Hopulist issue 5

From left to right: Frank Redmond, Director of Twisted
Barrel Ritchie Bosworth, Simon Harper and Matt Rayfield.
By David Guest
Wherever you are on your craft beer
journey, chances are that you have
thought about brewing at some stage.
Even if it was just to understand how your favourite
type of tipple tastes so damn good, you will likely
have imagined the brewing process in your head and
though ‘I wonder if I could try that some day?’. But
before you start turning your garage into something
that looks like a scene from Breaking Bad, you should
know that there are people out there you can learn
from and places you can go to share ideas. We decided
to visit one such place recently to get a handle on how
the community feel of the craft beer industry isn’t just
reserved for the brewing companies, but also echoes
down to the enthusiastic amateur brewers and the
keen quaffers alike – this is Home Brew Club.
Now, the first rule of Home Brew Club (HBC) is that
you DO talk about Home Brew Club – with anyone
and everyone. Quite simply because this community
is for everyone. The Club is located at Coventry-based
brewer Twisted Barrel Ale’s headquarters and taproom
at Fargo Village in the midlands city on the third
Tuesday of every month, and is a wonderful example
of how craft beer and brewing can bring people
together. HBC is run by four like-minded individuals
– Frank Redmond, Simon Harper, Matt Rayfield and
Director of Twisted Barrel Ritchie Bosworth – whose
aim is to share knowledge, improve people’s brewing
skills and ideas and create a warm and welcoming
community. With around 60 registered members of
the Club in just over two years of running – what
have been the secrets of HBC’s success? How did it get
here? Frank Redmond tells us more.
Leandro
Landgraf:
“I am from Brazil, and I had
been brewing there for a few
years before I moved to the
UK in August 2015. In Brazil,
it was really hard to brew a
wide range of styles, mainly
because the temperature
control for fermentation is so
difficult. Since I came here, I
have been able to brew styles
I wasn’t able to before. I must
also say that the standard of
brewer and the knowledge
they have here in the UK,
and particularly at this club, is
exceptional. It’s very high.
“I have made some good
friends here and it has really
helped me settle in this
country. Brewing is a big part
of my life.”