Next weekend marks the inaugural These Hills, an intimate, carefully curated two day beer festival taking place in the town of Lewes in the South Downs National Park on the 24 and 25 June.

Organised by Beak Brewery, the event features beers from breweries such as Deya, Cloudwater, Queuzerie Tilquin, Kløster, Forest and Main, The Kernel, Wildflower and many more besides.

And it has been a whirlwind few years for the team at Beak Brewery. They’ve expanded, produced a wealth of excellent beers and collaborated with outfits far and wide. So what better opportunity to look back at our conversation with founder Danny Tapper and head brewer Robin Head-Fourman earlier last year.

In this episode, originally recorded in February 2021, we discuss how opening a brewery during a pandemic is far from ideal. But if you have faith in the beer you brew, engage with the industry and embrace the community around you then you’ll be on the right path. And that’s exactly the approach Beak Brewery of Lewes has taken.