Good beer doesn’t happen by accident.

ABOUT

James Bubb is a professional brewer with nearly 20 years of experience in brewing, from recipe development and production to brewery operations and team leadership. Originally from the UK and now based just north of Charlotte, NC, James has built his career around making great beer and understanding the systems, processes, and people that make a brewery work.

Good Beer Starts with Good Brewing

Good Beer Starts with Good Brewing

Professional Background

  • Education

    Institute of Brewing & Distilling
    Diploma in Brewing

  • Experience

    Nearly 20 years in professional brewing, including Head Brewer and brewery leadership roles since 2009.

    Experience spanning independent breweries in the UK and US, from growing operations to brewery startups and large-scale expansion.

  • Technical Expertise

    Brewing and cellaring, recipe development, process control, QA/QC, production planning, packaging, equipment specification and brewery operations.

  • Leadership

    Nearly two decades working within and leading brewery teams, with a focus on training, mentoring, communication and building strong processes and brewing culture.

    Those last two are very specifically supported by his CV. He talks about process control across the brewhouse, QA/QC, recipe development and technical development, as well as mentoring teams and developing a “right first time” culture.

Experience

  • 2007–2009
    Skinner’s Brewery
    Shift Brewer → Second Brewer
    Joined during a period of rapid growth, with the brewery expanding from 6,000 to 22,000 hL annually. Led stock management and training plans and helped obtain SALSA certification.

  • 2009–2018
    Prescott Brewery
    Head Brewer
    Led brewing and brewery operations across production, cellaring, quality, purchasing and logistics, growing the production team from one to seven.

  • 2018–2023
    DEYA Brewing Company
    Brewing Leadership
    Helped develop a process-driven approach to brewing and product consistency while leading and mentoring a growing brewing team through a major period of expansion.

  • 2023–2026
    Panzu Brewery
    Head Brewer
    Built brewing operations from the ground up on a new 7-bbl system and developed a diverse range of beers across 16 taps.

  • 2026–Present
    [New Brewery]
    Head Brewer

OUTSIDE THE BREWERY

When he’s not brewing, James is usually hiking, cooking, watching rugby, or exploring the outdoors with his family and their two dogs, Walter, a beloved Golden Retriever, and Ruben, a Yellow Labrador.

Originally from the UK, he now calls North Carolina home. He’s happiest outside with his family, preferably with a good beer somewhere nearby.

Follow the beer.

 
Select Projects

James occasionally takes on a small number of independent advisory projects for new and developing breweries. If you’re planning a brewery and would like practical guidance from an experienced brewer, get in touch to ask about availability and hourly rates.

GET IN TOUCH

Want to talk beer?

Get in touch.

email James