Alex Barlow Brewing Consulting

Insightful beer & brewing support

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.

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