Anarchy Brew Co | Q&A

Are you curious to know about the people behind the beers you buy? Or perhaps you want to know what inspires brewers to brew and beer bloggers to blog? Our “Q&A” posts are a light hearted way of getting to know people working in, and connected to, the beer and alcohol industry.
Today’s post features Anarchy Brew Co.
Located in the beautiful Northumberland countryside, the brewery came to life in January 2012. A small team, they are dedicated to using the finest of ingredients to create forward thinking beers. To begin with they concentrated on producing a small number of cask conditioned ales but since then their range has grown dramatically. They now brew thirteen beers, all very different, from session beers to breakfast stouts.

Who are you/what do you do?   My name is Michael Mcgroty, and I am one of the brewers at Anarchy

How did you get into this line of work?   I had been home brewing for a while, and decided that I wanted to brew for a living. So I applied for Anarchy, and got the job!

What is your favourite beer?   I’m not sure I could pick one beer as I like to drink a very wide range of beers. Hofbrau Hefeweizen will always be a firm favourite though as it’s the beer that got me into brewing.

What do you think makes a great beer?   For me, it would be balance. I like beer that has well-proportioned flavours and doesn’t overwhelm with one particular flavour.

What is your favourite style of beer?   It would be IPA or Hefeweizen.

Bottled or canned beer?   Both have their place. Cans are fashionable and easier to handle but I think bottles have less issues with oxidisation.

You are stuck on a desert island, what three things are you taking with you?  A box of good beer, a kindle loaded with books, and an mp3 player

Out of all the beers you brew, which is your favourite? Why is that?   It would have to be smoke bomb as it’s an interesting twist on a beer style that isn’t brewed as widely as it deserves.

Where did you learn to brew?   I taught myself the basics by reading books and forums and spending a lot of time home brewing but I’ve learnt so much more since arriving at Anarchy.

What is the hardest thing to master when learning to brew?   Patience!

Thanks to Michael and Anarchy for chatting to us.

You can view and buy beers from Anarchy Brew Co here.