Muddy Stilettos


<p>Breaking into beer brewing biz in 2012 with <a href="https://shop.wildcardbrewery.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wild Card Brewery</a>, Jaega Wise has consistently proven there is a space for women in the male-dominated industry, not least by sweeping up a shelf-load of awards, including the sought-after title of “Brewer of the Year” in 2022 (basically the Oscars of tipples). Taking a breather from jetting across Europe with singer James Blunt for their beer judging series <em>Beer Masters</em>, and BBC Radio 4’s <em>The Food Programme</em>, Muddy caught up for a pint with Jaega (only figuratively, of course… I’m on the clock).</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jaega-Wise-4.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-79088" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jaega-Wise-4.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jaega-Wise-4-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jaega-Wise-4-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Image by Miles Willis&nbsp;</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-did-you-work-up-the-courage-to-start-a-brewery">How did you work up the courage to start a brewery? </h3>



<p>There was never a doubt in my mind that I could start my own brewery. My friends (William Harris and Andrew Birkby) and I had the idea, and we were looking at who would do the production; since I&#8217;m a trained chemical engineer, it was only natural I would be the brewer. I’ve judged all sorts of competitions around the country and made the conscious decision to be as educated as I could on the tasting side, so it wasn&#8217;t daunting at all. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jaega-Wise-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-79086" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jaega-Wise-2.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jaega-Wise-2-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jaega-Wise-2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-since-you-started-have-you-seen-more-women-flocking-into-the-beer-biz">Since you started, have you seen more women flocking into the beer biz?  </h3>



<p>Absolutely! There are so many more women coming into the industry and it&#8217;s quite a joy. Every year I host our International Women&#8217;s Brew Day, and the amount of people you meet is just astronomical, it&#8217;s very inspiring. In London, we have the <em>Crafty Beer Girls</em>, there&#8217;s the <em>Brum Beer Babs</em> in Manchester now, and <em>Ladies That Beer</em> in Liverpool. All kinds of groups have formed all around the country, where women can have a pint once or twice a month with other women that are beer fans. Plus, you get to have a bit of a chat and a moan with like-minded people.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-career-highlight">Career highlight? </h3>



<p>I released my book <em>Wild Brews</em> last year, and I&#8217;ve been so amazed by the awards it&#8217;s won. It was so cool receiving the &#8216;Best Debut Drinks Book Award&#8217; from Fortnum &amp; Mason in front of my peers &#8211; I’m talking food celeb after food celeb. I was given the award by award-winning TV Chef and broadcaster Andi Oliver and Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett, which was just out of this world. Oh, and how could I forget? Hollywood foodie Stanley Tucci was there, but I was too starstruck to talk to him. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jaega-Wise-6.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-79090" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jaega-Wise-6.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jaega-Wise-6-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jaega-Wise-6-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption><em>Beer Masters</em>, Amazon Prime </figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-have-you-served-any-celebs">Have you served any celebs?  </h3>



<p>Stormzy came into my pub once, and I thought, “What&#8217;s the least creepy way I can talk to him without him thinking I’m a weirdo?” So, I decided to waitress for the day – not something i had done for a while. But I laced up my waitress shoes, and I was like, “Stormzy, what can I get you to drink?” I can vouch that he&#8217;s super lovely. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-work-next-to-a-big-music-star-too-what-is-it-like-presenting-with-james-blunt">You work next to a big music star too, what is it like presenting with James Blunt?</h3>



<p>Oh, he&#8217;s an absolute sweetheart. He’s as lovely as he comes across on the show, and he’s just as quick IRL as he is on social media. But there are a million untold jokes that you will never see or hear on the show because he&#8217;ll say them under his breath. Hahaha. It’s been such a great experience working with him. He has a pub as well, <a href="https://www.thefoxandpheasant.com/press" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Fox and Pheasant</a> in Chelsea, so we’re always having a good chinwag about that.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Wild-Card-Brewery-.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-79094" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Wild-Card-Brewery-.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Wild-Card-Brewery--600x600.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Wild-Card-Brewery--1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Wild-Card-Brewery--300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Wild-Card-Brewery--525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Wild-Card-Brewery--500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Wild-Card-Brewery--1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-could-have-a-pint-with-anyone-in-the-world-who-would-it-be">If you could have a pint with anyone in the world, who would it be? </h3>



<p>Hmm… Meghan Markle, I think she’ll have some cool stories to tell.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-would-you-take-her">Where would you take her?</h3>



<p>I’d take her to my pub, <a href="https://www.tavernonthehill.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Tavern on the Hill</a> in Walthamstow. On Friday nights we have a piano player come in and everyone sings along karaoke style.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-song-would-play-for-her">What song would play for her?</h3>



<p>Definitely the Spice Girls, no question.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jaega-Wise-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-79085" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jaega-Wise-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jaega-Wise-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jaega-Wise-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-let-s-get-controversial-what-country-has-the-best-beer">Let’s get controversial, what country has the best beer? </h3>



<p>Ooh, there are a few, but Munich is hard to beat. You’d be hard pressed to find a bad pint there. Brussels is another good one. I remember travelling there during Covid. I had an afternoon to kill, so sat in a restaurant and had a plate of muscles and chips with Gerz, which is a really gorgeous wild beer, and it was like being in heaven. Brussels is definitely a must for a great pint. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-your-second-drink-of-choice">What’s your second drink of choice? </h3>



<p>I’m a big wine lover, so if all the beer in the world disappeared tomorrow, I&#8217;d be fine. I’ve had some gorgeous wines in Nîmes, Southern France. I&#8217;ve no clue what it was called, and I’ll probably never drink it again, but it was world class and would win any drinks competition. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1938" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Wild-Brews-Jaega-Wise-book-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-79092" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Wild-Brews-Jaega-Wise-book-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Wild-Brews-Jaega-Wise-book-1-464x600.jpg 464w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Wild-Brews-Jaega-Wise-book-1-774x1000.jpg 774w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Wild-Brews-Jaega-Wise-book-1-1189x1536.jpg 1189w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Wild-Brews-Jaega-Wise-book-1-406x525.jpg 406w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption><a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/wild-brews/jaega-wise/9780857837813" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Wild Brews</em>, Waterstones, £22</a></figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Would you ever transition into the wine game? </h3>



<p>Oh 100%, it’s my life goal to become a cider and wine sommelier. Before I die, I want to catch ‘em all, like Pokémon. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tell us your top tip for finding a good pint? </h3>



<p>Drink as locally as possible, beer doesn’t travel amazingly well so you’re better off going to a local pub that sources from a brewery just a mile down the road. Trust your instincts, if something doesn&#8217;t taste right or smells a bit funny, send it back and get something else. It’s not about drinking in a sophisticated or cool way it’s about drinking what <em>you</em> like. </p>


Drinks on me: Jaega Wise, Wild Card Brewery

You may also like