Q and A with Neil Bain, head brewer at Woodfordes

Neil Bain joined the brewing industry in 1977 as a quality assurance technician and after working for Davenports Brewery for two years moved on to Bass. After eight years, he moved into production and finally achieved master brewer status in 1989.

In the mid-nineties he was invited to join a management buy out of Highgate Brewery in Walsall and worked there as Brewing Director until 2008, when he left the Midland brewing scene to join Woodforde’s Norfolk Ales, near Norwich.

Age? 54

Birthplace? Batley, West Yorkshire

Starsign? Taurus

How did you become a brewer? Coming to the end of a degree in Microbiology my mother suggested I write to Davenports Brewery in Birmingham to ask for a job; she worked next door at the accident hospital. That was 33 years ago.

When did you have your beer epiphany? The first time I tried Davenports Top Brew Deluxe from the cask in the inner sanctum of Davenports Brewery.
 
Who has been your brewing inspiration? Stuart Noble, great brewer and a fellow Yorkshireman.

What was the first beer you brewed and what was it like? Springfield Bitter was the first brew that I mashed myself and because of expert tuition it tasted just like the previous one.

What would you be doing if you weren’t a brewer? Trying to scratch a living as an actor.

If you could have a beer from another brewer, what would it be? Draught Bass, so I could restore it to its former glory.

What’s your top hop? Savinjski Golding

Favourite Woodforde’s beer? All have their merits, but Wherry takes a bit of beating.

Is Norfolk really as boring as people say? If you love wildlife as I do it can be like paradise.

What’s the secret to good brewing? Good raw materials in a clean environment.

What is British brewing doing right/wrong? Selling beer to supermarkets too cheaply is giving the industry a bad name and damaging the pub trade. New breweries producing innovative beers are firing people’s enthusiasm for cask beer.

Favourite beer and food match? Admiral’s Reserve with slow cooked belly pork is a match made in heaven.

Which country is making the best beer in the world at the moment? The US is coming on in leaps and bounds, but England still produces the most drinkable beers in the world.

Advice for any home-brewers out there? Try and get hold of brewer’s yeast rather than dried, and mash yourself rather than using extract.

How much money have you got on you? As they say in Yorkshire, “Nowt”

What’s the hardest style of beer that you brew? Probably Nelson’s Revenge, but when it’s right it’s magnificent.

Who would win a fight between a bull and a cobra? Cobra would probably apply a little more cunning.

What’s your idea of happiness? Otter watching in the Outer Hebrides

Minstrels or Revels? Minstrels, I eat them until I feel sick.

Whisky or gin? Never touch either.

Favourite wine? Anything red and fruity, but wine is wasted on me.

What was the last CD you bought? Led Zeppelin “Sessions”

What was the last decent film you watched? Normally fall asleep half way through films, but the Lord of the Rings films held my attention throughout.

Can you tell us a joke? Keep it clean, mind. Tom had been in the police force for 25 years. Finally sick of the stress, he quits his job and buys 50 acres of land in Alaska as far from humanity as possible. He sees the postman once a week and gets his groceries once a month. Otherwise it’s total peace and quiet.

After six months or so of almost total isolation, someone knocks on his door. He opens it and a huge bearded man is standing there.
“Name’s Cliff, your neighbour from forty miles up the road. Having a Christmas party Friday night… Thought you might like to come at about 5:00. “Great” says Tom, “after six months out here I’m ready to meet some local folks, Thank you”

As Cliff is leaving, he stops. “Gotta warn you. Be some drinking."

“Not a problem,” says Tom “After 25 years in the business, I can drink with the best of ‘em." Again, the big man starts to leave and stops.

“More ‘n’ likely going to be some fighting too”

“Well, I get along with people, I’ll be there, thanks again."

“More’n likely be some wild sex too”

“Now that’s really not a problem” says Tom, warming to the idea. “I’ve been all alone for six months! I’ll definitely be there… By the way, what should I wear?”

“Don’t much matter. Just gonna be the two of us”

If you could have a beer with anyone from history who would it be and which beer would you choose? Gavin Maxwell and Gerald Durrell, they both liked a drink and both had fascinating lives, we would enjoy a Woodforde’s Headcracker or two.

Ben McFarland, 29.10.2010