Adnams head brewer retires
The head brewer of Adnams has retired after nearly two decades of service.
Last year Mike Powell-Evans, who started at Adnams in 1990, was awarded "Brewer of the Year" by the British Guild of Beer Writers.
During his time as head brewer, Adnams has won a number of regional, national and international awards for its beers and Powell-Evans' hard work has contributed to Adnams becoming one of the fastest growing beer brands in the UK. Other Adnams' accolades during his time with the company include Adnams' Bitter being awarded Campaign for Real Ale's (CAMRA's) 'Champion Beer of East Anglia' in 2007, and Broadside being voted the 'Best Strong Bitter' at The Great British Beer Festival in 2003.
Famous for enjoying "brewer's playtime" Mike has never been afraid to innovate with new varieties of hops and grains, producing beers such as Explorer, Innovation and Spindrift that have now become favourites in the Adnams range.
Powell-Evans began his career in 1972 at Bass, in Burton, where he worked in most areas of the brewery. He gained his diploma from the Institute of Brewing in 1975 and was quickly promoted to head brewer at Bass.
In line with Adnams' commitment to the environment, Powell-Evans most recently involved in the creation of East Green, the UK's first carbon-neutral beer, which is brewed out of aphid resistant hops and local high-yielding barley. He has been instrumental in the modernisation of the production stream, firstly with the installation of new fermentation vessels and more recently the complete eco-efficient refit of the brewery.
Jonathan Adnams, chairman of Adnams said: "Mike has been a great credit to the company and his expertise and commitment to traceability, excellence and integrity, has maintained Adnams status as a high-quality brewer throughout the last 18 years.
"There are few as passionate about English beer as Mike, who certainly deserves his reputation as a celebrated brewer of great tasting beers."
Mike Powell-Evans said: "Being a brewer has to be the best career possible and working for Adnams has to be the plum job.
"I have really enjoyed the freedom to maintain the heritage of classic Adnams beers whilst progressing with new products and raw materials - especially new hop varieties! Overseeing the installation of the new brewhouse has been a terrific experience, but now is the right time to hang up my saccharometer and turn my efforts to the garden."
As a retirement gift the Adnams Engineers made Mike a sundial crafted from the Number One plate from the Victorian Mash Tun.
