But for someone as hands-on as Clarke, such a role would have always been a tough gig. “Helping out creating a recipe is fine. But I would want to be tasting the beer in tank, before packaging and then after packaging, too,” he smiles. “Dealing with that remotely wouldn’t have worked for me, I’d probably find myself camping out at the brewery to see the job through!”
I
f you had come to me at the start
all achieved at Hawkshead and plan for
Seeing the job through from start to finish
of last year and said you were
the future.”
is one such achievement he can look back on from his time at Hawkshead.
planning to open a new brewery I would have called you crazy!”
Gay adds: “We were deeply involved
laughs Matt Clarke. “But here we
at the brewery, Matt especially. Both
And with Lakes Brew Co Clarke,
are.”
us, and our children, have grown with
alongside Michelle Gay, Steve Ricketts
There’s a saying that goes along the lines
Hawkshead so it was tough for that to
and Paul Sheldon he’s embarked on a
of ‘What’s the point in having a mind if
change so quickly. But these things hap-
whole new project once more.
you’re not prepared to change it’.
pen.”
And for Clarke, his partner Michelle
Clarke says that their children were
the company you’re working for, it’s
Gay, and countless others, these last 12
not only familiar with the brewery
sometimes easy to forget why you’re
months have resulted in a great deal of
surroundings but amusingly, probably
doing it,” explains Gay. “These last months
unprecedented decisions being made.
better networked than most brewers
have allowed us to take a step back and
across the land. Peers he conversed with
remember why we loved the industry in
and observed during the last year.
the first place.”
role of marketing manager at the Lake
“I had no plans to step away from beer.
For the trio, that was being involved in
District-based business.
These last 12 months have allowed me
a business that makes a product that
“When you’re so involved in a role, and
Clarke was formally the head brewer at Hawkshead Brewery, while Gay held the
to see how all of these business are
people enjoy. And starting their own
The duo were two of the most
adapting and reacting to the challenging
brewery would of happened even
recognisable faces at the much-loved
situation they are all in,” he explains.
sooner, however certain restrictions
brewery. They were also among 12
“It’s been a unique time to be putting
slowed the progress somewhat.
members of the team that were made
together a business plan, that’s for sure.” “Until October Matt wasn’t even allowed
redundant in April 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.
Before settling on the idea to open
to look at a beer!” laughs Gay.
their own brewery, Clarke assessed the For many, the decision by Hawkshead’s
potential for other head brewer roles
But that is in the past and the ball is now
owners, Merseyside-based Halewood, to
across the industry.
well and truly rolling with Lakes Brew Co. Finding the ideal site took some time,
shed part of the team also stripped much of the brewery’s identity, too.
“People were reaching out to me from all
as it often does, but the team now has a
corners of the UK,” he says. “It’s amazing
4000sqft facility to call their own, located
But let’s be clear, Clarke and Gay are
how many businesses need help. But
in the heart of Kendal on the Mintsfeet
not dwelling on the past. What’s done
then, I’m not new to this and I know how
Industrial Estate.
is done, and alongside Steve Ricketts,
much hard work is involved in running a
the former managing director and Paul
brewing business.”
“It has good access and doesn’t require us to think creatively when it comes to
Sheldon, former financial controller, at Hawkshead they now have a brewery to
Clarke also considered the possibility of
getting kit through the door,” says Clarke.
call their own.
offering industry consultancy.
“It has a nice high roof, too, so we can
Welcome Lakes Brew Co.
“There is a real skills shortage out there
increase our FVs to 20bbl if needs be.” because there isn’t the biggest skills pool
On the brewhouse side, the trio have
“It’s been an interesting 12 months. Not
to draw from. Breweries got in touch,
opted for a 16HL system from SSV
just for us, for everyone,” says Clarke. “It
often looking for help mentoring and with
Limited with plans to initially brew two to
has given us time to reflect on what we
recipe creation.”
three times a week
60
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MAY~JUNE 2021
BREWERS JOURNAL
