Grain Expectations
Where it all began
The founder of the brewery, Chris Newton, was tired of the general beer offerings at the bars and the supermarkets. This was about a decade ago and it was mainly the usual macro lagers on offer with the occasional poor ale. So he decided to try making his own. Times have vastly improved in the UK since but it can still be better.
Through his homebrew journey, searching or making good quality beer became an obsession and a passion.
Not only was he learning about the techniques and important areas of being able to make great beer, but also learning about the importance of beer has been historically for the human race and civilisations.
Some of the amazing facts about beer are hard to comprehend. Such as, the earliest evidence of brewing beer is as far back a 13,000* years ago. That is way before civilisations began and before recorded history, which is around 5000 years ago. So making beer is quite literally prehistoric. There are other amazing facts about beer like, without beer we would not have farming or refrigeration* and may not have civilizations. Beer was so important to communities*, they became defined by their beer. The Germans, Bohemians (Czechia) and the Belgians are the first to spring to mind.
It was inevitable that his obsession was going to result in him opening a brewing and sharing some of his obsession and high quality beer with you.
*Credit to Jonny Garrett and The Meaning of Beer
The craft beer market has seen significant growth over the past decade. Consumers are increasingly seeking unique, artisanal products with distinct flavours. This is where Grain Expectations really holds a space.
We aim to build strong relationships with local free houses and micro pubs to offer a unique brew that all beer lovers will enjoy.
Our Philosophy
Making high quality tasty beer is like making delicious food, but with a combination of science and good practices and techniques. The point being that unless you start with high quality ingredients you aren’t going to have the results of a high quality product.
Here at Grain Expectations Brew Co we only use the highest quality grains (malted barley, wheat & oats), the freshest high quality hops and other adjuncts such as organic cocoa nibs for our beers.
If you are not a brewer you may not realise the importance of water in the beer making process. Water makes up between 90 and 95 percent of the final product, depending on the beer style, so it is imperative that the finest water is used.
Water is a complex ingredient/foundation/catalyst and the make up of the water varies massively between countries, regions and cities. Water chemistry is the reason why certain countries, regions or cities became defined by the beer they made. They made beer that suited their water source. This was before humans were able to manipulate water chemistry accurately.
The water near Pilsen in the Czech Republic is extremely soft, which is the ideal for making Pilsner, where it originated. Dublin water has the perfect water chemistry for dry Stout and Burton on Trent is extremely high in Calcium Sulphate, which extenuates hop bitters in a beer and makes the beer seem drier. You may have heard the term Burtonised water. Burton on Trent is where English IPA’s (Indian Pale Ales) were made in bulk and shipped to India.
To be able to make each beer style great, it is essential you start with a correct water profile and to do this you need to understand your source water. Any alkalinity in your municipal water source is generally bad for beer making, so this either has to be removed or balanced out with acid additions.
Our philosophy is that the more chemicals that are added to the water is a negative even though it might balance the water. This is why all our beers are made with Reverse Osmosis Filtered water.
Reverse Osmosis (RO) filters are a type of water purification system that removes contaminants from water by using pressure to force water molecules through a semipermeable membrane. RO filters can remove a broad range of contaminants, including salts, heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, and chemicals. This makes it one of the most comprehensive water purification methods available. By removing impurities and chlorine, RO-treated water often tastes better and smells fresher compared to tap water. Drinking RO-purified water can help reduce exposure to harmful contaminants, which can have long-term health benefits.
Whats in the name?
Grain Expectations
The name is a play on Charles Dickens' classic novel, Great Expectations. It adds a touch of literary flair and humour, making it instantly memorable. However, grain expectations also refers to the expectations a brewer has from the perfect blend of the high quality grains used in each meticulous brew, from conception of the beer to the expectations of the first taste of each new batch!
Grain Expectations Brew Co." blends creativity, quality, and a sense of anticipation, making it a standout name that promises a delightful and memorable experience for beer enthusiasts
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