Peter Austin, regarded as a key figure in the resurgence of microbreweries in the UK, and founder of Hampshire’s Ringwood Brewery, has died at the age of 92.
Studying brewing in the 1940s at the Friary Brewery in Guildford, he was briefly at Morrell’s, in Oxford, before joining Hull Brewery, where he stayed for 30 years, rising from third brewer to head brewer.
He retired from there in 1975, but it wasn’t long before he was itching to get back in a brewhouse again and set up Ringwood in 1978.
He was as well known for his consultancy work in the industry as well as his brewing, helping to set up some 120 breweries worldwide.
For a good obituary, look no further than this excellent piece by Boak and Bailey, who corresponded with Peter last year, researching their book, Brew Britannia, to be published later this year.
