Alex Barlow Brewing Consulting

Insightful beer & brewing support

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Alex Barlow Brewing Consultancy
About Alex

33 years industry experience

I am an internationally known brewer, consultant, presenter and writer. Over 33 years industry experience at corporate, micro and independent consultancy levels, UK and Worldwide have helped shape my unique approach to solving your specific issues.

Since November 2019 I’ve been Head Brewer at Triple Point Brewing in Sheffield, UK which keeps me busy, but our understanding team afford me time to consult too.
Services

Brewers & retailers

Over the years I have managed and completed a wide array of successful projects, large and small, technical and promotional. So just ask. If I can’t help, I’ll try to recommend someone who can. My approach is one of lending insightful and pragmatic support where and when it is required, not to make customers dependent upon my services. We all have other things to do.

Start-up

- Business Plan critical review

- Location and site evaluation and specification

- Site conversion requirements to beer production facility

- Specification and sourcing plant to meet beer style and production scale

- Supervision of installation

- Supervision of commissioning

- Beer range and beer recipe development

- Training brewing team

Quality improvement

- Best Practice brewing and packaging audits

- Product and process fault identification

- Improvement action planning & reviews

- Beer flavour assessment

- Beer recipe development and improvement

- Beer flavour notes and food matches

- Ingredient, process and process aide specification and improvement

Business growth

- Strategic support to management team to

- Identify business growth and development options

- Devise and implement plans for site and new product development

- Oversee specification and tender process for new plant

- Supervision of installation

- Supervision of commissioning

- Brewing team training

- Brew team mentoring

BREWERS & RETAILERS

- Bespoke or ‘Beer & Cider Academy’ education and training

- Beer range tasting and training

- Beer and food pairing, tasting and training

- Conference and event presentation

MEDIA

- Bespoke or ‘Beer & Cider Academy’ education and training

- Beer range tasting and training

- Beer and food pairing, tasting and training

- Conference and event presentation

GENERAL PUBLIC

- Build your own beer tasting

- Hosted beer tasting or beer & food events for friends, stag or hen do, party or celebration

Book a FREE consultation
Experience

Case Studies

My career in brewing commenced after completing two degrees in Medical Life Sciences and Pharmacology at the University of Liverpool. Starting with Bass Brewers, with whom I completed 18 years service and my IBD Master Brewer qualifications working at numerous sites including Staropramen & Ostrava. My consultancy and presentation clients have included Molson Coors, SAB, Wells & Youngs, Marstons, Small Beer Brewing, Banja Luka Pivara, Dark Star, Joules, SIBA, Purity, Simply Hops, Brixton, Beer & Cider Academy, BrewSchool, Helmsley, Gara Guzu & Thirsty Beers.

I have travelled widely visiting breweries in Europe, US & Canada and India and been fortunate to make many friends in the brewing community along the way, leading to collaborations with Kissmeyer & Theodore Schiotz, Beau’s, Magic Rock, Dieu du Ciel, Kehrweider, Le Trou du Diable, Heist Brew & most recently Brewdog Sheffield.

Thirsty City 127 Logo

Services included

Consultant Master Brewer; Recipe development; Product evaluation; Capital project management team; recruitment and training; mentoring and support both local and remote; pilot and production brewing; quality programme development; event development and presentation; brand representation.
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The Goodness Brewing Co. Logo

Services included

Recipe evaluation and evolution; pilot and production brewing and packaging; brewhouse commissioning support; remote support.
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Brixton Brewery Logo

Services included

Best Practice brewing & packaging audits; action plans; local and remote support.
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Helmsley Brewing Logo

Services included

Project consultant from inception covering brewhouse specification, installation & commissioning; recipe development; quality documentation; mentoring; local and remote support.
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Joules Logo

Services included

Best Practice brewing & packaging audits; action plans; local and remote support.
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Purity Clear Black Logo Jan 19

Services included

Product quality evaluation; Product improvement and matching; Quality programme development; New Brewery specification, installation & commissioning; recipe development; mentoring; local and remote support.
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Garu Gazu Logo

Services included

Project consultant from inception covering brewhouse specification, installation & commissioning; recipe development; quality documentation; mentoring; local and remote support.
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Molson Coors Logo

Services included

Master Brewer; Brewery Manager (Staropramen); Marketing Manager; Sales Manager; Development and delivery of Big Beer Day brewing, beer and brand appreciation course.
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Beer & Cider Academy Logo

Services included

Head of Training and Chief Beer Sommelier examiner for IBD Beer and Cider Academy; Development of course content; Hosting promotional events.
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Brewschool Logo

Services included

Developing and hosting courses and events including: Beer & Food appreciation; Micro Essentials introduction to micro-brewing; Practical & Commercial Brewing (preparation to sit IBD General Certificate in Brewing examinations)
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All Beer Logo

Services included

Developed ALL Beer Experience pack and wrote ALL Beer Guide book. Hosted numerous beer and food appreciation events for trade and consumers; beer flavour notes and food matches. Customers included: Molson Coors; Charles Wells; Marstons; SIBA; SAB; Ossett Brewery; Hobsons; Greene King; Hawkshead Brewery and many more.
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Sentinel Logo

Services included

Founder and Head Brewer. Whilst the brewpub, bar & kitchen was not a commercial success, in 30 months of trading it achieved 4.7 and 4.8* ratings on Trip Advisor, Facebook & Google, collected 14 awards for its beers and was awarded ‘Sheffield’s Best Brewery’ by Exposed Magazine.
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Reviews
  • It’s been a fantastic five years of working with Alex Barlow since April 2015. I whole-heartedly endorse his character and capabilities and I really hope I may work with him again in the future.
    Vir Kotak, Founder & CEO
    Thirsty Beers
  • Alex’s extensive experience within the brewing industry, particularly within Trade Quality and Brewing, has been invaluable to driving Purity’s success. Always focused, totally objective and very clear on his recommendations.
    Paul Halsey, Founder & MD
    Purity Brewery
  • Alex worked closely with us during the set up and establishment of our brewery and his contribution was excellent. He remains a friend of the brewery to this day and I would recommend him to anyone requiring consultancy.
    Kyle Boot, Founder & MD
    HELMSLEY BREWERY
  • We have worked with Alex on a variety of brewing and distilling courses over the last 6 years and have found his knowledge and passion for both brewing and beer to be exceptional.
    Chris Horne, Founder & Director
    BREW-SCHOOL
  • Alex’s clear and concise advice meant our beers improved, sales increased and crucially we were able to grow rapidly whilst enhancing quality and consistency.
    Jez Galaun, Co-Founder
    BRIXTON BREWERY
  • Alex is that rare individual who has the technical depth of a trained Master Brewer and the eloquence of a Marketing person. His training sessions appeal to the heart and the head.
    Steve Price, Technical Brewer
    Molson Coors
Shop

Consultation, Guides & Experiences

ALL Beer Guide

Guide to beer styles & flavours. Winner of 3 International Awards.

ALL Beer Experience Pack

Guide book & FlavourMax glass + 2 Triple Point Beers.

1 Hr Online Consultation

£100

Zoom/ Facebook/ WhatsApp/ Skype etc.

1 Day Consultation

£500

Online or in person. In person site visits subject to travel & substance expenses incurred.

1 Month Support

£1,000

Telephone/ online call-up support. Maximum 30 hours. Maximum of 1 hour per day unless arranged in advance.

12 Months Support

£3,000

Telephone/ online call-up support. Maximum 300 hours. Maximum of 1 hour per day unless arranged in advance.

Speak to us about bespoke on & off-site support packages tailored to your needs.
Extended project rates by agreement.
Book a FREE consultation
Contact

Book A Free Consultation

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