Here we get to know our brewer – Andrew Whalley (Dipl. Brew) at York’s award-winning brewery a little better …
What is your Brewery capacity?
We have a 20 bbl brewlength with 180 bls fermenting capacity or 9 brews per week
What is different about York Brewery?
We are situated within the City Walls of York and are geared up to do brewery tours of which we have 4 scheduled tours daily, plus the ability to do groups tours or functions on an evening.
How long have you been brewing for for?
I was a design draughtsman and I got made redundant twice in 3 years in the recession of the early nineties and I played rugby with a lad who’s parents ran a pub and who had started to brew beer for the pub. I enjoyed drinking beer and had done a bit of homebrew so pestered him to give me a job, and the rest as they say is history!
What beers do you brew regulary?
We produce four permanent ales – Yorkshire Terrier, Ghost, Guzzler and Constantine
Where do you think the future of brewing lies?
With a slight growth in cask ales, I hope that the future lies with smaller craft brewers brewing quality products. Obviously we can’t compete with the supermarkets but as the pub offers something different to take home, the trade we are in are in a prime position to take advantage of it.
What is your proudest moment in brewing?
Winning the gold medal and Champion beer for Centurion’s Ghost Ale at the Brewing Industry International Awards. It beat 98 other dark beers and stouts, including that famous black one from Dublin!
What was the last beer you drank?
One of our seasonal ales – York Blonde
What is your favourite hop?
Bramling Cross, which is an English variety. It has a blackcurrant nose and works wonderfully in beer.
Do you have a brewing inspiration/hero?
I don’t really have any heros as such but there are people in the industry who I respect such as Roger Ryman for what he has accomplished at St. Austell brewery, John Bryan for always pushing the boundaries with the beers he makes.
And finally, what are your interests outside of brewing?
Cycling, rugby and cricket.
Andrew Whalley
York Brewery
