Meet The Brewers
F or us, it’s imperative that every pint is served brilliantly every time. Meet some of the faces that bring our beers from grain to glass.
We pride ourselves on the quality of our beer. Over the past decade, we’ve won more than 250 awards, including several golds at the International Beer Challenge (IBC) and International Brewing Awards.
Our success is down to the passion and talent of our exceptional brewing team. Balancing tradition with innovation, we use the best raw materials, work to tight specifications, and set the highest of standards. For us, it’s imperative that every pint is served brilliantly every time.
GEORGINA YOUNG - BREWING DIRECTOR
Georgina Young joined the company initially as Head Brewer at Bath Ales in May 2019, before being promoted to Brewing Director in July 2020.
She was recruited by her long-time friend, Roger Ryman, who served as St Austell’s Brewing Director for two decades. Georgina was the perfect candidate to take up the reins following Roger’s untimely passing in May 2020. Respected across the industry, she continues an impressive career glittered with achievements.
Georgina began her brewing career at Smiles Brewery, Bristol after graduating from Heriot-Watt University with an MSc in Brewing & Distilling. She went on to run the pilot brewery at Camden BRI for six years before joining Fuller’s as Production Brewer in 1999, where she served in roles across all aspects of production.
She then decided to take some time out in her career as a brewer to raise her children. After completing a PGCE, she taught Science in a comprehensive school in Richmond, London, but the lure of the brewing industry was too great. Georgina returned to Fuller’s in 2013 as Brewing and Packaging Manager. She completed the IBD Master Brewer in 2016 before ascending to the role of Head Brewer in 2017 - the first female at Fuller’s to take on the role.
St Austell Brewery’s growth and success is dependent on a culture of continuous investment, improvement, and development. Georgina oversaw the company’s foundation of the UK’s first ever brewing apprenticeship in 2019, nurturing the beer industry’s future generations of talent in a world-class, multi-award-winning production team.
S ince welcoming Georgina to the business, she’s been instrumental in helping us to realise the full potential of Bath Ales’ beer brands. She’s respected throughout the industry and is the perfect guardian for St Austell Brewery’s portfolio of beers. We can’t think of a better person to lead us into our next chapter and inspire the next generation of brewers.
WILL HARTLEY - PRODUCTION MANAGER, BATH ALES
Will took the helm at Bath Ales’ Hare Brewery in 2021. He forged his craft as Head Brewer at Wiper and True in Bristol, a brewery focused on experimentation and collaboration. While he was there, he earned his IBD Diploma in Brewing and also worked as an independent consultant, spending time at a variety of breweries.
MAT HENNEY - PRODUCTION MANAGER, ST AUSTELL BREWERY
Mat is a Master Brewer and joined us in 2021 as the head of our Beer Quality team, which ensures the quality of all the raw materials, standards, and specifications at our production sites, and oversees the quality of our beer as it leaves the warehouse and reaches the hands of our customers. As production manager, he manages on-site brewing, packaging, and engineering, from the raw materials we get in, to the finished beer out of the gate.
ADAM SPRAGUE - PRODUCTION PLANNER
Adam analyses the stock levels and sales data at Hare and St Austell, ensuring we have the capacity to produce and package the beers we plan to brew each week. Adam and his team also order our raw materials, making sure we have everything we need ahead of brewing and on time for packaging the finished product.
A Tribute to Roger Ryman
Roger Ryman led St Austell’s brewing team for over two decades and played a leading role in the company’s growth and success prior to his untimely passing in 2020, following a brave battle with cancer. He was responsible for transforming St Austell Brewery’s portfolio of brands – including our three flagship beers: Tribute Pale Ale, Proper Job IPA, and korev lager.
Roger’s first original brew when he started at the brewery in 1999 was Daylight Robbery; a short-term seasonal beer to celebrate the upcoming total eclipse of the sun. Due to its phenomenal popularity, it went on to be relaunched as Tribute – our first truly national beer and long-standing flagship brand.
During his time at the helm, Roger oversaw significant modernisation and investment in the Brewery which successfully unified pride in traditional values with modern and efficient brewing methods. He has left behind a legacy that will continue to shine for a long time to come.