As dozens of breweries close across the UK amid the economic crunch, Norfolk's Wildcraft Brewery is bucking the trend thanks to its strong community feel, commitment to sustainability and, of course, its popular gluten-free brews. Founder and Chief Brewer Mike Deal related the story of the company.
Profile by Andy Probert.Wildcraft Brewery is presently embarking on one of the most critical phases of its seven-year business journey. When moving to larger premises in 2022, bringing the ability to boost its brewing capacity with locally sourced barley and foraged ingredients, the portents of a thriving business looked good.
Yet within months, the small to mediumsized brewing industry in the UK suffered a significant crisis as the economic crunch bit. By the winter of 2023, upwards of 100 brewers had called time and closed their businesses.
Survival in a box
For Wildcraft's Founder and Chief Brewer, Mike Deal, the matter of survival is a priority However, having crowdfunded its opening
from investors in 2016, a source of optimism continues to flow for this brewer – from its fans.
“January, February and March are the toughest three months of the year for any brewery,” Mr Deal explained. “These months have seen the demise of at least 13 brewers nationwide in 2023, and many others are considering their futures.”
So, a survival plan kicked in. Wildcraft’s customers were offered a three-month subscription to receive a beer box each month containing 12 different beers, including special one-off, handled bottled and labelled experimental brews.
The response was overwhelming, with around 250 subscribing to the campaign and enabling the brewery to navigate these
tricky times. “The response from our client base was phenomenal and demonstrated the community feel around the brewery,” he continued. “I am looking forward to 2023 with increased positivity and hope to build on that with new and authentic brews, as well as tapping into the strong support the brewery receives on social media and from its diverse network.”
From small beginnings
The brewery has made huge strides since it was founded by Mr Deal in 2016, when he decided to change career from teacher to microbrewer. After crowdfunding for the business, his plans were bolstered when an investor and eventual business partner, Mark Goodman, aware of the need for
premises, offered his family's barn in Buxton to set up in.
Wildcraft launched its first brew, Wild Spice, in November 2016. Having received excellent feedback, the brewery created 13 more different brews. Mr Deal and his co-partners continued to build traction for the brews at various functions and fairs.
Given the popularity of Wildcraft's 26 different brews across the year and being snapped up by trade, retail and private clients, the need to move to bigger premises to help cope with demand became a necessity. Wildcraft eventually relocated to a new 4,500sqft site on the Worstead Farms estate in Smallburgh, near Norwich. The move, in July 2022, was facilitated by a grant from the European Regional Development Fund.
Mr Deal said the new premises enables Wildcraft to produce about 2,000 litres of beer daily, around 2.5 times more than it could on the Buxton site. “The team can now scale up from 3,000 litres to 8,500 litres a week,” he said. “Two new 2,000litre fermenters will allow Wildcraft to increase its brew capacity, comfortably meet demand, offer more experimental brews and be more flexible.”
The company, which offers its brews in kegs, casks, bottles and cans, has naturally enjoyed impetus across the bars, restaurants and hospitality trade in Norfolk. It is also gaining national recognition with orders from across the UK.
Now employing five people, including three apprentices, the brewery was recently awarded the Micro/Small Employer of the
Year Award at the Norfolk Apprenticeship Awards. The judges recognised the importance of the apprentices, and their skills and knowledge will continue to help the business grow and build a customer base, locally and nationally.
Seeds of sustainability
Underpinning the business from the outset has been a wholehearted approach to sustainability and being as environmentally conscious in its day-to-day business operations as possible. One of the brewery’s unique points is to forage for its ingredients, be it stinging nettles, elderflower, raspberries, cherries, strawberries, blackcurrants, plums, blackberries and sloes.
The brewery has volunteers who either get involved by going on guided foraging walks or picking the ingredients it uses and taking them to the brewery to swap for beer. “It is another example of the community-minded actions of the brewery and of our supporters who go the extra mile,” explained Mr Deal.
“When Wildcraft Brewery first began, we had big dreams of being a sus tainable
business using renewable power , recycle all our water through reedbed systems and use ingredients that are as local as possible.”
Its five-year association with Worstead Farms has been vital, not only for Wildcraft’s relocation. The brewery's spent grains are recycled and used for feed for the farm's Wagyu cattle.
“The farm's owners share our ethos and sustainability goals,” Mr Deal said. “We utilise a field to grow barley specifically for the brewing process. It is just a step away from our door, so our barley-to-brew strategy is completed within a matter of metres, not miles.”
The brewery's spent hops are repurposed by another local farm for pig feed and Wildcraft also has a reedbed system for recycling its water.
Demonstrating its community spirit, the brewery produced Wild Rainbow, a golden pale ale, at 4.8% ABV, full of hops and citrus fruit flavours. Created in collaboration with Norwich Amateur Brewers, with the barley, hops and yeast donated by generous local suppliers, all profits from the beer were donated to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals Charity.
“I am excited to be getting closer to the dream of being sustainable, ethically responsible and achieving an even smaller carbon footprint,” Mr Deal concluded. “All while creating incredible vegan and gluten-free beers from locally sourced and foraged ingredients.
perception is more open to sustain able business. With the great support of our customers and backers, I hope Wildcraft has a long and fruitful future ahead.”
