Beer vs Wine Similarities and Differences with Jamie Percival

This show was published Friday, March 7, 2025

Overview

In this second interview with Jamie Percival we're exploring the similarities between beer and wine, and the differences in terms of the beverage itself and the industries.

In the beer industry you have macro and micro, i.e. large and small producers. based on the quantity you are brewing. Macro are the large players such as Diageo (Guinness), Asahi, Carlsberg with a global reach.

Micro producers can be anything from a single person brewing and selling their beer locally to more regional brewers. The craft beer movement began in the US about 30 years ago, with small brewers selling to their local area. In the UK, there were 600 craft brewers in 2003, there are now 3000 in 2025.

Many breweries own a pub estate to sell their beers from, such as Fullers in London, a model that suits beer with its relatively short shelf life and the need to store at cool temperatures (unlike wine).

Ingredients such as hops and malts can be shipped around the world and then brewed locally or domestically. Macro producers will brew in different locations where the market it, rather than ship the beer itself. Brewers can add sulphates and carbonates to their water to create particular beer styles anywhere in the world.

Hops can be likened to grape varieties, in terms of the conditions that are needed to grow (for wine, think terroir) such as soils, location, aspect, sunlight, rainfall, temperature and in that there are many varieties with different flavour profiles. They are the main flavouring component for beers as grapes are to wines. The climate needed is slightly different to wine, hop plants grow in the same places as grapes, but at between 35 and 55 degrees latitude north and south of the equator, so a slightly cooler climate than is needed for ripening grapes (30 to 50 degrees).

For more information on ThirtyFifty's WSET Beer Courses visit our website

Subscribe

Using XML subscription or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you normally listen to podcasts.

Sponsorship

The UK Wine Show is sponsored by ThirtyFifty. Our team of wine tasters are busy entertaining and educating UK consumers to help them get the most out of wine.

Support us on Patreon

If you are a regular listener, do consider supporting the UK Wine Show on Patreon. You can pledge a monthly payment, equivalent to a cup of coffee or very small glass of wine!

Become a Patron!

Music

The music used for the UK Wine Show is Griffes de Jingle 1 by Marcel de la Jartèle and Silence by Etoile Noire.