Arkell’s brewer and quality control lead, Jack Bridgman, has graduated with distinction after completing his Level 4 Brewer apprenticeship.
Jack with his original beer, Jack’s Juicy IPA
Jack joined Arkell’s in 2012 as a cellarman, following in the footsteps of his father, Graham Bridgman, who has worked for Arkell’s for 43 years.
Having grown up around the brewery, Jack remembers visiting as a young lad at weekends with his dad and helping to wash barrels. It was a place he had always wanted to work, and he has since progressed from cellarman to brewing operative and then brewer and quality control lead. Achieving a distinction marks a significant milestone in Jack’s brewing career.
The apprenticeship covers every stage of the brewing process, from raw materials and brewhouse operations to fermentation, technical calculations, and recipe design. Combining formal study with hands-on experience at Arkell’s, the course gave him a deeper understanding of the science behind brewing and the importance of every stage in producing quality beer.
Jack with his father, Graham, who has worked for Arkell’s for 43 years
One of the key elements of the qualification was designing a beer from scratch, requiring Jack to apply his understanding of brewing science to create a recipe in which every detail was carefully calculated, from sugar extraction from the malt to colour and hop bitterness.
The result was Jack’s Juicy IPA, a 4.5% ABV beer brewed by Arkell’s as one of its 2025 seasonal ales. The beer marked an important step in Jack’s development, demonstrating how the knowledge gained through his qualification could be translated into a finished product.
“My favourite part was meeting all the other brewers on the course, but learning every process in depth has also given me a much deeper understanding of how important every step of the brewing process is,” said Jack.
“Achieving a distinction was a feeling of pride and relief. It wasn’t an easy course, but hard work pays off.”
Head brewer Alex Arkell travelled to Nottingham to join Jack for his graduation (above). He said: “Jack has always been hard-working and committed, and we are delighted to see him achieve this distinction. He is an essential member of the team and thoroughly deserves this recognition.
“His career at Arkell’s is a great example of how practical experience and formal training can work together to develop the skills and knowledge needed to progress in brewing. We are incredibly proud of what he has achieved.
“Jack’s career is set to take another step forward in March, when he will take up the position of brewery foreman following Bob Mercer’s retirement. He has already accepted the role, and we hope he will enjoy the same long and successful career at Arkell’s as his dad.”
