Q&A: Nick Otley

Nick Otley, managing director of the Otley Brewing Company, speaks beer, brewing and fighting animals.

How did you become a brewer?

I talked myself into it along with my cousin Charlie and my nephew Matthew over a few pints late one Friday night.

When did you have your beer epiphany?

When I had my first pint of cask ale, which was Bass nearly 30 years ago.

What was the first beer you brewed and what was it like?

Otley O1 and it was like the angels were tickling my belly.

What would you be doing if you weren’t a brewer?

I’d be a photographer, again.

If you could only drink one Otley beer for the rest of your life, which one would it be?

Otley O1

If you could have a beer from another brewer, what would it be?

Dark Star, American Pale Ale

What’s your top hop?

North American Colombus

What’s the secret to good brewing?

Consistency, innovation, cleanliness and a dose of insanity

What is British brewing doing right/wrong?

Right: Brewing some amazing flavour-packed beers that are redefining beer styles as we know them.

Wrong: Marketing our wares to the trade and public, we need more awareness.

Favourite beer and food match?

A plate of Welsh cheeses, some home-made breads and home-cured ham and a bottle of O8 – heaven!

Which country is making the best beer in the world at the moment?

I think that’s a close call between the UK and American craft brewers

Advice for any home-brewers out there?

Go to full mash brews and persevere. Make friends with your nearest local brewer and take the odd bottle in to them for feedback.

What’s the hardest style of beer that you brew?

Our Otley O8 which is a strong golden ale, CAMRA define it as a barley wine.

Who would win a fight between a lion and two cobras?

Two cobras

What’s your idea of happiness?

Being content with what you have in your life and not wanting any more.

Minstrels or Revels?

Revels

Whisky or gin?

Whisky as long as it’s a single malt.

Favourite wine?

Shiraz or Merlot, full bodied thick and resinous with mouthfuls of fruit.

What was the last CD you bought?

Groove Armada – Black Light

What was the last decent film you watched?

Avatar

Can you tell us a joke? Keep it clean, mind.

Two men were adrift in a life boat following a dramatic escape from a burning freighter. While rummaging through the boat’s provisions, one of the men stumbled across an old lamp. Secretly hoping that a genie would appear, he rubbed the lamp vigorously. To the amazement of the castaways, a genie came forth. This particular genie, however, stated that he could only deliver one wish, not the standard three.

Without giving much thought to the matter the man blurted out, "Make the entire ocean into beer!" The genie clapped his hands with a deafening crash, and immediately the entire sea turned into the finest brew ever sampled by mortals.

Simultaneously, the genie vanished. Only the gentle lapping of beer on the hull broke the stillness as the men considered their circumstances.

One man looked disgustedly at the other whose wish had been granted. After a long, tension filled moment, he spoke: "Nice going idiot! Now we’re going to have to pee in the boat!"

If you could have a beer with anyone from history who would it be and which beer would you choose?

Helmut Newton, photographer, and we would sample Otley O7 Weissen

Ben McFarland, 16.07.2010