In the run-up to International Women’s Day on 8 March, What’s Brewing spoke to St Austell brewing director George Young.

WB: What did it take to become head brewer, especially in a male-dominated industry?

GY: I have been brewing director at St Austell brewery and Bath Ales for three years, having joined the company initially as head brewer for Bath Ales in 2019.  

My 25-year career in brewing began at Smiles brewery in Bristol, after graduating from Heriot-Watt University with an MSc in brewing and distilling. I went on to run the pilot brewery at Camden BRI for six years before joining Fuller’s as production brewer in 1999.

After taking some time out to raise my children and complete a PGCE [Post Graduate Certificate in Education], I taught science at a comprehensive school in Richmond, London, but the lure of the brewing industry was too great. I returned to Fuller’s in 2013 as brewing and packaging manager and completed the IBD Master Brewer qualification in 2016 before becoming head brewer in 2017. 

Every year, we offer two people a paid brewing apprenticeship at St Austell to learn about the craft of beer production.  

As well as gaining hands-on experience in the brewery, our apprentices develop their technical knowledge by undertaking academically based training at the International Centre for Brewing Science (ICBS), based at Nottingham university. The course launched in 2019 and was the first of its kind in the UK. We were very proud to be one of the first breweries in the country to take on brewing apprentices and delighted to be opening our door to the brewers of the future.

It’s so important that we offer high-quality training opportunities and look to nurture talent within our industry and offer a foot in the door for young women who aspire to have a brewing career. It’s a wonderful industry to enter into and it’s great to be able to offer other women the same experiences that I’ve had.   

WB: What are the trends for the beer industry in 2023?

GY: We’re hugely passionate about the unbeatable taste of cask beer. Everything about it is unprocessed and the result of fresh, quality ingredients. Keep an eye out for continued innovation in cask, as brewers experiment with new and exciting styles, just like Anthem.

In line with current market trends, we are continuing to invest in craft and keg beers such as Korev, our flagship lager brand. Brewed in the helles style – with classic hops including Magnum, Hersbrucker and Saaz – Korev is inspired by the coast.

Beer can be great for bringing out flavours in food, as much as wine can. It would be great to see more of an appreciation of this.

WB: What plans for cask have you at St Austell?

GY: St Austell’s flagship beer, Tribute pale ale, is definitely my go-to cask ale, it's so drinkable. I’m really proud of our new cask beer, Anthem golden pale ale, made with 100 per cent British ingredients. It’s a delicious 3.8 per cent ale full of tropical fruit flavours from the new generation of British hops.

Cask beer is for connoisseurs – the natural carbonation allows you to savour the flavours. I think people want freshness, local and niche products – which cask is. We’re hugely passionate about the unbeatable taste of cask beer. Everything about it is unprocessed and the result of fresh, quality ingredients. Keep an eye out for continued innovation in cask, as brewers experiment with new and exciting styles, just like Anthem. 

I think there will be a push to introduce younger drinkers as well as female drinkers to try cask ale. I think once people taste it, they get it, but staff need to lead them with knowledge as well. The beer engines on the bar also need to be more eye-catching. That’s why, with Anthem, we opted for a bold, bright, and energetic design. 

Have you an International Women’s Day story to tell? If so, let us know and send a photo to wb.editor@camra.org