It Started With a Bit of Frustration… and a Lot of Curiosity
Wildcraft Brewery wasn’t born in a boardroom. It started in a shed.
Back in 2016, Mike was working as a teacher, watching the focus shift away from the children and towards paperwork, targets and ticking boxes. As he puts it:
“Teaching turned me to drink… so I started making it.”
What began as a hobby quickly turned into something more. With a background in horticulture and a passion for foraging, brewing became a way to bring wild, natural ingredients into something people could actually sit down and enjoy.
Then came the moment that changed everything — meeting Mark, and deciding to take the leap.
From Shed to Brewery
Wildcraft officially began when we turned a 900 sq ft barn into a working brewery.
It wasn’t polished. It wasn’t easy. But it was ours.
That first moment — seeing our beer on the pump for the very first time in October 2016 — was when it all became real. Not just an idea, not just a hobby… but something people were actually drinking, enjoying, and coming back for.
The Early Days (and a Few Explosions)
Our first brew? No mains water. No proper electrics.
Just extension leads and hoses stretched 50 metres down a driveway from the main house. What should have been a straightforward brew turned into a long, stop-start day of tripping electrics and painfully slow water flow.
Cashflow was tight from the start. We launched with around £40,000 less than most people said we needed, so we did what we had to do — built it ourselves, lifted it ourselves, figured it out as we went.
And then there was the wild yeast.
For a while, our beers had a habit of going a bit… nuclear. After plenty of research (and a few near misses), we discovered a wild yeast in the building that kept fermenting long after it should have stopped.
One cask exploded and narrowly missed Mike’s face.
Not ideal. But definitely memorable.
More Than Just Beer
From day one, Wildcraft has been about more than just what’s in the glass.
We believe in doing things properly — even when it’s harder.
Sustainability — working with nature, not against it. From foraged ingredients to supporting local agriculture and reducing waste wherever we can.
Community — creating a space where people come together. Not just to drink, but to connect.
Independence — we do things our way. No shortcuts, no compromises, and no chasing trends just for the sake of it.
Local partnerships — working with incredible local businesses, producers and venues to build something bigger than just ourselves.
This isn’t about being the biggest. It’s about being something people genuinely care about.
Where We Are Now
What started in a shed has grown into something we’re incredibly proud of.
A working brewery. A taproom full of life. Events that bring people together. From farmers markets and live music to Wildfest and beyond.
We’ve expanded into new venues, new ideas, and new ways of sharing what we do — but at the core, it’s still the same.
Good beer. Good people. No nonsense.
What makes us different?
🍺 Properly Independent
We’re not owned by a multinational, and we don’t brew like one.
🌿 Rooted in Nature
Foraging, local ingredients and a respect for where things come from.
🔥 We Do Things the Hard Way
Because it’s usually the better way... desp[ite how we look or feel after...
👥 Built on Community
From darts teams to farmers markets, this is a place for people.
This Is Just the Beginning
We’ve come a long way from extension leads and exploding casks… but we’re only just getting started.
There’s more to build. More to create. More people to bring together.
And if you’ve supported us along the way — whether that’s buying a pint, coming to an event, or just telling someone about us — thank you.
You’re part of this story too.