Join Good Chemistry and Drinking Studies Network for free talks in pubs designed to make you Think While You Drink.
Bringing talks on beers, brewing, pubs, the industry and wider drinking culture to the pub in accessible, thought-provoking evenings with a pint.
All the host venues are open beforehand, serving Good Chemistry beers, so come down early for a pint and a bite to eat before the talks kick off at 6:30pm.
These events are free entry, with an optional donation to charity.
EVENTS
On 9th October we're back at The Robin Hood on St Michael's Hill.
Local Archaeologist and Brewer Nick Fitzgerald shares his cutting-edge work on the difficulties and possibilities of tracing prehistoric brewing, in conversation with Heritage Brewer Steve Dunkley (better know as Manchester's Beer Nouveau).
Together they'll explore what early beers might have tasted like, and what flavours are still used today. Nick has undertaken fascinating research (including brewing his own beer using these techniques) while Steve brings a rich history of brewing knowledge.
NOW SOLD OUT! THANK YOU FOR SIGNING UP!
Our second talk is at a new venue for us, Small Bar on King Street, on 13th November.
Award-winning author and journalist Pete Brown introduces his new book, Tasting Notes, which explores the intimate relationship between beer and music - how what we hear can shape what we taste.
Expect a lively, sensory experience as Pete shares insights from the book, plays music, and pairs it with beers to bring the theory to life.
Copies will be available during the evening from Bookhaus, and an exclusive signing will take place after the tasting.
This event is part of Being Human Festival, the UK's national festival of humanities, 6-15 Nov 2025. Led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, with generous stupport from Research England, in partnership with the Arts & Humanities Research Council and the British Academy - for more info head to their website here.
PAST EVENTS
In our first talk of 2025, at The Robin Hood, Bristol-based early modern historian Dr Amy Burnett will be chatting with Dr Christina Wade about her brand new book, Filthy Queens: A History of Beer in Ireland, which delves into 1000 years of Ireland’s brewing past, teasing fact from fiction to bring to life the ghosts and spirits that have left echoes in the modern brewing world.
Copies will be available during the evening from Bookhaus, and an exclusive signing by Christina will take place after the conversation.
(Thank you for joining us - what a great evening!)
The second evening we have lined up is a double-header, on 24th June at The Greenbank in Easton.
Bristol-based writers, Boak & Bailey, will be delving into 20th century pubs in 21st century Bristol, and why not many have survived to the present day.
Following them will be Dafydd Wiliam, Principal Curator: Historic Buildings at St Fagans National Museum of History in South Wales. He will be sharing the fascinating story of the re-building of The Vulcan Hotel, from central Cardiff to the museum, for preservation when the city was being re-developed.
(Thanks again for joining us - another fascinating evening!)
Our final talk in this series is on 22nd July with author Phil Mellows, who will be talking us through some of his favourite places from his recently published book, Beer Breaks in Britain. One of the featured venues is King Street's Famous Royal Navy Volunteer, where we'll be welcoming Phil in conversation with Prof Sam Goodman on how he chose the places he did, and what's special about them.
Copies will be available during the evening, and an exclusive signing by Phil will take place after the conversation.
(And thank you for coming to this one too!)