How long have you been with Timothy Taylor’s and what’s your favourite memory whilst working here?

I started at Timothy Taylor’s on 25 October 1999 and I remember my first day clear as a bell. It started with the customary ticking off from the Head Brewer for coming straight into the brewery to start work rather than waiting at reception and reporting for duty.

How did your brewing journey begin?

In the pub as you would expect, drinking Theakstons XB and playing pool. I worked at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle (behind the bar) after I had finished my A-levels (didn’t quite get the grades for the biochemistry course I was interested in) and made a new friend, Penny. She was applying to do a Brewing & Distilling course in Edinburgh. This blew my mind and I looked into it and it fitted like a glove, so off we both went. Thank you Penny!

Favourite Timothy Taylor’s beer and why?

I can never choose a favourite anything. If it’s Christmas with the dark nights then nothing beats our Porter…and I mean nothing! The chocolatey roasted goodness with that velvety, warming unctuousness…mmmmm! But then if it’s a sunny Summer day then Hopical Storm (keg, cask or bottle) is fantastic with its tropical, bright and refreshing notes. I’ve also been drinking a lot of Knowle Spring in bottle at home, it seems to match really well with all kinds of food and is a lovely light drink that is still really full of flavour, the other half loves it too!