The Brewers Congress returns to London this November 28th and in its third year, promises a content-rich programme of engaging talks from experts in their field, panel discussions that will tackle the industry’s hottest issues, leading network opportunities, a carefully curated tradeshow and, of course a wealth of excellent hospitality featuring incredible beer.
“Only in its second year the Brewers’ Congress has already become an essential part of the calendar, a Goodwood Races of people, information, education and great beer,” were the words of venerable award-winning journalist Adrian Tierney-Jones following last year’s Brewers Congress. “It’s an event, that if I were a brewer, I would mark down in my diary as soon as it was announced.”
Here at the Brewers Journal, words from such a venerable figure are high praise indeed but more importantly, they’re the driving force to improve on the event in 2019. And that’s what we are going to do.
The Brewers Congress 2019 brings together experts from across the broad, diverse spectrum that is the brewing industry. The event will feature talks on areas such as fermentation, wild beer, dispense, distribution, beer’s role in the community, growing your business, big beer and much more.
The day is split into four sessions, centred around 15 minute talks delivered by best-in-class figures from in-and-around the brewing industry.
We are also hosting a series of panel discussions where we’ll tackle the pertinent and pressing issues affecting and impact breweries right now, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Confirmed speakers and panellists
Yvan de Baets | Brasserie de la Senne
Look at anyone’s desert island beers and there’s a strong chance you’ll find the dry and bitter Taras Boulba and the masterclass in balance that is Zinnebir. Beers produced by the venerable Brasserie de la Senne in Brussels, Belgium. Yvan de Baets, head brewer and co-founder of ever-popular outfit, continues to play a role in the production of best-in-class beers that cannot be understated.
Gabe Barry | Brooklyn Brewery
Gabe Barry is the head of Brooklyn Brewery’s education programme in Europe. Having started with Brooklyn Brewery as its tasting room manager, she has gone on to spen years educating drinkers across the globe about the sensory experience of what makes a good beer. With an insatiable drive and enthusiasm, Barry was once told that if you ever see something that should be a position within a company, continue do the best version of your current job but also, write the description for the other job. She that at Brooklyn and encourages others to do so, too.
Theo Freyne | Deya
Theo Freyne founded Cheltenham’s Deya Brewing Company with a passion for outstanding beer and with the vision to produce fresh, intense and delicious creations of his own. With output such as Steady Rolling Man, Into The Haze and Just a Glimmer, he’s done just that.
Kamilla Hannibal | Yeastie Boys
Kamilla Hannibal is marketing manager at Yeastie Boys. An expert in online communication and marketing, as well as content production, Hannibal was previously the digital content and project manager at Beavertown and also events and communications manager at at Warpigs in Copenhagen. She has vast experience in helping grow the visibility and presence of some of the world’s most respected brewing outfits.
Belinda Jennings | Redwell
Master brewer Belinda Jennings has more than 20 years industry experience, having held roles at Greene King, Adnams and Woodforde’s prior to joining Norfolk-based Redwell. Jennings continues to implement her impressive industry expertise at Redwell and is a firm advocate for training and ensuring all that work with her have a strong grounding in systems, quality and procedures.
Anders Kissmeyer | Kissmeyer
“He has dedicated his life to beer and has endured an ever-changing landscape with creative fervour … forging his own identity, and remaining relevant in an ocean of breweries and brands,” is how Shaun Hill founder of Hill Farmstead, describes Anders Kissmeyer.Kissmeyer is an award-winning Danish brewing master and entrepreneur. His career has seen Kissmeyer hold the roles of brewer and international quality manager at Carlsberg. He also helped establish Denmark’s first microbrewery and gastropub: Nørrebro Bryghus, back in 2001. Latterly, Kissmeyer is currently employed by Royal Unibrew as Head of Craft Beer Creation and runs his own company Anders Kissmeyer Master Brewer.
Dr Dawn Maskell | Head of International Centre for Brewing & Distilling (ICBD) at Heriot-Watt
Dr Dawn Maskell started out as a yeast physiologist with an interest in yeast replicative lifespan, yeast storage and stress tolerance. As Head of International Centre for Brewing & Distilling (ICBD) at Heriot-Watt, Maskell was also awarded Chartered Scientist status by the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. Her research output includes work on papers such as: Impact of Artificially Induced Respiratory Deficient Yeast on Beer Flavor and Fermentation and Brewing Fundamentals, Part 2; Fundamentals of yeast nutrition.
Derek Prentice | Wimbledon Brewery
The term ‘Legend’ is often overused but there’s no risk of that when it comes to Derek Prentice. Having celebrated his 50th anniversary in brewing last year, Prentice continues to command an unwavering level of respect from brewers both young and old. His commitment to making great beer and sharing his expertise from the brewers of tomorrow cannot be denied. Having held top positions at Young’s, Fuller’s and now at Wimbledon Brewery, Prentice shows no sign of slowing down just yet.
Adam Robertson | Verdant
Adam Robertson is the co-founder of Falmouth’s Verdant. Having established itself as a leading light of modern UK brewing with beers such as Headband, Putty, Bloom and Even Sharks Need Water, the brewery recently announced its latest expansion and a move into the production of West Coast DIPAs and German Pilsner style beers. Beers that will no doubt prove as popular as their proven Hazy IPA output.
James Rylance | Harbour
“For anyone like me — with a passion for pushing the boundaries of beer and experimenting with new flavours — this new project is a dream,” said James Rylance upon joining Cornwall’s Harbour Brewing Co.
Rylance, who has worked at The Kernel, as head brewer at Beavertown and Redchurch, leads Harbour’s R&D facility, and has shown time and time again that he is one of the UK’s most innovative and respected brewers.
Nigel Sadler | Learn2Brew
Where do you start with Nigel Sadler? With a wealth of experience across brewing, commercial and operations, Sadler has brewed award-winning beers, he’s a beer and brewing Educator, IBD Qualified, an international beer judge and previously UK Beer Sommelier of the Year. He is also the former Chairman of the Institute of Brewing & Distilling Southern Section UK and former Vice Chairman and Regional Director of SIBA (The Society of Independent Brewers).
Yvan Seth | Jolly Good Beer
Yvan Seth is the founder of wholesale craft beer distribution and dispense business Jolly Good Beer. Seth says he’s a “beer enthusiast putting his life towards promoting the best beers he can find” but he’s much more than that. An expert and advocate in coldchain distribution, Seth ensures customers get the beer they want while breweries, pubs and pubs call on him time and time again for his wide-ranging expertise in dispense.
Dave Stone | Wylam Brewery
Wylam Brewery director Dave Stone is a true Northern Powerhouse. He came into brewing with more than 25 years in the live event and entertainment business. In the world of beer, he has helped steer Wylam, a 30 barrel micro brewery that resides at the Palace of Arts in Exhibition Park, to become a true driving force in the UK brewing scene and beyond.
Christian Townsley | North Brewing Co
Christian Townsley is a pioneer of the modern UK brewing industry. Along with his co-director and co-founder John Gyngell, Townsley opened the legendary craft beer venue North Bar in Leeds back in 1997. 18 years later, they founded North Brewing and along with North Bar, they have picked up a wealth of awards for their beer, branding and business acumen.
Mark Tranter | Burning Sky
The name Burning Sky, the East Sussex brewery founded by Mark Tranter, commands the utmost respect from anyone that has tried its beer. And probably those that haven’t, either. The vindicated anticipation that greeted the first output from its Coolship project, or the launch of creations such as Saison de Pêche is matched by the sheer appreciation levelled on core range beers such as Arise, Aurora or Plateau. Beers that deliver consistency and quality with unerring ease.
Jaega Wise | Wild Card Brewery
Jaega Wise is the head brewer at London’s Wild Card Brewery. The ‘Brewer of the Year’ at the 2018 British Guild of Beer Writers Awards, Wise has helped grow the profile of the Walthamstow business with an ever-increasing portfolio of beers such as its Passionfruit Gose, Lime Berliner Weisse and Unite Forage, a beer brewed as part of International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day with a team on 80 women.
Chairman: John Keeling
John Keeling surely needs no introduction. But for those unaware, John is the former head brewer of London- based Fuller’s. Regarded and respected the world over, John is using his retirement to collaborate, consult and create with breweries across the globe.
Panel Host | Melissa Cole
Award-winning writer Melissa is widely acknowledged as one of the UK’s leading beer & food experts. Her passion is life is getting people to learn as little, or as much, as they want about what she considers the finest social lubricant known to humankind – beer. At the end of last year, her latest book was published, The Beer Kitchen: The art and science of cooking and pairing with beer.
Tickets for the Brewers Congress 2019 are now on sale. As this is a trade event all prices exclude VAT, this will be added at checkout. Tickets purchased via Eventbrite will incur a small booking fee, to avoid this you may book your tickets over the phone by calling +44 (0)1442 780 594.
Super early bird – £55
On sale until 30 June
Early bird – £85
On sale until 30 September
Full price – £105
On sale until 28 November
Student and young brewer – £50
For brewers under 33 years old or studying on a brewing (or related) course
Brewers Choice Awards
In 2019 we’re proud to launch the Brewers Choice Awards.
Designed to recognise the very best in UK brewing, we want to put the best of the best in the spotlight.
The Brewers Choice Awards are split into five categories: Brewery Of The Year, New Brewery of The Year, Young Brewer of The Year, Beer of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award.
And to do this, we need you.
There is a wealth of incredible beer being produced in the UK. The best beers deliver fantastic flavour and awe-inspiring aroma, they’re consistent and leave a lasting impression whether it’s a one-off brew or a year-round number that offers up that sought after reliability.
These beers are being produced by brilliant breweries of all shapes and sizes, some new and some older. Some employ an individual and others offer employment to dozens, or more.
So, if you think you’re doing something worth shouting about, tell us. You can enter one, or all of the categories on offer. Though when it comes to the Lifetime Achievement Award, we’ll do our best to take care of that one ourselves.
These awards will be presented during a dinner reception at The Institution of Civil Engineers that follows this year’s Brewers Congress and also announced online and in the print edition of The Brewers Journal.
For more information on the 2019 Brewers Choice Awards, visit: awards.brewersjournal.info
Brewery of the Year
We want to see a detailed overview of the business success you’ve had in the last 12 months. This will include full financials or your trading figures for the last year and your predicted future year figures.
Showcase any key moments for the business such as new investments you’ve made, perhaps new distribution deals you’ve struck or successes you’ve had in exporting your beer to other countries.
Tell us about your brewery’s approach to facets of business such as its work in the community, and its commitment to training and developing its staff.
What investment have you made in the laboratory side of the brewery, and tell us about your relationships with the wider industry and approach to sustainability.
New Brewery of the Year
The UK has seen some truly excellent new breweries open in the last 18 months. Diverse outfits each treading a different path in the industry of brewing.
So tell us, what have been those early landmark points for the business. Maybe you’ve offered employment to local people, it could be the investments you’ve made, securing deals for your first beers with pubs, bars or restaurants. Maybe it’s all of the above.
As before, tell us about your brewery’s approach to facets of business such as its work in the community, commitment to training and developing its staff, relationships with the wider industry and your approach to sustainability.
Beer of The Year
Beer is a thing of beauty. That’s something we can all agree on, as we wouldn’t be here otherwise.
We want to celebrate the very best the UK has to offer. We’re not looking at dozens of different categories here, instead recognising one beer. The Brewers Choice Beer of The Year.
It could be a new beer you’re super proud of, or an existing beer that is its finest form to date following months or years of working on the recipe and dialling it right in.
With a panel of industry experts, we’ll be judging the beer on Aroma, Taste, Appearance and Marketing.
In your entry, you should tell us the name of the beer, the style of the beer, ABV%, and overview and also any tasting notes.
Young Brewer of the Year
There are some incredibly talented young brewers working in the UK brewing industry.
Some are running their own operations, others are cutting their teeth working at established outfits.
Regardless, these brewers are making their mark on the industry and are certain to have a long, successful career in the field.
Young is, also, a subjective term. You are only as old as you feel, of course, but for the purpose of this category, a young brewer is anyone under the age of 28.
We want you to tell us about your responsibilities, achievements and successes in last 12 months.
It might have been a recipe you developed, or were involved in. Or the positive impact you’ve made to the company’s packaging operations, or improvements to quality and consistency thanks to the work you carry out in the lab.
We’d also like to you provide a maximum of two references from employer(s).
Lifetime Achievement Award
The UK brewing landscape remains in a state of transition. We’ve seen brewing operations spun off, sold or closed. We’ve seen fantastic brewers retire and move on. We’ve seen brewers do what they’ve always done and that’s play their part in producing excellent, reliable beer that forms such an important part in many people’s lives. The inaugural Brewers Choice Lifetime Achievement Award will recognise a brewer that has played an important part in the UK brewing industry.
