'It's a labour of love', says young brewer

A 21-year-old man has become the first to pass a brewing apprenticeship in Grimsby since the 1960's, a brewery said.

Elliot Reynolds started working behind the bar at Docks Beers in 2023.

For two years, he balanced studying at Nottingham University and working at the brewery which is in a converted church in King Edward Street.

Managing director Paul Savage said: "To be the first apprentice brewer from Grimsby to have passed since the 1960s is an incredible achievement and one he should be very proud of."

Docks Beers, which opened in 2018, is the first brewery in Grimsby for several decades, which means Mr Reynolds is in the unique position of being the first homegrown apprentice brewer to have qualified since the 1960's, the company said.

Mr Reynolds said juggling working full time with managing his coursework was "nothing but a labour of love".

"I am over the moon to have come to the end of my studies and to be the first of a new generation of brewers in Lincolnshire," he said.

"I can't wait to continue onto further studies such as master brewer. The team at Docks have been amazing supporting me throughout the course, especially head brewer Lewis Birch."

Mr Savage said: "We are all so proud of Elliot. He is a credit, not just to Docks Beers, but himself and his family.

"His enthusiasm for learning and improving his skills has been infectious."

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