Ian Burgess

Ian Burgess

Head Brewer

Ian is our award winning master brewer who is responsible for all the great WJ King Ales.

Ian’s career started in the lab of the world famous Truman Brewer in London’s Brick Lane. Seeing that the real fun was in making the beer and not analysing it, Ian transferred to the Brewhouse where he learnt his trade brewing classic beers such as Sampson Hanbury’s Strong Ale (7.6%), Ben Truman’s Export Draught and Watneys Special Bitter.

He decided to move to Sussex to raise his family and was soon recruited into Harvey’s of Lewes as number 2 brewer where for the next 19 years he ran the day to day activities of this world renowned 250 bbl brew house.

During this time they collected a cabinet full of international awards, expanded the brewery by 125% and added a new fully automated bottling line.

Ian was a key member of the team that worked around the clock for nine days to restart the brewery after it severely damaged when the town of Lewes was flooded in 1987.

For many years, Ian wished to have his own brewhouse and was delighted when the opportunity to purchase WJ King came along.

In his first few months as Head Brewer, he has expanded production by 40%, launched three new beers to great acclaim and developed a further three which will be launched this year.

His first creation Brighton Best was launched in October 2010 and quickly became one of our best selling beers.

This was followed by Brighton Blonde a hoppy golden ale.

Ian has also been fine-tuning some of the much-loved WJKing recipes, such as the ever-popular Kings Old Ale which won the Silver Medal at the National Winter Ales Festival in 2011

He lives with his family in Isfield, East Sussex.