How Simon turned his successful home brews into a Grumpy Fish

NOTTINGHAM is not short of fantastic breweries, and one new and emerging brewery is making waves, The Grumpy Fish Brew Co. I spoke to Simon Wisher, owner and brewer about him starting his own brewery.

Simon has been home-brewing for a number of years, using malt kits in the kitchen. But in 2020 he heard of local brewing community space and brewing club in Daybrook, Nottingham called ‘Place to brew’, contacted them and was lucky enough to get in touch with James, of Magpie Brewery.

And after some sage advice he “started to feel really comfortable doing this, maybe it’s something I could take to the next level”.

Through Place to Brew, Simon was told of the yearly home brewing competition ‘hop idol’.

Among many prizes for the winners, a chance to brew with a local brewery was one of them. Simon entered, and he came second, thus winning a brew day with Blue Monkey Brewery.

He describes that this day as “making me want to start my own brewery even more”.

The Grumpy Fish Brew Co Ltd was born. Simon said: “The name comes from me being grumpy (most of the time). If you know me then you know why I’m called this.

“The Fish bit comes from the wife calling me Fish Face due to my terrible memory, again if you know me you know this is also very true.”

Pale ales are a favourite style at The Grumpy Fish Brew Co, with the flagship beer, 4B’s, a 4.2% pale full of citrus notes and grapefruit.

Named in honour of Simon’s wife, 4B’s has been available at the Lincolnshire Poacher.

The next planned beer is called JT’S, after Simon’s daughter, a west coast pale ale that’ll be available in cask.

2024 is looking like an exciting year for this brewery, with another collaboration brew planned with Magpie Brewery, an upgrade on some of their brewing kit, and the hope that Grumpy Fish Brew Co will be available at local beer festivals.

Simon added: “It’s taken off far better than I could ever have imagined.

“There are many people to thank for where I am so far - way too many to mention. But they know who they are and i thank them all from the bottom of my heart.”

I wish the best of luck for the future for The Grumpy Fish Brew Co, and we hope to see them on a local bar or a festival soon!