02.01.12

Interview with a Brewmaster - Quantum Brewer

Written by TheAbbot

ime to kick of CellarMonk's interview series early and bring another brewer to the comfy computer chair of fame.  The honor of the first interview of 2012 goes to the owner and operator of the Quantum Brewing Company.  Although not the size of ABInBev, this brewer loves what he does and much like every other brewery owner, see growth in the future.  Without further ado, let us introduce you to Mr. Jay Krause.

Name(s):  Jay Krause

Brewery Name:  Quantum Brewing Company

When did the brewery start?
May 2011

Where is the brewery located?
Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK

Has it always been there?
Yes, we are a new brewery.

How large is the brewery?
Maximum output is 5BBL.

Is there anything about your brewery makes that it unique?  Or is it just a bunch of shiny metal and hoses?
It is mostly powered by gravity, but the kit is pretty standard.

How long have you been director of brewing/brewmaster there?
Since opening.

Any type of formal training in brewing science or art?
Years of homebrewing gave me most of the intuition needed to try out new recipes. I did attend a course run by Dave Porter to increase knowledge of the business side of brewing.

If you will, a brief history of your brewing/brewery experience (where have you brewed)?
In addition to the homebrewing experience I hung out a lot at breweries all over the UK and helped out as much as possible.

Are there any differences in attitude (in craft/artisinal beer) between Great Britain and America?
I think the principles are basically the same – the focus in the UK, especially now, for craft breweries is on quality and taste. The main difference is that most UK craft breweries’ output is very much cask focused, which is of course a long British tradition.

Is the brewery automated or is there a lot of exercise involved in your brewery's operation?
The only automation in the brewery are the power switches and the pumps. The rest is very much done solely by hand.

Has the brewery ever had a bad batch? If so, how long did it take you to figure out what caused it?
Just the one so far. It was caused by a bacterial infection during the hot summer.

Do you personally name the brews or is it done by committee or dictatorship?
I name most of the brews myself. I prefer to name the brews very simply, eg. Robust Porter, American Amber Ale etc as it makes it easier for the customer 
to know what to expect.

What are your favorite styles?  Do you make them at the brewery or will they be made?
I’m a big fan of all styles. My most favourite styles are Imperial Stouts and dry hopped session beers, both of which I have made at the brewery.

Do you or your brewery attend the large beer gatherings (i.e. Great British Beer Festival, Zythos, etc.)?
I attend local beer festivals and the occasional CAMRA meeting.

Any awards, either for you or your brewery?
We recently got a Silver for our Nelson Sauvin IPA at a local festival.

Can you give a hint if anything might be coming from your brewery (new brew, special brew, etc.)?
Possibly a classic American style Double IPA.

Do you have a favorite beer and food pairing?
It’s an old but good one, my favourite has to be stout and oysters!

Every workplace has some type of tradition.  Does your brewery have some type of tradition on brew day or at another time? For example, using a special tool that has been around for a very long time, play specific music while brewing, etc.
Radio 4 is on constantly!

If you could sit down with anyone (living) and have a beer, who would it be and why?
Brendan Dobbin, the legendary Manchester brewer who owned West Coast Brewery, installed the Marble Arch Brewery and now (allegedly) grows bananas in Ireland.

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Questions for you as Owner of a Brewery
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Great Britain, known for its centuries old brewers and styles, do you see artisan/craft beer as a growing presence?
Definitely. There have been so many self styled ‘craft’ breweries open in the past few years. Along with them there has also been a large number of pubs and bars open with a definite focus on artisanal ales. However there has, especially in Manchester, always been a demand for well made beer and the number of pubs that have been around for 10+ years selling great ale is high.

If one of the brewing behemoths (InBev/SAB, etc) came calling, would you turn them away, or invite them in for a beer?
I’d very much invite them in. We’re all in the same business, but I think we’d both know the products are quite different. I imagine we’d have a lot in common though.

Can you detail any peeves that you have with (regulators, customers, etc.), to give an idea of what a brewery goes through?
Not really. The only major issue now is the price of beer duty, which has gone through the roof over the past few years in an attempt to curb ‘problem drinking’ – as if we’re suddenly seeing craft beer being abused.

Are you looking to expand or are you happy with the current size of your brewery operations?
I’m definitely looking to expand and take on staff once turnover reaches a sufficient level.

Are you doing anything different at your brewery (Gluten-free, reusable kegs, etc) that people might find interesting?
Not vastly different. I try to use minimal finings in the pale beers, but the darker beers use absolutely no finings at all, so are suitable for vegans.

Your social media presence is pretty impressive, do you think it has had an affect on beer sales?
Definitely. Social media is a fantastic way to make connections and let people know instantly about what you’re doing. It does have its downsides as well though – lots of spam emails!

Final Question:
If you were in charge, what would you change (first) to improve our beer universe? 
I’d like to see a change of attitude in the general populace that craft/microbrewed ale is just for old men, which I think is happening slowly. I’d also like to see the beer tie in pubs slacken so that they can become true freehouses.

For more information on the Quantum Brewing Company:

Quantum Brewing Company
Victoria Works, Hempshaw Lane,
Manchester, UK, SK14LG

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Their website: Quantum Brewing 

You can also follow Jay on Twitter at @misterjk