15 Years of Vibrant Forest: My Chat with Ryan Dack

Welcome back to the blog. This week on The Beer Rep Chats With, I sat down with Ryan Dack, General Manager of Vibrant Forest Brewery, for a brilliant conversation about the brewery's journey as they celebrate 15 years of brewing. 

Vibrant Forest is one of those breweries that many beer drinkers across the UK will know, whether that's through their iconic Pupa Pale Ale, their reputation for consistently producing great beer, or their willingness to push boundaries and try new things. But behind every successful brewery is a story, and that's exactly what Ryan and I explored in this episode.

From humble beginnings brewing in a garage to becoming one of the UK's most respected independent breweries, Ryan shared the highs, the challenges, and the lessons learned along the way.

15 Years in Independent Beer

Reaching 15 years as an independent brewery is no small achievement.

The beer industry has changed dramatically over the last decade and a half. Consumer tastes have evolved, costs have increased, and competition has never been greater. Yet Vibrant Forest has not only survived but continued to grow and remain relevant in an increasingly crowded market.

"Still surviving mate, that's the game these days, still surviving."

What stood out from my conversation with Ryan was how the brewery has managed to stay true to what made it successful in the first place while continuing to evolve. They haven't chased trends for the sake of it. Instead, they've focused on brewing great beer, looking after their customers, and building genuine relationships within the industry.

From Garage Project to Established Brewery

Like many independent breweries, Vibrant Forest started small.

What began as a passion project has grown into a brewery known throughout the UK beer scene. Those early days were all about experimentation, learning, and figuring things out as they went along.

Ryan spoke openly about the journey from those garage brewing days through to building the brewery we know today. It's a story that highlights just how much hard work goes into turning a hobby into a sustainable business.

There's often a tendency to look at successful breweries and only see where they are now. Conversations like this are a great reminder that every brewery starts somewhere, and the road to success is unique for everyone.

The Story Behind Pupa Pale Ale

It wouldn't be a conversation about Vibrant Forest without talking about Pupa.

For many drinkers, Pupa is the beer that immediately comes to mind when they think of Vibrant Forest. Ryan revealed just how important the beer has become to the brewery, with sales comfortably outpacing anything else they produce.

What's interesting is that while beer trends continue to come and go, Pupa has remained a constant seller. It's a beer that has stood the test of time and continues to attract both regular and new drinkers time and time again.

"When you're not sure what you want, there's always a Pupa there for you."

We also discussed how the beer market has evolved over the years. From the rise of hop-forward beers and hazy styles through to changing consumer habits today, Vibrant Forest has adapted without losing sight of what made people fall in love with their beers in the first place.

Collaboration and Community

One of the themes that came through strongly during our conversation was community.

The independent beer industry has always been built on collaboration, and Vibrant Forest has embraced that from day one. Whether it's brewing with other breweries, supporting local businesses, or creating welcoming spaces for customers, people remain at the heart of everything they do.

Ryan spoke about the importance of building relationships, both within the industry and with the customers who support the brewery week in and week out.

"Making friends in the industry, having a good time, but just sharing that information."

It's something I hear time and time again when speaking to independent breweries. Great beer might get people through the door, but community is what keeps them coming back.

Learning Along the Way

No brewery reaches 15 years without facing challenges.

Ryan was refreshingly honest about some of the decisions the brewery has made over the years, including lessons learned from operating venues and navigating the changing hospitality landscape.

"We learnt a load of lessons from it and we've improved because of that."

What impressed me was the willingness to adapt. Not every decision works out exactly as planned, but successful businesses learn from those experiences and use them to make better decisions moving forward.

That openness and honesty is one of the reasons conversations like this are so valuable. It's easy to celebrate the wins, but there's often just as much to learn from the challenges.

What's Next for Vibrant Forest?

While this episode looked back at 15 years of Vibrant Forest, we also spent time discussing the future.

The brewery shows no signs of slowing down. Innovation remains a key focus, but always with quality at the forefront. Ryan spoke about continuing to evolve, continuing to listen to customers, and continuing to build on the strong foundations that have been established over the last decade and a half.

"It's just the best industry and the best job in the world in my opinion."

Most importantly, the community that has helped support Vibrant Forest throughout its journey remains central to everything they do.

If the first 15 years are anything to go by, it'll be exciting to see what comes next.

Listen Now

A huge thank you to Ryan for taking the time to join me on the podcast and share the Vibrant Forest story.

If you've enjoyed reading this blog, make sure you check out the full episode of The Beer Rep Chats With to hear the complete conversation.

We cover the brewery's origins, the story behind Pupa, industry changes, collaboration, community, lessons learned, and what the future holds for one of the UK's most respected independent breweries.

You can listen on all major podcast platforms now.

And if you enjoy the episode, don't forget to follow the podcast wherever you listen. Every follow helps more people discover the incredible stories behind independent breweries across the UK.