Winter opening hours: mon-thurs 9-5.30, Fri 9-8, sat 10-8pm

Want to be a brewer? Think again!

When I was thinking of leaving teaching and setting up Wildcraft, I visited as many breweries as I could. I was desperate to glean information,  to work out how you jump from a small setup in the shed (my other half would say all over the house) to 100's of litres at a time and most importantly, trying to work out if was something I could achieve.  I met some great people along the way and some very good brewers but the ultimate piece of advice that many wanted to pass on was 'Don't do it!'.

Now, for those of you that know me, the easiest way to get me to try something is by telling me not too but in this case, I thought I had better investigate further...

Reason 1: 'Your life will be taken over by it'. I will be honest, this was something that really didn't phase me. I remember sitting one night in the living room, laptop on my lap, marking students work. My other half was a mirror image, sitting across the room and I said, quite innocently how I wished I could be out of education running my own brewery. 'But you will be working all sorts of hours' was the reply. She obviously didn't see the irony of what she was saying as we both then continued to work well into the night!

As it is, yes, the place has taken over my life but thats ok, it will for the first few years but its all part of making sure we do this right! The main difference is that I am myself again, teaching was killing me, I had lost sight of who I was and why I was doing things, I was constantly grumpy and depressed... Not any more!

Reason 2: 'You will just be a glorified caretaker'. To be fair, this one is a true one!  I spend more time cleaning the place than doing anything else (although you wouldn't know it sometimes) and this can become quite monotonous. Having said that, I have been the maker of my own demise here, why wouldn't I put a lovely light coloured floor paint in here which shows up every mark, footprint and stain?

Reason 3: 'Its not as easy as you think, its a big jump'. Well excuse my language but no s**t sherlock. I never expected it to be easy, I was well aware that recipes don't just work first time and that going from a small brew to a big doesn't always transfer how you would think. But thats all part of the fun of it, experimenting, finding the best flavours and making something from them.  Believe me, we have plenty of unlabelled bottles in the cold room that were experiments that may or may not have gone well.

Reason 4: 'Its a crowded market'. This one is very true, that's where I needed something different... Thankfully, I was already planning on using foraged ingredients so this one was thrown out before I had even got past my first half pint!

And that was it... They were the reasons I and maybe you, if you are thinking of setting up,  shouldn't do it.  Having taken those on board, I went ahead and did it anyway and am so thankful that I did.  Even as I sit here now, typing this in a barn that is currently 3 degrees, I think to myself one thing, its so much better than teaching!!

Older Post
Newer Post

362 comments

  • A few months ago, shortly after going through a difficult divorce, I connected with someone online who introduced me to cryptocurrency investing. He appeared knowledgeable and trustworthy, and based on his guidance, I decided to invest nearly $500,000. Unfortunately, when I later attempted to access the account to withdraw both my initial investment and the expected returns, I realized I had been locked out. It became painfully clear that I had been the victim of a scam.

    I promptly reported the incident to the FBI and provided all the necessary documentation. While they took the matter seriously, they were ultimately unable to recover the funds.
    Thankfully, a coworker referred me to ICON Asset Recovery. I contacted them and shared all the details of my case. They were responsive, professional, and compassionate from the very beginning. To my immense relief, they were able to recover the full amount I had lost within just a few weeks.
    I’m truly grateful for their expertise and support throughout what was a deeply stressful experience. If anyone else finds themselves in a similar situation, I wholeheartedly recommend reaching out to ICON Asset Recovery. They gave me hope when I thought all was lost and most importantly, they helped me get my money back.

    For assistance or inquiries, you can contact Icon Asset Recovery through:

    Website: https://iconassetsrecovery.com Email: services@iconassetsrecovery.com WhatsApp: +1 (850) 370-4547 Telegram: @Icon_assets_recovery
    Bridget penny
  • I Finally Recovered My Lost Bitcoin – Thanks to Icon Assets Recovery Expert

    I’m sharing this incredible news to let the world know how Icon Assets Recovery Expert and their team helped me recover my lost Bitcoin. I never imagined I could fall victim to a cryptocurrency scam, but unfortunately, I invested $1.6 million into what turned out to be a fraudulent platform. The experience was devastating and left me uncertain about what to do next. After being scammed by a different so-called recovery company, I got the contact information for Icon Assets Recovery Expert from a friend. Thankfully, their professionalism, expertise, and unwavering support were exactly what I needed during that difficult time. With their help, I was able to recover my stolen funds.
    If you’ve lost Bitcoin due to a scam, hacked wallet, or fraudulent investment platform, I highly recommend reaching out to Icon Assets Recovery Expert. They specialize in cryptocurrency recovery and are a trusted team in this field.

    Contact Details:
    WhatsApp via 9185168811
    Telegram via 8049748401
    Email address- info@iconassetsrecovery.com
    Website- iconsassetsrecovery.com

    mary
  • Swift Assets Recovery helped me recover $450,000 I lost to a fake crypto investment scam. I was devastated and thought the money was gone for good, but their team was professional, supportive, and incredibly skilled. They guided me through the entire process and successfully recovered my funds. I’m beyond grateful for their help and highly recommend them to anyone who’s been a victim of online fraud. Reach them on email:(swiftrecoveryservice006 (@)gmail . com) or WhatsApp number: +1 (352) 436-7955 Or Telegram @SWIFT_HACKING Website https://swiftspyassetsrecovery.com

    Anna Torres

Leave a comment

Close (esc)

Christmas Hours

23rd Dec - 10-6.30

24th-28th Dec - Closed

29th - 30th Dec - 2pm - 6.30pm

31st Dec - 1st Jan Closed

Open as usual from 2nd Jan

Age verification

By clicking enter you are verifying that you are old enough to drink alcohol.

Search

Main menu

Shopping Cart

Your cart is currently empty.
Shop now