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Is CAMRA Out of Touch with Modern Beer?
CAMRA saved British beer, but is it keeping up with modern brewing culture in twenty twenty six? A look at the debate, the reactions, and what’s coming in my upcoming video.

The Hopper
Jan 192 min read


Love Lane Brewery, Home Bargains Beer & The Truth Behind the Headlines
The full Behind The Brewer deep dive into Love Lane Brewery, Home Bargains beer, and Higsons. From collapse to comeback, plus a Part Two answering real viewer questions straight from the brewery.

The Hopper
Dec 14, 20252 min read


The British Brewing Crisis: Inside Keystone’s Situation and What It Means for Our Beer Industry
Over the last few weeks, the British beer world has taken a hit that many drinkers never saw coming. Keystone Brewing Group, the company that owns or manages Black Sheep Brewery, Purity Brewing Company, Magic Rock, North Brewing Co, Fourpure, Brick Brewery, Brew By Numbers, Big Drop, Hofmeister, Maison SASSY and Wolf Pack, has filed a Notice of Intention to appoint administrators. In my latest Behind The Brewer investigation, I break down exactly what is going on.

The Hopper
Dec 9, 20252 min read


🍺 The Hopper’s Little Book of Naughty Beer Wisdom - It’s Finally Here!
My first ever book, The Hopper’s Little Book of Naughty Beer Wisdom, is now available on Amazon. Yes, an actual book. With pages and everything. Even I’m shocked.
Whether you love craft beer, enjoy a good laugh, or just like watching a grown man rant about hops, this book packs all the sarcasm, beer knowledge and nonsense you’ve come to expect from the idiot that is The Hopper of The Hopper Reviews.
you can buy it here for free, pending a non-refundable deposit of £6.99.

The Hopper
Dec 4, 20253 min read


Behind The Brewer: What’s Coming Next For The Series
Behind The Brewer has exploded after the Love Lane Brewery episode and loads of you have asked if there would be more. This post reveals every brewery confirmed for future episodes, what’s filming right now, and why 2026 is shaping up to be massive for the series.

The Hopper
Dec 3, 20253 min read


Go Sober In Style This Dry January: My Sentia Spirits Review
It’s called Sentia Spirits, and no, it’s not another sad alcohol-free gin trying to convince you that juniper alone is enough to replace a good drink. Sentia is something very different. This is a functional alcohol-free spirit designed by actual neuroscientists. Not “influencer neuroscientists”. Real ones. White coats, labs, the works.

The Hopper
Nov 28, 20253 min read


My Take On The UK Budget Beer Duty And What It Means For Breweries
Right, the Budget’s landed, and I’ve been chewing it over with a pint and a raised eyebrow. I’m no economist, I’m just a bloke who drinks far too much craft beer and talks about it on the internet, but I know enough to see when small brewers are about to get kicked in the hops again.

The Hopper
Nov 27, 20253 min read


Behind The Brewer: Four Priests Brewery - A Proper Collaboration Begins
Every so often, a brewery comes along that reminds you exactly why craft beer matters. Not hype. Not marketing waffle. Not wild accusations about AI recipe robots or some bloke in a shed typing “IPA” into ChatGPT. Just real people, real graft, proper brewing, and a community that stands behind it. Four Priests Brewery in Middlewich Cheshire, as featured on Channel 5 recently, are a proper British brewery with a back to basics brewing attitude.

The Hopper
Nov 26, 20254 min read


Craft Flavour, Zero Hangover, And My Top Picks From the Channel
I used to be firmly in the “if it isn’t alcoholic, it isn’t beer” camp, until I had to seriously cut down my alcohol intake. That shift led to the creation of Alcohol Free Friday on my YouTube channel, and it opened the door to some genuinely impressive non alcoholic beers.

The Hopper
Nov 24, 20253 min read


Dog’s Window Brewery: The Little Welsh Brewery with a Big Bite
If you’ve ever had a pint that made you grin like a daft Labrador, there’s a fair chance it came from Dog’s Window Brewery. Based in Bridgend, South Wales, this small independent brewery has been quietly knocking out some of the most characterful, creative, and downright delicious beers in the country — and if you haven’t tried them yet, it’s time to fix that.

The Hopper
Oct 9, 20254 min read


Oktoberfest: Why the UK Goes Mad for Germany’s Biggest Beer Party
Oktoberfest: Why the UK Goes Mad for Germany’s Biggest Beer Party

The Hopper
Sep 19, 20252 min read


Is 0.5% ABV Alcohol-Free? UK Rules, Myths & The Best Beers to Try
What does Alcohol Free mean, and what are the Top 15 AF Beers in the UK?

The Hopper
Aug 13, 20255 min read


Can Alcohol Free Beer Actually Be Good?
No preaching. No pretending.Just honest, entertaining reviews from someone who normally drinks 8% DIPAs for breakfast and finishes the night on 15% barrel-aged imperial stouts for dessert. I’ll be trying Alcohol Free beers from across the UK to see if any of them can actually impress. And I won’t hold back.

The Hopper
May 27, 20252 min read


What’s New at The Hopper Reviews? A Whole Lot, You Beautiful Bastards.
🚨 BIG UPDATE! 🚨
Beer. Merch. Podcasts. Polls. And... a book?!
Loads happening at The Hopper Reviews right now — catch up on what’s new, what’s brewing, and how you can get involved.
🍺 Come see what I’ve been cooking up:
👉 barrybeerreviewer.co.uk

The Hopper
May 26, 20254 min read


Hooch Goes Draft: A 90's Classic Hits UK Pubs on Tap
Hooch, the iconic 90s alcopop, is making a big splash in UK pubs with the launch of its new draught format!

The Hopper
Mar 14, 20252 min read


Pub Pints costing as much as a canned Craft Beer!
The Price of a Pint Hits £5 – And It’s Only Going Up!
Well, folks, it’s official – the average pint in the UK now costs over £5.

The Hopper
Feb 14, 20252 min read


A Guide to the Many Faces of Craft Beer IPAs
Craft beer is a playground for brewers and hop lovers alike, with India Pale Ales (IPAs) leading the charge as the rock stars of the scene.

The Hopper
Feb 5, 20254 min read


Bitter vs Sweet Hops: The Great Craft Beer Showdown
When it comes to craft beer, the debate between bitter and sweet flavours is as old as brewing itself.

The Hopper
Feb 4, 20253 min read


Spot the difference: Yeast, Malt & Hops.
Have you ever wondered, 'what's the difference between yeast, malt and hops, and what does each one do?' If so, great question!

The Hopper
Jan 31, 20252 min read


Hard or Soft Pour (the science!)
This is a really interesting question and highlights a key aspect of beer drinking that many people might not consciously consider!...

The Hopper
Jan 29, 20253 min read


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