On this episode of The Beer Rep Chats With, I’m joined by Olly Morgan, co-founder of Brewser, to talk about the story behind the independent beer subscription business, how it connects drinkers with breweries, and why the people behind the beer matter just as much as what’s in the can.

Olly takes me back to Brewser’s beginnings during COVID, when he was living in a tiny home in mid-Wales and the idea grew into a business bringing fresh beer directly from UK independent breweries to customers doors.

We discuss how Brewser works with breweries, why the brewers themselves choose the beers for their boxes, and how the business helps drinkers discover new breweries. We also get into the challenges facing UK independent beer, from rising costs and changing consumer habits to the difficulty independent breweries can face getting their beers into pubs.

Then comes the exclusive: Project X is back, and Olly reveals the six breweries involved in this year’s collaboration. We talk about the idea behind Project X, the creative collaboration between artists, and how the artwork across the six cans comes together to form one larger piece.

We also chat about brewery discoveries, standout can artwork, the future of Brewser and why supporting independent beer is about supporting the people and passion behind it.

If you love discovering new UK independent breweries and hearing the stories behind the beer, this one’s for you.

In this episode:

• How Olly Morgan and the Brewser team got started
• Why Brewser focuses on UK independent breweries
• How the beer subscription and direct-from-brewery model works
• The challenges facing independent beer in the UK
• How Brewser helps drinkers discover new breweries
• The story behind Project X and its artist collaboration
• The exclusive reveal of the six Project X breweries
• What’s next for Brewser and the independent beer scene

The Beer Rep Chats With is a story-led podcast about the people behind UK independent beer.

Proudly sponsored by The Keg Warehouse.

Brewser socials

Website: https://brewser.beer/

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/brewserbeer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brewserbeer

Timestamp

00:00 - 05:37 Introducing Olly Morgan and Brewser

05:38 - 12:27 The Journey of Starting Bruiser

12:28 - 16:40 The Subscription Model Explained

16:41 - 18:45 Current State of UK Independent Beer

18:46 - 25:18 Connecting Consumers with Independent Breweries

25:19 - 29:20 Project X Collaboration

29:21 - 36:59 Six Breweries, Artists and One Connected Can Artwork

37:00 - 40:36 The Future of Bruiser: Expanding Access to Independent Beer

40:37 - 43:17 The Future of Independent Beer: Growth and Quality

43:18 - 45:58 Quickfire Questions

45:59 - Why Subscribe to Brewser?

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In this episode I’m joined by Natalya Watson to talk about beer education, tasting and judging.

Nat is an Advanced Cicerone, Beer Sommelier and WSET educator, as well as an experienced beer judge.

What do you actually learn when you study beer?

We talk about WSET and how a more structured approach to tasting can change the way you experience what’s in your glass.

Nat explains some of the biggest mistakes people make when tasting beer, why smell is so important and how to approach tasting more systematically.

We also talk about some of the beers used in WSET classes, including a Munich Dunkel

How do you actually become a beer judge?

Nat takes me through how she got started, what happens around the judging table and how judges separate personal preference from assessing a beer against competition criteria.

We also talk about different beer styles, developing your palate and how you might introduce someone who doesn't think they're a beer drinker to something they could actually enjoy.

Towards the end, we talk about Natalya’s own podcast, Cheers with Nat, and how it has evolved into conversations across the wider drinks world.

We finish with a few quick questions, including Natalya’s favourite beer, an underrated beer style and three breweries that have played an important part in her beer journey.

If you’ve ever thought about doing a WSET beer course, becoming a beer judge, improving your tasting skills or simply understanding more about what’s in your glass, there’s plenty here to get stuck into.

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/cheers_with_nat/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/beerwithnat

00:00 - 04:56 Natalya Watson's Journey into beer

04:57 - 08:24 What beer education teaches you

08:25 - 10:39 Does knowing more about beer ruin the fun?

10:40 - 15:24 What do you get from a WSET beer course?

15:25 - 18:35 The biggest mistake people make when tasting beer

18:36 - 25:30 How to taste six different beers

25:31 - 27:52 How do you become a beer judge?

27:53 - 32:05 What actually happens around a beer judging table?

32:06 - 37:10 Can a great beer be a bad example of its style?

37:11 - 39:44 Why beer gets pre-tasted before WSET classes

39:45 - 43:09 What beer would you give a non-beer drinker?

43:10 - Cheers With Nat, what's next & quick-fire questions

See more at beerrepchats.com

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Dean Baker, co-founder of Baker's Dozen Brewery, joins Martin to talk about the journey from running a pub to building a small independent brewery with his wife Jill.

Founded in 2015, Baker's Dozen is a five-barrel brewery where Dean and Jill do everything themselves, from brewing and cleaning to deliveries, sales and marketing. We chat about how the brewery started, the influence of Oakham and Brewster's, and why focusing on brewing consistently good beer has always been at the heart of Baker's Dozen.

Dean talks about some of the brewery's best-known beers, including Electric Landlady and award-winning Undertow, made with Citra and Nelson Sauvin. We also discuss SIBA awards, BeerX, why the brewery decided to focus on its core range, and how Dean's taste in beer has changed over the years.

The conversation also moves into some of the bigger challenges facing small independent breweries, including rising costs, quieter pubs and access to market. Having previously run a tied pub, Dean shares his experience of the tied pub system and the difficulties independent breweries face when trying to get their beer into more pubs.

And finally, Dean explains his love of the long-gone Carling Premier, talks about a previous Nitro IPA collaboration and why he thinks we should see more Nitro Lagers, Nitro IPAs and other nitro beers.

Could a Baker's Dozen Nitro Lager be on the way?

Shop Baker's Dozen Beer

https://www.bakersdozenbrewing.co.uk/

Baker's Dozen Socials

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/bakersdozenbrewing/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bakersdozenbrewing

TIMESTAMP

00:00 - 03:25 Meet Dean Baker and Baker's Dozen Brewery

03:26 - 04:53 From home brewing to starting a brewery

04:54 - 05:40 Brewing good beer without reinventing the wheel

05:41 - 08:49 Leaving the pub behind and focusing on the brewery

08:50 - 09:54 Oakham, Brewster's and the influence of hop-forward beer

09:55 - 12:07 Electric Landlady and Dean's favourite hop

12:08 - 14:18 How Dean's taste in beer has changed

14:19 - 16:26 SIBA awards, BeerX and the importance of recognition

16:27 - 21:05 The story behind Undertow

21:06 - 23:59 Building a strong core beer range

24:00 - 30:40 The challenges facing small independent breweries

30:41 - 36:39 Cider collaborations, taprooms and the future of Baker's Dozen

36:40 - Quick fire: favourite beers, nitro lager and future collaborations

See more at beerrepchats.com

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