Meet The Founder: West Berkshire Brewery, Powered by Years of Expertise, and a Love of Beer

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Because the UK makes its approach out of lockdown, one factor has change into abundantly clear – there’s nothing that brings pleasure to Brits all around the nation fairly like beer, whether or not it’s in a calming pint glass on the pub, or within the consolation of dwelling.

On a mission to change into among the best revered and famend high quality professional microbrewers within the UK with a set of nice pubs, West Berkshire Brewery has been delivering best-in-class beers of all varieties since 1995. 

Managing Director Tom Lucas joined the corporate in 2008, and loads has occurred since then.

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Why are you personally passionate concerning the firm’s imaginative and prescient?

I joined the corporate in 2008, after having spent a few years working behind the bar in native rural pubs. Pubs convey folks from all walks of life collectively – from the native bee-keeper to school maths professors, carpenters and nuclear physicists, to the native landowner and tractor driver. Everyone seems to be equal within the pub, and a few change into like household.

The opposite factor I grew to become captivated with was the beer – I’m a little bit of a perfectionist, so I used to be solely completely satisfied serving beer in its absolute best situation. I keep in mind my first pint of actual bitter. I hated it at first, however it grew on me. The beer, our Good Previous Boy because it seems, was so filled with flavour, so advanced and delicate, that I used to be a convert. It appears to me nonetheless {that a} pint of bitter on a sizzling day is as good and refreshing as a pint of bitter on a chilly day is warming and reassuring.

From thereon I used to be a beer drinker, not a beer sommelier or a beer fanatic, however a lover of actual beer that’s designed and brewed with respect for its substances and heritage. I used to be by no means impressed by gimmickry or vogue. For me, beer must be a top quality beverage that quenches thirst, one which’s balanced and in flavour and drinkability. And all beers deserve the identical respect, there is no such thing as a proper or fallacious model. A visit to a buddy’s brewery in Bavaria offered me on the virtues of pilsners and helles again in 2010.

So to reply the query, I’m captivated with this imaginative and prescient as a result of it was one in every of mine from early on – one which our Head Brewer Will Twomey, our Chairman David Bruce and I all shared – and have now achieved.

How did the corporate first begin?

The corporate was based in 1995 by Dave and Helen Maggs behind the Pot Kiln in Frilsham. It grew slowly and with out danger, however on the inspiration of an excellent product. They made very fantastic beers. Good Previous Boy remains to be our best-selling model, and continues to win nationwide awards yr in yr out.

The change actually got here when David Bruce, of Firkin Pubs fame, joined as Chairman. I offered him a imaginative and prescient of what we might do and together with his enterprise expertise and a shared ardour and drive, we made it occur. It has been a curler coaster journey ever since.

How is the enterprise geared up to scale?

We’ve among the best breweries within the UK. We’ve potential to develop to 150okay hl every year in brewing earlier than we’d like a brand new brewhouse, and we will package deal as much as 250okay hl in small pack. We’re additionally technically expert – now we have a powerful group, led by skilled professionals who can function at giant scale.

Moreover, we’ve constructed the fitting infrastructure – an SAP-based ERP system, budgeting and forecasting instruments, monetary controls and reporting, correct HR and thoughtfully-built constructions. We’re an enormous enterprise at coronary heart and go about each exercise with the mindset of doing it in addition to potential. With all this effort, we don’t must depend on a little bit of luck and intelligent advertising, we’ve constructed a complete and sound basis for fulfillment, from the bottom up.

What modifications have you ever seen for the reason that onset of the Covid-19 disaster and the way have you ever tackled them?

The most important change is the plain one, the pubs closed! In a single day, 80% of our revenues dried up. So, we have been fast on our toes. We pivoted the enterprise quickly in the direction of a give attention to on-line gross sales and contract packaging work. 

And it labored. Demand stayed robust by way of these channels and now we have truly elevated our group since lockdown to assist cope with rising demand for our companies So regardless of the issues the hospitality business has been confronted with, we’re in a fantastic place and our group intact, which is one thing I’m extremely grateful for and really happy with.

What’s the best-selling beer and what makes it stand out?

Good Previous Boy Renegade Lager and Detour Pale Ale are our best-sellers. All share the qualities of a great beer talked about above – full in flavour and greatest in school. For me there is no such thing as a magic and no thriller right here – these beers are higher than the competitors in all regards.

What new merchandise are you presently engaged on?

We’re presently engaged on Gold Star – a conventional British pale ale – we’re going by way of the rigorous R&D recipe growth course of that now we have adopted to get our beers proper the primary time. After we are completely satisfied that it deserves its place subsequent to Tribute and Landlord (two of the most effective beers within the UK for my part), we are going to launch it.

I’m additionally taking a look at attempting to get our Dragon Hill gin into cans, and presumably a transfer into delicate drinks (if we ever have the time). Lastly, we’re hopefully about to associate up with a fantastic American craft brewer to distribute their beers within the UK (keep tuned).

What are the principle distribution channels and the way do you propose to increase?

We’ve agreements or relationships in place with nationwide wholesalers and pub corporations, regional and smaller pub teams, supermarkets and grocers throughout the piece, on-line is a rising channel, and naturally now we have our personal pubs. We intend to maximise all of those channels on the similar time.

Why are you wanting ahead to bringing on Seedrs traders?

Seedrs makes It potential to convey into our fold the supporters and advocates who would probably be unable to speculate by way of standard means. It’s nice to fill the corporate with like minded homeowners

What’s your favorite beer and pairing?

On a sizzling day on a ship within the mediterannean, give me a chilly crisp bottle of lager – our Stoney Lane is the most effective. Following a moist and windy hike within the highlands a pint of Landlord or our Chubb’s.You possibly can’t beat a freshly poured ale after a 12 mile hike over the peat hags.

I have a tendency to not pair my beers with meals as such… do dry roasted peanuts and smokey bacon crisps rely? Montgomery Cheddar?

What’s one life hack you’d give to the longer term technology?

Learn to cook dinner a rooster correctly on a Sunday – one thing that my mum taught me and once you’re strapped for money it might probably feed you for every week. Additionally, keep in mind that life is just not truthful – there is no such thing as a rule that it must be – as soon as you determine that folks solely offer you what you deserve and undertake the work ethic that can get you there, you’ll succeed.

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