The transition from the structured corporate world to the independent craft beer sector is a path well-trodden by many of the industry’s most passionate brewers, business owners, and professionals. For Catherine Webber, taking that leap has transformed her into a widely recognised and celebrated figure within the UK’s vibrant beer and hospitality landscape.
Today, she serves as the brand and business development manager at Attic Brew Co., the largest independent brewery in the West Midlands. Celebrating over four years with the Birmingham-based business, her trajectory from a corporate food safety specialist to an industry advocate highlights the power of grassroots community, authentic brand-building, and an unrelenting drive to make beer spaces inclusive for everyone.
Before the world of independent beer came calling, Webber spent years working in a heavily corporate environment, holding a role at Mondelez International that focused on food safety, quality, and training. However, her personal life was increasingly anchored by a deep-seated love for cask beer and an active presence at beer festivals across the UK.
“I’ve always been a beer drinker for as long as I’ve been drinking… and obviously, when I first started drinking, there wasn’t the kind of choice and variety that we have now. It was all cask or macro lager—so not a fan of those macro lagers, but a big fan of cask. My friend’s dad was a really passionate real ale fan, a cask beer drinker, and he kind of got me into it, so that’s kind of how my interest started.”
Living in Birmingham since 2008 allowed Webber to witness the UK’s craft beer revolution unfold firsthand. She frequented legendary local establishments like The Wellington—an absolute staple of the city’s cask scene—before newer, modern craft venues began to alter the landscape. The opening of Birmingham’s first BrewDog bar proved to be a pivotal eye-opener. Though the industry views that particular business through a different lens today, it introduced her to a broader spectrum of styles and connected her with passionate staff members who would go on to achieve illustrious beer careers of their own.
At the time, Webber didn’t view beer as a viable career path. Instead, her education came through immersive experiences: attending tastings, volunteering at events, and tasting genre-defining beers like Thornbridge’s Jaipur on cask. A turning point came when she volunteered at Northern Monk’s inaugural Hop City festival nearly a decade ago, sparking her transition from a casual consumer to an industry insider eager to learn the mechanics of the trade.
For those looking to break into the brewing world, Webber consistently champions volunteering as the ultimate educational tool. It was through volunteering at festivals that she met influential figures like Andy Parker of Elusive Brewing and Brian Dickson of Northern Monk, who offered her mentorship and a profound sense of belonging.
Women were the first brewers. This is what we need to remember; without us, there wouldn’t be any beer!
Catherine Webber, Attic Brew Co
“When people often ask me, how do I learn more about beer? How did you learn about beer? I always say to them, try and volunteer at festivals where people from the brewery, be they brewers or people like myself, are working, because this is like a bottomless font of knowledge that you can draw on. If the brewer is there, you can ask them about the beer… what hops are in it, what flavor do these hops bring to it… and most people are more than happy to share their knowledge.”
Webber’s professional entry into the trade began in 2019 when she joined a small Birmingham startup called Brew Broker, which facilitated contract brewing and white-label production. Though she lacked formal industry experience, the company took a chance on her as an account manager.
When the pandemic hit, causing widespread industry furloughs, Webber transitioned to Aston Manor Cider, working for 18 months as an account manager within their large-scale contract packing team. Managing logistics for major brewers around a newly installed canning line provided her with vital operational insights. Yet, her ultimate goal remained unchanged: she wanted to work for a small, independent brewery that she truly loved. In January 2022, that opportunity materialized when she accepted a role at Attic Brew Co.
Founded by Sam Back and Oli Hurlow, Attic Brew Co. was built on a foundation of creativity, relentless hard graft, and community integration. What began as a tiny setup in a Kings Heath attic has rapidly scaled into the largest independent brewery in the West Midlands. Crucially, the business remains entirely owner-operated and self-funded.
Webber has overseen massive shifts during her tenure, particularly regarding production scale. The brewery originally produced just 800 liters per brew when the kit was situated inside their taproom. They eventually transitioned to a 30-hectoliter (3,000-liter) system, and they are currently commissioning a brand-new 50-hectoliter (5,000-liter) brewhouse.
Despite this rapid expansion, the brewery’s leadership remains intensely hands-on, a a quality Webber credits for keeping the team grounded.
“The fact that Sam and Ollie are still the only owners of the business, and they’re here all the time… they’re not distant oligarchs doing their thing. Sam has been out in the brew house doing the fitting of the new kit, and I think seeing that from your leaders is very grounding… We’re still a relatively small team, so there’s very much a team mentality that we’re all trying to get things done.”
A major component of Attic’s commercial success is its disciplined approach to its core range. While many modern breweries rely exclusively on a revolving door of experimental “hype” beers, Attic balances fun, limited releases with an unwavering commitment to dependable core lines like their flagship pale ale, Intuition. They have also solidified their lager portfolio with both a standard Pilsner and a premium Helles option to meet diverse venue requirements.
With nearly 100 permanent lines established across Birmingham and beyond, consistency is everything. “Those customers want to know that they can ring up on a Monday and get three 50-liter kegs of Intuition every week, because that’s their core offer,” Webber explains. This strategy serves a dual purpose: it supports the hospitality sector with reliable volume while positioning Birmingham as a prominent, proud brewing city.
Beyond her commercial responsibilities at Attic, Webber is a fierce, practical advocate for improving diversity, equity, and inclusion across the beer world. While she acknowledges that visible progress has been made with more women entering brand-facing and production roles, she emphasizes that the baseline numbers remain staggeringly low.
Citing a recent SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) report, Webber points out that a mere 3% of UK brewers are women. To combat this imbalance, she serves on the board of Women on Tap, a community interest company dedicated to industry equity. Through their 5050 Campaign, the organization actively lobbies for equal gender representation across the sector.
Webber highlights the psychological barrier that a lack of representation creates for minorities entering hospitality spaces.
“If they don’t see somebody who looks like them, then they’re going to feel like it’s not a place for them … We just need more women who are brewers to kind of stand up and say, look, we’re here, this is something we can do, this is a space in which you’re welcome. Beer is for everybody; it shouldn’t be the preserve of a few—and apologies here, but you know, white guys with beards. Women were the first brewers. This is what we need to remember; without us, there wouldn’t be any beer!”
To move past empty rhetoric, Women on Tap has introduced Beer Unlocked, an expanded bursary scheme designed to eliminate the financial barriers that prevent women from accessing professional opportunities. Recognizing that women are frequently the primary caregivers or hold lower-paid, less flexible positions, the bursary provides tangible financial support. Whether it funds travel costs to an industry event or offsets an unpaid half-day of work, the program has already successfully enabled broader attendance at initiatives like the International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day.
On a local level, she has spent nine years running Brum Beer Babs, a Birmingham-based women’s beer group designed to offer safe, welcoming, and judgment-free spaces for women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and non-binary people to enjoy beer together.
As 2026 progresses, Webber’s schedule shows no signs of slowing down. Between managing a hectic summer festival calendar—including events like the Nottingham Craft Beer Festival—and navigating Attic’s latest production upgrade, her corporate background has uniquely qualified her to assist with complex brewery operations, health and safety compliance, and facility scaling.
With the 50-hectoliter brewhouse undergoing final commissioning, the brewery is currently dialing in its recipes with plans for a grand public opening later in the year. For Webber, the blurring lines between her career and her personal passion remain an absolute privilege. By keeping Attic Brew Co. firmly rooted in its local community while breaking down systemic industry barriers nationally, she continues to help reshape the fabric of British beer for the better.
