This post was originally published in November 2013 as to support the release of our first homebrew special. As we have the author of this piece, Andrew Hobbs on our second homebrew special we thought it fitting to re-post it. It’s quite interesting when you listen to this week’s show how far Andrew has progressed since he wrote this back in November. You can check out the original post with additional contributions here.

I suppose I’ve always been interested in beer; right from the 70s when my dad used to boil wort and hops after I went to bed (it smelled awful – the taste wasn’t much better), through my teenage years exploring real ale pubs of Hampshire and West Sussex. But it was experiences travelling after sixth form and university when I began to sit up and really take notice. I’m talking about beers like Redback or Dogbolter by Maltilda Bay in Western Australia in the late 80s or tasting brews in California in the 90s that just weren’t anything like the Home Counties ale I knew. These were an entirely different drink from outfits like Sierra Nevada, Pete’s Brewing Company, Anchor from San Francisco, Redhook etc. They were much more interesting and dare I say it edgy – as if those making them had torn up the rule book. If there was one. What did I know?

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