July 29, 2026 | Jasmine Basi

Behind the Brew: Felix James

Welcome to Behind The Brew, where we shine a light on the incredible people who make Small Beer what it is. Every team member plays a unique role, each a vital cog in the Small Beer machine, working differently but coming together to craft something truly special.

Always wearing a smile, armed with an answer for just about everything and never far from his next project, Felix is the brains behind SMALL BEER. A sustainability champion and engineering mastermind, he quite literally designed the brewery from the ground up. Affectionately known around the team as "Fix It Felix", he's always ready with a story, a helping hand or a surprising fact (usually in a language none of us knew he spoke).

Without Felix, there simply wouldn't be a SMALL BEER.

Which beer did you brew first, and is it still being brewed at SMALL BEER now?

I've been brewing for over twenty years now. The very first pilot batch of SMALL BEER we ever made was a parti-gyled Lager and Dark Lager, meaning we brewed both beers from the same mash. It was an exciting moment and we were such fans of the beers that eighteen months and umpteen brews later, they were the two beers we launched with. We phased out the Dark Lager a few years ago to the dismay of a very vocal base of loyal drinkers. Our Lager has continued to be our best selling beer and the one I find myself going back to again and again - it's just so delicious!

The Taproom/Brewery space has hosted many events, which has been your favourite and why?

We hosted a Sofar Sounds gig back in 2019 headlined by @lisacanny, one of the most entertaining and talented musicians I've come across. Lisa uses her harp to orchestrate the most incredibly immersive experiences and has achieved mega fame in recent years as the leader of @biiirdofficial. It's been a blessing to see so many talented musicians play at the brewery over the years and the beauty of SMALL BEER is that you can have a fantastic time on a Wednesday night and wake up bright and early the next day still singing along to the last act.

If you could share a SMALL BEER with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

I'd love to share a SMALL BEER with the anonymous writer of The London and Country Brewer, most probably a chap by the name of William Ellis, who in 1753 remarked that "there can be no way better for making good small beer... which is made entirely from fresh malt, before any other that is brewed after strong beer or ale." In effect, Ellis had discovered that small beer brewed on its own (as we brew our SMALL BEER today) tastes a great deal better than that brewed as a byproduct of a bigger beer. I'm sure he'd be pleased to find that we have picked up his legacy (following a short hiatus) some two and a half centuries later.

What is your BIG DREAM?

This may sound a little cliché but I count myself incredibly lucky that I get to live out my dream every day. Between spending time with loved ones and sharing the joys of SMALL BEER with the world, I occasionally find the time to sit back and see the bigger picture with a beer in hand.