Review of 2018

2018 marked four years since we first started brewing in Merz Court and what a year it has been. Stu Brew gave over 40 different people the opportunity to experience a brew day, brewing 33 full scale brews and 13 different prototypes. Highlights include trebling capacity and going into cans. 22,000 pints later, here’s a recap of what we’ve been busy with the year:

January:

  • Our first brew of the year was during exam season, students were hard at work  but that didn’t stop Paulius and four sabbatical officers knocking up a prototype.
  • To celebrate end of exams we ran a pop up bar in the SU.

February:

  • One of our first February brews was an adaptation on VMS, creating 9:00AM Lecture, to celebrate the Town Mouse’s first birthday.

March:

  • First brewery bash of the year with the food delights of Sghetti Monster.
  • First pub quiz of the year at Errant Brewery.
  • Celebrated St Patrick’s Day with green Lab Session.

April:

  • Chris headed over to Flash House and brewed the ‘About Time’ collaboration.
  • Additionally, collabed with Errant to make ‘Combustible Lemons’.
  • Second pub quiz of the year held in Luther’s after our AGM.
  • AGM and new committee elected.

May:

  • First brewery bash held by the new team. Sylvia provided some gorgeous Gyros to accompany the beer.
  • The team won the Community Impact Sustainability award from NUSU.
  • Emily and Jack gave a Pint of Science talk about ‘Yeast in Brewing’.
  • We packed up the 400l kit and TRIPLED in size!!
  • Ran a pop-up bar outside the Student’s Union.

June:

  • Won ‘The Siemens Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainability and the Environment’ at the ‘Pride of Newcastle University Awards’.
  • We got a swanky new electric delivery van.
  • Another brewery bash saw the big revealed of the new kit.

July:

  • Ran a Graduation 2018 bar and launched our newest Saison in the Graduation Saison series.

August:

  • Shot some footage with Thumb Design for our nomination for the 2018 Green Gown awards.

September:

  • Finally put beer on Eebria Trade.
  • Teamed up with Tyn CAMRA and made a cider.
  • Fresher’s Week stall and bar.
  • Pizza and Pint night at Newcastle Tap.

October:

  • First brewery bash of the academic year.
  • Launch of Core Curriculum at the Town Mouse, followed by a bar crawl showing the new students the Newcastle scene.
  • Our first batch of cans arrived!

November:

  • Green Gown Awards – finalist in enterprise category.
  • Final brewery bash of the year.
  • Second batch of cans arrived.
  • Collaboration with Rob from Two by Two.

December:

  • Last pub quiz of the year, at Errant Brewery.
  • Return of our third batch of cans.
  • Our final brew of the year is something not destined to be a beer. Keep an eye out in 2019 for more details!

We’ve had a blast this year and hope you’ve enjoyed it too. All the best to our customers, pubs, brewing friends and members this New Year.

Cheers,

The Stu Brew Team x