The brewer who isn’t old enough to drink his own beer: Boy, 10, becomes ‘youngest in Britain’ to create his own ale
- Pint-sized brewer Huw Newman has created his own IPA called Galaxy Druid ale
- The ten-year-old from Caerleon, Wales, picked hops and malt based on their smell
- Now his custom ale, made at his father’s brewery, will be in Newport
He won’t be old enough to sample his handiwork for another few years yet.
But that hasn’t stopped ten-year-old Huw Newman becoming surely the youngest brewer in Britain.
Picking hops and malt based on how they smell at the craft brewery run by his father Tom, the schoolboy has created Galaxy Druid ale.
Described as a cloudy and citrusy IPA, his brainchild is now going on sale at a local pub after staff were impressed by how it tastes.
‘Huw’s been around the brewery for years, and he’s always loved the smell and the process of how the ingredients are turned into beer,’ said his father Tom, who runs Lines Brew Co in Usk, Monmouthshire, Wales.
Cheers! Huw Newman, 10, proudly shows off one of his beers after becoming one of Britain’s youngest brewers
The youngster created his own craft ale at the brewery run by his father, Tom, calling his concoction Galaxy Druid ale. Huw is pictured working with the kit at his father’s brewery
‘So it was natural for him to want to create his own beer.’
As well as using his keen sense of smell to choose the ingredients, Huw was also closely involved in the brewing process, pouring in the grain and mixing the grist together.
He even came up with the name – inspired by a school project about space – and sent ideas for the logo to a graffiti artist in Bristol commissioned to work on the project.
‘It’s brilliant to see it finished,’ Huw said this week.
‘I’m really interested in science so I’ve enjoyed putting it all together.
‘I chose the hops because of their fruity smell, I don’t like the ones which smell really strong.
Pint-sized brewer Huw, pictured with his father Tom, used his sense of smell to help develop his IPA
Hop to it: Huw picked his own hops and malt based on how they smell at the craft brewery to create his custom brew
Described as a cloudy and citrusy IPA, Huw’s brainchild is now going to be on sale at a local pub after staff were impressed by how it tastes
‘If I don’t become a famous rugby player when I grow up I’d love to be a brewer, experimenting with different flavours.’
The finished product – which has a relatively low ABV of 4.3 per cent – is due to be officially released at The Little Tap House in nearby Newport with a ‘meet the brewer’ event featuring Huw.
His father, a brewing consultant who has his own orchard to supply his range of fruit beers, believes Huw is the youngest commercial brewer in Wales at least – and is scornful of anyone who suggests it’s an unsuitable environment for a ten-year-old.
‘He won’t be able to taste what he’s brewing, but he can do it all based on smell,’ the 47-year-old said.
‘We’re targeting discerning drinkers, it’s not about getting drunk.
‘He loves being involved and is a natural.
‘I believe all kids should follow their own paths, but the door’s open if he is interested, and he’s given it a go.’
The youngster is pictured preparing machinery at Lines Brew Co in Usk, Monmouthshire
Huw’s father Tom, left, said he was a natural at creating his own IPA – even if the schoolboy can’t taste any of his creations yet
The brewery is a family affair, with Huw’s 12-year-old sister Iola ready to make pizza once it opens to paying customers later in the spring.
‘She wants to be a chef when she is older,’ said Mr Newman, of Caerleon.
‘As long as the kids are happy, then I think it’s amazing, and I’ll be excited for whatever they want to do in life.’
It is illegal for under-18s to buy alcohol or to drink it in public, but 16 and 17-year-olds are permitted to drink beer, wine or cider with a meal at licensed premises – except in Northern Ireland.
Children above the age of five can theoretically be given alcohol at home without breaking the law.
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