Fergus Fitzgerald
@solebear-adnams.bsky.social
A brewing career spanning two centuries
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
This is just crazy, it didn't make sense at any point and I didn't hear anyone offer an explanation for it that was financially coherent. Hopefully not the end for Black Sheep.
Breal bought a slew of unloved brands and then engaged in a damaging race to the bottom. This was the inevitable conclusion and the only surprise is that it has taken this long.
My thoughts are with the blameless employees that will be affected by their failure.
www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/breal-b...
My thoughts are with the blameless employees that will be affected by their failure.
www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/breal-b...
Breal-backed beer group Keystone Brewing on verge of administration
Keystone employs almost 200 people in the UK and owns two production sites in Yorkshire and Warwickshire
www.thegrocer.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 9:55 PM
This is just crazy, it didn't make sense at any point and I didn't hear anyone offer an explanation for it that was financially coherent. Hopefully not the end for Black Sheep.
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
We have a special award for this evening, to honour the work of Martyn Cornell (@thezythophile.bsky.social) as his contribution to beer writing throughout his life.
We present Martyn’s Lifetime Achievement Award to his brother, Dave Cornell.
We present Martyn’s Lifetime Achievement Award to his brother, Dave Cornell.
November 27, 2025 at 9:02 PM
We have a special award for this evening, to honour the work of Martyn Cornell (@thezythophile.bsky.social) as his contribution to beer writing throughout his life.
We present Martyn’s Lifetime Achievement Award to his brother, Dave Cornell.
We present Martyn’s Lifetime Achievement Award to his brother, Dave Cornell.
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
David Jesudason has been named beer writer of the year at the British Guild of Beer Writers Awards, staged at Big Penny Social, in London beertoday.co.uk/2025/11/28/b... #beer #beernews #beerwriting @davidjesudason.bsky.social
David Jesudason is beer writer of the year - Beer Today
David Jesudason has been named beer writer of the year at the British Guild of Beer Writers Awards, staged at Big Penny Social, in London
beertoday.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 1:02 PM
David Jesudason has been named beer writer of the year at the British Guild of Beer Writers Awards, staged at Big Penny Social, in London beertoday.co.uk/2025/11/28/b... #beer #beernews #beerwriting @davidjesudason.bsky.social
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
November 27, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
Interesting about the Burning Sky Plateau. Me I'd drop the 0.1% pop some more hops in and plan what to do with the tax saved.
November 13, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Interesting about the Burning Sky Plateau. Me I'd drop the 0.1% pop some more hops in and plan what to do with the tax saved.
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
For those who ever doubted me about the age of what we know as Smithwick's ale, here it is straight from the horse's mouth in an advertisement in 'Kilkenny Sixty-Six.' It clearly states that the newly launched kegged ale 'Smithwick's Draught' is 'the new flavour in beer ...'
(Ignore the 250 years!)
(Ignore the 250 years!)
November 7, 2025 at 11:38 AM
For those who ever doubted me about the age of what we know as Smithwick's ale, here it is straight from the horse's mouth in an advertisement in 'Kilkenny Sixty-Six.' It clearly states that the newly launched kegged ale 'Smithwick's Draught' is 'the new flavour in beer ...'
(Ignore the 250 years!)
(Ignore the 250 years!)
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
FAO publicans who love cask ale: Joule's is looking for someone to operate The Coopers Tavern in Burton-upon-Trent. They emailed us to ask if we'd share this because, we gather, they really want someone who will be excited to run this particular pub.
www.joulesbrewery.co.uk/vacancy/coop...
www.joulesbrewery.co.uk/vacancy/coop...
Coopers Tavern - Joule's Brewery
The Coopers Tavern, Burton-on-Trent
Key Features Real Ale and Cold Beer Cask Ale from the Barrel Live Music Dog Friendly Real Fires Guest Beer Provision Bar Snacks Street Parking Beer Courtyard ...
www.joulesbrewery.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 5:55 AM
FAO publicans who love cask ale: Joule's is looking for someone to operate The Coopers Tavern in Burton-upon-Trent. They emailed us to ask if we'd share this because, we gather, they really want someone who will be excited to run this particular pub.
www.joulesbrewery.co.uk/vacancy/coop...
www.joulesbrewery.co.uk/vacancy/coop...
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
Footage of Hook Norton, still steam powered in 1974. (CAMSPA – the Campaign for Steam Powered Ale?)
youtu.be/HHDESSHVpcc
youtu.be/HHDESSHVpcc
1974: Working in a Traditional English Brewery | Industrial Grand Tour | World of Work | BBC Archive
YouTube video by BBC Archive
youtu.be
October 9, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Footage of Hook Norton, still steam powered in 1974. (CAMSPA – the Campaign for Steam Powered Ale?)
youtu.be/HHDESSHVpcc
youtu.be/HHDESSHVpcc
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
Funeral pints and the contemplation of mortality atjpubs.substack.com/p/funeral-pi...
Funeral pints
The contemplation of mortality in the pub
atjpubs.substack.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Funeral pints and the contemplation of mortality atjpubs.substack.com/p/funeral-pi...
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
Amélie’s in the news!
(Thanks to @britbeerwriters.bsky.social for sharing her award win)
www.beerguild.co.uk/news/women-i...
(Thanks to @britbeerwriters.bsky.social for sharing her award win)
www.beerguild.co.uk/news/women-i...
Women in Beer Founder Amélie Tassin Wins Diversity and Inclusivity Champion Award at Brewers Choice Awards
Women in Beer is proud to announce that its founder, Amélie Tassin, has been named the Diversity and Inclusivity Champion at this year’s Brewers Choice Awards, held on 30th September at Big Penny Soci...
www.beerguild.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Amélie’s in the news!
(Thanks to @britbeerwriters.bsky.social for sharing her award win)
www.beerguild.co.uk/news/women-i...
(Thanks to @britbeerwriters.bsky.social for sharing her award win)
www.beerguild.co.uk/news/women-i...
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
Adnams head brewer, Dan Gooderham declared Brewer of the Year at The Brewer’s Choice Awards.
adnams.co.uk/blogs/journa...
adnams.co.uk/blogs/journa...
Our head brewer, Dan, is named Brewer of the Year
Adnams is celebrating after head brewer, Dan, was declared Brewer of the Year at The Brewer’s Choice Awards. Dan was among the figures from the beer, brewing and hospitality sectors recognised at this...
adnams.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Adnams head brewer, Dan Gooderham declared Brewer of the Year at The Brewer’s Choice Awards.
adnams.co.uk/blogs/journa...
adnams.co.uk/blogs/journa...
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
International coverage for #CaskAleWeek - Gen Z is saving cask ale in the U.K. www.craftbrewingbusiness.com/featured/gen...
Gen Z is saving cask ale in the U.K.
A new U.K. survey shows 25% of Gen Z beer drinkers regularly order cask ale—up 50% in a year. Are younger drinkers just waiting for a reason to go out?
www.craftbrewingbusiness.com
September 23, 2025 at 7:22 AM
International coverage for #CaskAleWeek - Gen Z is saving cask ale in the U.K. www.craftbrewingbusiness.com/featured/gen...
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
Yet another of those academic studies that tell you something you already knew 🙂
Extremely proud and a bit jealous that my excellent colleagues @fieldmatt.bsky.social and Inge Kersbergen have won this year's Ig Nobel Peace prize for showing that being a bit tipsy makes you better at speaking Dutch.
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
Meet the 2025 Ig Nobel Prize winners
The annual award ceremony features miniature operas, scientific demos, and the 24/7 lectures.
arstechnica.com
September 19, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Yet another of those academic studies that tell you something you already knew 🙂
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
It's absolutely insane to us that anyone still uses Twitter. You don't have to. You can just stop. It was a *massive* part of our growth but you can just let it go. However important your business is to you, it's less important than this:
Elon Musk has *personally*posted in favour of the racist remigration agenda of the maximalist racist abusing the Home Secretary with this on X & endlessly posting racist harassment on X
This should be a story.
It should be a scandal.
Musk should have to account for this, in person, in parliament
This should be a story.
It should be a scandal.
Musk should have to account for this, in person, in parliament
September 8, 2025 at 8:27 AM
It's absolutely insane to us that anyone still uses Twitter. You don't have to. You can just stop. It was a *massive* part of our growth but you can just let it go. However important your business is to you, it's less important than this:
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
CAMRA reveals the ‘stark reality’ of its financial woes www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/09/camr... @teamdb.bsky.social
CAMRA reveals the ‘stark reality’ of its financial woes
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has cancelled its Great British Beer Festival (GBBF) events for 2026 as it faces the “stark reality” of its financial challenges.
www.thedrinksbusiness.com
September 10, 2025 at 2:45 PM
CAMRA reveals the ‘stark reality’ of its financial woes www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/09/camr... @teamdb.bsky.social
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
Sorry to be right about this. No GBBF next year as it made “a substantial loss”, according to CAMRA
Is the Great British Beer Festival still a going concern? I’m not sure. It’ll need more customers later in the week …
September 10, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Sorry to be right about this. No GBBF next year as it made “a substantial loss”, according to CAMRA
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
In February 2024 I visited French & Jupps, the UKs oldest existing maltster, and roasted malt specialist. I’d never heard of them before, despite them being in operation since 1689. It’s story fascinated me, so I wrote it for @pelliclemag.com here:
www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/9/...
www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/9/...
September 10, 2025 at 4:58 PM
In February 2024 I visited French & Jupps, the UKs oldest existing maltster, and roasted malt specialist. I’d never heard of them before, despite them being in operation since 1689. It’s story fascinated me, so I wrote it for @pelliclemag.com here:
www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/9/...
www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/9/...
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
Just thought I’d say…
September 8, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Just thought I’d say…
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
Vaccines do not cause autism.
August 26, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Vaccines do not cause autism.
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
"Liquid Green – cutting through the myriad of new liquid hop aroma products"
Just had new piece published in Brewers Journal on how we've used liquid hop products to drive up packaged yield.
www.brewersjournal.info/liquid-green...
Just had new piece published in Brewers Journal on how we've used liquid hop products to drive up packaged yield.
www.brewersjournal.info/liquid-green...
August 22, 2025 at 8:30 AM
"Liquid Green – cutting through the myriad of new liquid hop aroma products"
Just had new piece published in Brewers Journal on how we've used liquid hop products to drive up packaged yield.
www.brewersjournal.info/liquid-green...
Just had new piece published in Brewers Journal on how we've used liquid hop products to drive up packaged yield.
www.brewersjournal.info/liquid-green...
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
We've got Adnams on the Discovery Bar at Peterborough today, and I'm fanboying in a retro brewery t-shirt! 🤣
August 21, 2025 at 8:13 AM
We've got Adnams on the Discovery Bar at Peterborough today, and I'm fanboying in a retro brewery t-shirt! 🤣
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
Baffled and proud to have a feature in @ftweekend.com today! All about the death and hopefully rebirth of British hop farming. Massive thanks to St Austell, Buxton and Farams for the info, and to @petebrownbeer.bsky.social for connecting me.
August 16, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Baffled and proud to have a feature in @ftweekend.com today! All about the death and hopefully rebirth of British hop farming. Massive thanks to St Austell, Buxton and Farams for the info, and to @petebrownbeer.bsky.social for connecting me.
Reposted by Fergus Fitzgerald
Well this is awesome beyond awesome. Tonight at 6pm I’m a guest on @bbc6music.bsky.social Round Table, reviewing the week’s new releases and quite possibly suggesting beer pairings for them ahead of my Tasting Notes launch at @greenmanfest.bsky.social tomorrow! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 6 Music - Huw Stephens' Roundtable, Karly from Wednesday, Iona from Cliffords, and writer Pete Brown.
Huw brings together a panel of musicians and experts to discuss the week’s new releases.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 14, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Well this is awesome beyond awesome. Tonight at 6pm I’m a guest on @bbc6music.bsky.social Round Table, reviewing the week’s new releases and quite possibly suggesting beer pairings for them ahead of my Tasting Notes launch at @greenmanfest.bsky.social tomorrow! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Brief morning walk along the seafront
August 11, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Brief morning walk along the seafront