In this episode of The Beer Rep Chats With, Martin sits down with Matt Gorecki from Zapato Brewing to explore the realities of building an independent brewery in today’s UK beer landscape.

Matt shares the story behind Zapato Brewing — from early days working in hospitality and beer festivals to launching a nomadic brewery, navigating the pandemic, and building a thriving taproom inside a converted Victorian mill in Marsden.

The conversation dives into the challenges facing independent brewers today, including market saturation, the dominance of big brands on tap lines, the evolution of craft beer trends, and why balance and complexity matter more than hype.

They also discuss collaboration culture, the rise and fall of double IPAs, British vs international hops, and Zapato’s plans to finally install their own brewing kit and expand production.

If you’re interested in independent beer, brewing philosophy, or the future of the UK craft beer scene — this episode offers an honest and insightful perspective from someone deeply embedded in the industry.


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Zapato Website: https://zapatobrewing.com/

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