EP-154 John Keeling of Fuller Smith & Turner
b'Fuller Smith & Turner\\u2014or Fuller\\u2019s as it\\u2019s more commonly known\\u2014is the oldest surviving brewery in London, as well as being one of its largest. Fuller\\u2019s has been brewing at The Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, West London, for more than 160 years. The face of the British brewing industry has undergone tremendous change many times over during the course of its existence. Now, in 2018, the brewery faces fresh challenges.\\xa0For instance, finding relevance in a market that constantly craves the rare and the new, while still championing traditional styles in an age of Hazy IPAs and Pastry Stouts. Surprisingly, this hasn\\u2019t phased Fuller\\u2019s one bit. Along with some of the UK\\u2019s other historical breweries, such as Adnams in Suffolk and Harvey\\u2019s in Sussex, Fuller\\u2019s is ensuring that styles such as Porter and ESB remain as relevant to the beer market as ever. Behind it all is the ebullient Brewing Director, John Keeling, who has been employed by Fuller\\u2019s for 37 years. Keeling has worked in the brewing industry since the 1970s, initially for the now-defunct Watney\\u2019s, then studying brewing science at Heriot Watt University before finally settling at Fuller\\u2019s. He became Head Brewer in 1999, a role he passed on to Fuller\\u2019s current Head Brewer Georgina Young in January 2017. Over this time he\\u2019s witnessed Fuller\\u2019s shift from being a completely manually operated brewery, to one that is almost entirely automated and state of the art. Keeling has been instrumental in ensuring that Fuller\\u2019s legacy be preserved. Be it by reviving historical recipes from the archives, by collaborating with the UK\\u2019s latest crop of brewers such as Fourpure and Cloudwater, or by constantly championing the simple pleasures found within a pint of Fuller\\u2019s flagship beer, London Pride. In October 2018 Keeling will retire, leaving an illustrious brewing career behind him. The industry won\\u2019t be getting rid of him that easily, however, as he\\u2019s just been voted chairman of The London Brewers Alliance, a guild that supports the collective interests of London\\u2019s independent breweries. \\xa0 Over the next hour we discuss\\u2014or perhaps I should say John discusses\\u2014subjects ranging from the history of Fuller\\u2019s, to the importance of cask ale, to the price of beer,\\xa0all the way up to his favorite subject: the philosophy of brewing.'