One-time thriftiness as a student has paved the way for one savvy beer-drinker to launch his own business selling home brew kits.
Paul Morgan brewed his own beer as a money-saving alternative to nights at the pub while he was at Aberystwyth University, but he didn’t anticipate the passion it would ignite.
Now the 22-year-old history graduate is on a mission to introduce more people to the ancient art of making ale from scratch through his venture Ale Smithing Homebrew, which he runs by himself from the ‘smithy’ he has set up in the grounds of his family’s plant nursery.
“The idea of making your own beer is confusing and foreign to many people, when really it is no different to baking a cake – actually it is easier,” says Paul.
He commandeered the family kitchen for months to perfect his recipes, which have tantalising names like Shipwright’s IPA, Logger’s Pine Lager and Mum’s Mumme.
But with Paul keen for home brewers to go back to basics using whole grains and simple, wholesome ingredients such as honey and elderflower, his are no ordinary home brew kits.
He explained: “I wanted people to have a more authentic experience – it shouldn’t just be about pouring a can of treacly extract into a bucket.”
Future plans
New recipes are in the pipeline and Paul says the plan is to expand the business in ‘whatever direction seems to be the best for it, most likely as a home brew supply shop’.
He added: “One of the big things we are looking into is Gruit Ale, a style without hops that you can’t get any more and is hard to find recipes for.
“We hope this can really show people how good old recipes can be and expand people’s interests in historic ale.”
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