MAD DOG BREWERY: WELSH BEER ON BRIGHTON SHORES
From Loud Shirt Brewing Co. to Brighton Bier and Unbarred Brewery to Laine, Brighton is already jam-packed with wonderful breweries. So, why not add another to an already incredible roster?
Say hello to Mad Dog Brewery Co. Heading to Brighton’s shores all the way from Wales, this Cardiff-based microbrewery is moving into Duke Street armed and ready to elevate Brighton’s beer scene even higher.
A couple of weeks back, we were lucky enough to be invited to the launch night of the brewery, where we did what we do best: grabbed a few pints, whipped out the microphone and chatted with some lovely people.
But before we get into all that, let’s take a little look at the history behind the brewery and what you can expect from a visit to this taproom.
Mad Dog Brewery: A Quick History Lesson
Run by a lovely man called Tim Waters and his team of loyal comrades, Mad Dog is a passion project that’s more passion than project.
In other words, you can really tell that he and his team have put a lot of thought and love into this place.
But what kickstarted Tim’s desire to create a brewery in the first place?
Well, after becoming bored of his 9 – 5 job (eat your heart out Dolly Parton), Tim embraced the madness of the first COVID-19 lockdown by putting a bid on a brewery in Abergavenny. And you’ll never guess what? He only went and won it – and with that win, the legacy of Mad Dog was born.
Fast forwarding a few years, Mad Dog has quickly expanded and now has taprooms in both Cardiff and Brighton. So just Edinburgh and Belfast left to complete the UK.
Although saying that, Mad Dog are all about quality over quantity. In fact, to maintain the high standards of its OG Cardiff taproom, Tim has even decided to import water all the way from his local Welsh valleys to brew his beer in Brighton. Now that’s commitment.
This also means that beer-wise, you’re in for an absolute treat. With a wide range of IPAs, stouts, pale ales and lagers to choose between, all made from delicious Welsh water, you’ll be left spoilt for choice.
Our personal favourites were either the Apollo Sunrise – a delicious hazy IPA – or the Marmalade Pale Ale. But they were all delicious.
The taproom even has its very own beer cocktail menu, featuring hilarious punny drinks like ‘lageritas’.
There are also plans for the brewery to hold events like pub quizzes, bingo nights and live stand-up in the future. So give their Instagram page a follow to keep up with any updates.
Let’s meet the locals (aka the Mad Dogs)
We couldn’t go to a brewery launch night without taking advantage of a) the free beer and b) the loosened-up punter’s opinions.
So after gathering up our thoughts, courage and equipment, we whipped out our trusty microphone to ask the all-important questions.
Here are some of the lovely people we bumped into while we were there. In this context, they shall forever be known as the Mad Dogs.
First up… Emily (from brighton_foodstagram)
Take a look at Emily’s Instagram account to discover more of the best places to eat and drink in Brighton.
Second… Gemma (the whole reason we were invited in the first place)
And last but not least… Chris (from BN1 Magazine)
You can hear Chris’s take on the event in his article for BN1 Magazine.
Sooooo… Mad Dog Brewery: Our verdict
When we were first invited to the launch night, we didn’t know what to expect. But boy, what a great addition to Brighton this place is.
Fantastic craft beer? Check. Friendly staff? Check. Nice decor? Check. Nationality of Luka Modric? Czech. (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself).
In three words: we loved it. (But we are also both half-Welsh so are slightly biased…)
Go check it out for yourselves and let us know what you think via our bespoke Brighton pub rankings system. Let’s gooooo!
