Breweries come and breweries go, usually passing on their equipment to the next newcomer down the line. So most small operators start with hand-us-downs, re-used equipment. Occasionally, however, you come across a bunch of people who have done the whole thing themselves, literally from the ground up. From laying the foundations for the building to designing the tanks, creating new, bespoke kit and even writing the brewery control software.

Urban Alchemy brewery in Barnet has been several years in the making, from back room brewing, to back garden brewing and now to a fully licensed and approved operation. Their beers in development have been terrific, confidently walking the line between the Craft Beer “Hop Soups” and traditional malty ales.

I went to see them a few days after the final bit of paperwork came through.