Over one year gone.

It has gone incredibly fast, but this spring marked the one year anniversary of moving to the Hornbeam park site. Since it's inception the Rooster's takeover has been nothing short of a roller coaster of change. From what began as two breweries trying to operate under the same roof using the same kit eventually merged into two brands, one brewery. 

Monkey Wrench lauter tun wort re-circulation. 

 You see at Rooster's there's been a party going down, a party hosted by growth, conquest and expansion. From the constant stream of new beers (and the revival of old ones) to new vessels, new staff, and new branding. The Rooster's-Daleside empire has been on the rampage. 

Hazy Faced Assassin expands the 'Assassin' range further in may 2025.

To say things have been busy is a bit of an understatement. Spring in particular was extremely busy, but then again spring is the busiest time of year in brewing. Something that is often overlooked is just how busy spring can be. The combination of bank holidays, outside events, beer festivals and national orders mixed with a bit of sun can make for a very chaotic time of year.

Whole hops being loaded into the hop back.

 That aside life in the modern independent brewing scene is a very different world to the one of traditional cask ale brewing I entered into straight out of university all those years ago. Over the last year I have learned a lot more about packaging beer in house post filtration. Different approaches to hopping schedules and how process control is managed on larger scale brewing operations. I also now know what a collaborative brew actually involves plus the different variations of it dependant on how much each participating party can be arsed.

The Great Exhibition of Prize Ales, Kirkstall Brewery.

Being closer to the independent brewing community as a whole has been another part of the parcel of moving to Rooster's. Collab's, festivals and visitors in general. I have met more people, and got more insights from across the brewing industry than ever before. It's kind of like when your in with the cool kids at school. Everyone want's to hang with the cool kids. Whereas on the old site we were more akin to the fat kid with glasses on. He's in the chess club, wears two stripe gear and has a Thomas the Tank Engine lunch box (even after everyone else has moved on to Power Rangers or Ninja Turtles). You know the type. 

Batavia (aka Operation Black Phoenix Thunder) showcased alongside Roosters Yorkshires Best 3.8%. Wild Wild Life 2025 and London Thunder at The Great Exhibition of Prize Ales, Kirkstall Brewery.

But the thing I have loved most about moving to Rooster's is being part a fully functioning team of passionate, committed professionals. This is a very different status quo to the 'being the team' or getting by with what resources are available scenarios of the past. Where finding the level of process control and work-life balance you wanted was rarely achievable. Putting that old world in the past has been a very positive step.