What happens when a brewery grows really fast…but still wants to make world-class beer?
In this episode, I sit down with Mark Gammons, Head of Operations at Tiny Rebel, to talk about what it actually takes to scale production without sacrificing flavour, brand or quality.
We dive deep into the balance between efficiency and volume, how Mark manages production, expansion and quality and why your brew team might be more important than the brewery itself.
Expect honest reflections, tried-and-tested formulas for managing production and plenty of practical gems as we cover:
⚖️ Scaling up while staying true to your roots
🍻 How Tiny Rebel’s brewhouse has evolved over time
🧪 Why fermentation and yeast management are still an art
🏭 The not-so-glamorous side of infrastructure and planning
👥 Why team culture matters more than stainless steel
🥴 And what happens when something goes slightly...off
Mark’s been through it all! From small batch brews to running a serious production machine. This episode is a playbook in keeping things real while growing big.
📚 Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview
02:15 Guest Introduction: Mark Gammons
03:45 Discussing Yeast and Fermentation - AEB
05:28 Mark Gammons' Brewing Journey
06:51 Tiny Rebel Brewery's Growth and Expansion
10:33 Balancing Efficiency and Quality in Brewing
13:57 Challenges and Strategies in Brewery Management
15:01 The Importance of Community and Collaboration
19:37 Infrastructure and Design Considerations
23:12 Scaling Up: Utilities and Capacity Planning
30:26 Maintaining Quality Amidst Growth
40:33 Managing Brewing Deviations
41:48 Volume Consistency in Brewing
42:42 Brewhouse Volume Management
45:08 Manual vs. Automated Brewing
53:38 Team Management and Growth
58:42 The Importance of Taste Panels
01:09:47 Expanding Brewery Production
01:15:29 Concluding Thoughts and Farewell
🎧 Proudly sponsored by AEB – the go-to for Bio-Tech solutions in beer. Check out their brewing yeasts and products here https://www.aeb-group.com/uk
📈 Want to see where sustainability is heading? Check out the 2024 Craft Beer Report: brewresourceful.com/craftbrewerysustainability2024
Chris LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-lewington/
