What does integrity look like in a competitive world?

It all started back in 2014, when Jordan Mower was brewing beers in his 3x4 metre shed in Poet’s Corner, Hove. What he didn’t know is that almost 10 years later, UnBarred Brewery would be an award-winning outfit that packages and sends 6,000 litres of beer across the world every week!

In 2019, after years of trial and error in the garden shed, Jordan joined forces with two like-minded entrepreneurs (actually the founders of Fatto a Mano), building the first UnBarred Brewery & taproom. Of course, it was fate that pizza and beer should come together. Building the brand wasn’t easy, especially during the pandemic. But, UnBarred built up plenty of strong relationships with suppliers and sellers, meaning that as soon as they were given the official ‘green light’, they could utilise these connections and get their feet back on the ground remarkably quickly.

Jordan’s journey has not been without hardships, failures, and opportunities for personal growth. One of the main skills he has had to master is to find a balance between curiosity and maturity in the creative process! UnBarred’s beers are full of creative and intriguing inspirations, and flavours such as ‘Kinder Bueno’ and ‘Mississippi Mud Pie’ don’t look out of place on their tasting menu.

What’s more, their creativity isn’t limited to beer. UnBarred partner with local businesses – like Brighton’s Tru Thoughts record label, creating an album release on a beer can! Peel off the label, and you’d find the artist’s liner notes and a QR code to download the album. 

If one word could sum up what UnBarred means, Jordan would like it to be integrity. He says it’s all about being hands-on in approaching your passion; and challenging the limits of beer production. This is something that affects all levels of the creative and human process: don’t do anything lightly. If you want to retain staff, make your business the best place for them to be working. If you want to create a ‘Belgian Beer’ - then use Belgian yeast! And when it comes to your products: if you don’t believe in them, don’t put them out there. Simple.

If you want to work with a charity, get as involved as humanly possible - simply changing the colours of your cans to support a movement doesn’t necessarily represent integrity! For example, UnBarred supported the Blind Veterans’ ‘Restoration Project’, by getting out there and cleaning up military gravestones themselves.

Also, don’t shy away from help. UnBarred has lots of collaborations with people who may often be viewed as ‘competitors’ - but if you learn from each other and create together, the beer industry (and the wider community) will only benefit.  

• Make mistakes. In order to push innovation, you need to fly close to the sun (and yes, sometimes you need to get burnt too…).
• Reach out for feedback, from as many people as possible.
• Don’t follow sales first. Prioritise integrity, understand who you are and what you will/won’t do. Once these foundations are in place, decisions become easier in future.