on Episode 54 in September 2022.
LINKS
Tap Social Movement - Twitter / Instagram / Bluesky / website
Beer Prime Episode 54 with Tap Social - Link here
Leave me a message on Speakpipe - CLICK HERE
Email me - beerprimeuk@gmail.com
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EPISODE 115: THE DODO MICROPUB
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I took a trip to West London, to sit down in the Dodo Micropub with owner Lucy Do. We talked about the Micropub concept, why she started one, what trials and tribulations have befallen her, and lots more. We were joined by Lucy's some-time colleague and the doyenne of beer festivals, Kelly Mukhida, and we covered the Ealing Beer Festival, the Great American Beer Festival, and why its best to START drinking the higher ABV beers. You're in for a treat!
LINKS
The Dodo Micropub - Twitter / Instagram / Bluesky / website / TikTok
Kelly Mukhida - Instagram / Ealing Beer Festival
Leave me a message on Speakpipe - CLICK HERE
Email me - beerprimeuk@gmail.com
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EPISODE 114: ATTIC BREW CO.
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This episode features Oli Hurlow, co-founder of Birmingham's Attic Brew Co. We talk about their beginnings in an attic, to moving in to their own space, then on to tripling production capacity. We also cover the dichotomy of being a "local" company, with getting their beers out around the country and repping West Midlands brewing.
LINKS
Attic Brew Co - Twitter / Instagram / website / TikTok
Leave me a message on Speakpipe - CLICK HERE
Email me - beerprimeuk@gmail.com
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EPISODE 113: BEER BOOKS WITH PETE BROWN AND SAM CULLEN
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In this episode, I speak with two Beer Writers with new books out. First up is Sam Cullen, whose new book "London's Lost Pubs" chronicles over 200 pubs in the Capital that have closed in the last 25 years. Plenty of interesting stories, and a bit of nostalgia for me as I discovered that a few pubs that I used to frequent are no longer with us.
Then on to Pete Brown, who brings us a book all about pairing beer with music, in "Tasting Notes". The book is a fascinating look into the effects of drinking beers with certain characteristics while listening to songs that either match or contrast them.
LINKS
Pete Brown - Twitter / Instagram / website / Tasting Notes
Sam Cullen - Twitter / London's Lost Pubs
Leave me a message on Speakpipe - CLICK HERE
Email me - beerprimeuk@gmail.com
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EPISODE 112: SUSSEX SPECIAL WITH ONLY WITH LOVE, THREE ACRE, AND TWO TAILS
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I went down to a farm in Sussex which is home to TWO breweries - Only With Love and Three Acre. We were joined by local Sussex pop-up taproom and exponents of all things Sussex - Two Tails.
LINKS
Only With Love - Instagram / website
Three Acre - Twitter / Instagram / website
Two Tails - Twitter / Instagram
Leave me a message on Speakpipe - CLICK HERE
Email me - beerprimeuk@gmail.com
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EPISODE 111: MYSTERIOUS BREWING CO REVISITED
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I paid a visit to Mysterious HQ to help brew a beer, and to catch up with Ken and Adam about what they've been up to since we last spoke, and their big 2nd birthday bash plans.
There's also a message from Colin Gilham from Two Tails Taproom.
LINKS
Mysterious Brewing Co - Twitter / Instagram / Bluesky
Leave me a message on Speakpipe - CLICK HERE
Email me - beerprimeuk@gmail.com
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EPISODE 110: BEER BREAKS IN BRITAIN
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On my trip to Lewes, where I recorded with Beak Brewery, I also sat down with Phil Mellows to talk about his book Beer Breaks in Britain.
There's also a message from Deana Gilham from Two Tails Taproom.
LINKS
Beer Breaks in Britain - website / Twitter / Instagram / Substack
Phil Mellows - Twitter / Instagram
Maidenhead Craft Beer Festival - tickets
Leave me a message on Speakpipe - CLICK HERE
Email me - beerprimeuk@gmail.com
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EPISODE 109: BEAK REVISITED
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Recently, I took a trip to Lewes to visit Kat Türková of Beak Brewery. I was joined by writer Phil Mellows (more from Phil in the next episode) and we talked about Beak's output, the welcome return of the These Hills Beer Festival, and how their plans for a Central Brighton venue are going, plus a lot more.
There's also a Speakpipe message from Dave Hayward of Indie Rabble and A Hoppy Place fame; and some news about the Blind Tasting episode.
LINKS
Beak Brewery - website / Twitter / Instagram
Leave me a message on Speakpipe - CLICK HERE
Email me - beerprimeuk@gmail.com
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EPISODE 108: ANSPACH & HOBDAY
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Another episode recorded in person, and following on from the last episode with Bianca Road, I walked a little closer back towards London Bridge to Anspach & Hobday's Bermondsey home to chat with one half of founders - Jack Hobday. We discuss London Black, their wildly successful Nitro Porter, plus much more.
Also, I reveal more details of the Blind Tasting episode, on 5th April, in celebration of SIBA's Indie Beer Week. Participating breweries are Brewhouse & Kitchen Highbury, Brid's Cross, Indie Rabble, Mysterious Brewing, and Westerham Brewery. If you'd like to join us to help taste the beers, then contact me here:
Email: beerprimeuk@gmail.com
DM: Twitter / Instagram
Voice Message: Speakpipe
LINKS
EPISODE 107: BIANCA ROAD BREW CO.
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In the latest episode I headed into London to sit down with Bianca Road Brew Co owner/founder Reece Wood, in their Bermondsey taproom.
We talk about their beginnings in their eponymous home street, before necessity made them move. There's also talk of Cease and Desists, being welcome into the Beer Mile fold, and much more. We also sample a few of their beers.
Join me for the Blind Tasting episode in celebration of SIBA's Indie Beer Week. Contact me here:
Email: beerprimeuk@gmail.com
Voice Message: Speakpipe
LINKS
Bianca Road Brew Co. - website / Twitter / Instagram
EPISODE 106: VAULT CITY
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In the latest episode I welcome Joe Cruickshank from Edinburgh sour specialists Vault City. We talk about their modern sours, their stonking stouts, and their impending brewery move, plus much more.
LINKS
Vault City - website / Twitter / Insta
Email me: beerprimeuk@gmail.com
Leave me a voice message on Speakpipe
EPISODE 105: NORTHERN MONK REVISITED
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I'm back for 2025 with a brand-new episode recorded in person in Leeds at Northern Monk's Refectory where I chatted with co-founder Brian Dickson. We talked about a whole host of things including their AF range, a possible London taproom site, their penchant for weird beers, the Patrons Project, Faith in Futures, and much more.
LINKS
Northern Monk - website / Instagram / Bluesky
Brian Dickson - Twitter / Instagram
Northern Monk Refectory - Twitter
LEAVE ME A MESSAGE - Speakpipe
EPISODE 104: CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2024 WITH ADNAMS AND PELLICLE
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It's that time of year again, and this year's epic Christmas special features Fergus Fitzgerald from brewing giants Adnams, plus Matt Curtis and Katie Mather from Pellicle Magazine.
I also crown my "Beer of the Year" and play your voice messages and read your emails.
Pour yourself a cup of Eggnog (or maybe a decent festive beer instead!) and enjoy.
Merry Christmas!
LINKS
Adnams - website / Twitter / Instagram / Bluesky
Pellicle - website / Twitter / Instagram / Bluesky
Matt Curtis - Twitter / Insta / Bluesky
Katie Mather - The Gulp / Twitter / Insta / Bluesky
BGBW Award winning articles from Pellicle:
Will Hawkes: The Story of Dora Kulka, and How One Woman Changed British Beer Forever // Bonedigger, Bonedigger — How Grace Land and Saint Monday are Building an Empire in London // Highway to Helles — Störtebeker Braumanufaktur in Stralsund, Germany
Pete Brown: This is the End — The Sad Demise of Worthington White Shield
David Bailey: Hype is Dead, Regional Cask is Forever // The Usual
Mark Dredge: Visions Of The Things To Be — How Mash Gang is Breaking the Alcohol Free Mould
Rachel Hendry: The Essential Guide to Beer and Crisp Pairing
Rob MacKay: Do Androids Dream of Electric Pints? — On AI Art in the Beer Industry
Ruvani de Silva: Apathy Has Rained On Me — On DEI Burnout in the Beer Industry // London Is The Place For Me — Robyn Weise and Her Windrush 75 Lager
Photo credits:
Main photo: Anthony Cullen; Inset photo: Cath Harries.