Beards and beer. What’s the connection? Weird Beard Brew Co began its brewing journey in early 2013. It aimed to satisfy drinkers with hop-driven beers and classic styles.
Two award-winning homebrewers founded two separate companies. They were Gregg Irwin and Bryan Spooner of Weird Beard. Mike Ellenberg ran Ellenberg’s. They met at an IPA tasting. Their aim? To share a single brewery facility.
The Grand Union Canal in Hanwell became home. A 16 hl kit from Brewery Vessels Ltd was installed in an industrial unit in January 2013.
Weird Beard proved the more successful of the two. It built a reputation for high quality beers. The beers were stylish and uncompromising. The branding was distinctive. Early in 2014, Weird Beard bought out Ellenberg’s share. Operations expanded into nearby units. More fermentation capacity was added. A bottling line and a barrel vault were also added.
Gregg moved on early in 2017. Bryan continued to direct brewing operations. He also retained facial grooming practices fitting the brewery’s name.
The brewery long wrestled with its location. It precluded a regular taproom. The 2020-21 lockdowns brought challenges. The business was put up for sale early in 2022. Production was suspended. In March, the brand was bought by Doghouse Brewery in Darwen, Lancashire. Bryan joined their staff. He continues to brew Weird Beard beers there. The excellent beers have a future. This future lies outside London.
Beers were mainly in keg and can. Some cask and occasional bottled specials were also available.
One beer stood out. “Little Things That Kill” is a profoundly full-bodied session IPA. It features tropical fruit aromas. These aromas come from Citra, Summit and Mosaic hops. Flavors of honeydew melon and passion fruit delight the palate. Sharp orange juice and grapefruit rind add complexity. An astringent bitterness is typical of India Pale Ale. The finish is bitter with lingering grapefruit rind.
Weird Beard Brew Co ceased brewing in London in February 2022. The original address was Unit 5 Boston Business Park in Ealing. The beers may reappear brewed elsewhere. Look out for Weird Beard beers. They might surprise you.