In this episode Martin speaks to Ben Addison, Head Brewer at Tap Social Movement in Oxford, about brewing beer with a purpose.
Ben shares his journey into brewing, from starting at Purity Brewing and working on large automated brewery systems to joining Tap Social and developing his skills on a hands-on manual brew kit. He also explains how hop dipping works and how the technique can create smoother, more rounded hop aromas.
The conversation explores what defines a Tap Social beer: high quality, experimental when appropriate, but ultimately welcoming and accessible to as many drinkers as possible. Ben discusses the brewery’s growth, supplying supermarkets such as Waitrose, increasing can production and the challenges of consistency, shelf life and cold storage.
At the heart of the episode is Tap Social Movement’s social enterprise mission. Ben explains how the brewery provides paid employment, training and progression opportunities for people who have been through, or are currently going through, the prison system. He shares how people can build confidence, learn new skills and move into brewing, sales, hospitality or their own business ventures.
Tap Social Links
Website: https://www.tapsocialmovement.com/
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/tapsocialmovement/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tapsocialmovement
CHAPTERS
00:00 - 02:42 Introduction: Meet Ben Addison, Head Brewer at Tap Social Movement
02:43 - 04:37 How Ben first got into brewing
04:38 - 07:38 Discovering hop dipping and how the process works
07:39 - 09:49 Why Ben joined Tap Social Movement
09:50 - 12:32 What defines a Tap Social beer?
12:33 - 16:00 How brewing on a manual system changed Ben’s approach
16:01 - 19:26 Supplying Waitrose and scaling up can production
19:27 - 22:16 Supermarket beer: consistency, shelf life and cold storage
22:17 - 26:09 How Tap Social Movement’s social enterprise mission works
26:10 - 29:28 Building confidence and careers through employment
29:29 - 33:47 How buying Tap Social beer supports people rebuilding their lives
33:48 - 36:35 Why brewing is about more than making beer
36:36 Why people should visit Tap Social Movement
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