Our goal at the Great Hops Brewery Armidale is to make amazing, flavourful beers.

 We are not here to reinvent the wheel, but we are here to make good beer great. Our focus is to take classic styles of beer from around the world and put our own unique Australian spin on them.

Born in Armidale, Sam Martin attended the University of New England in 2000, residing at St Alberts College. He graduated with a science degree in biochemistry and microbiology. He then moved to Sydney where he completed his dental degree.
He lived in Bondi for some time where he met his wife Kate who had also attended UNE and St Alberts. Brewing took over their life and apartment.
He had kegs hidden in virtually every cupboard (and under the bed).
With three fridges in operation it was time for a new place to start brewing, and in 2011 the property was purchased at 33 Old Inverell Rd.
Brewing experience came in waves as he helped build the premises. Being a believer in science and applying evidence based methods to how our brewing systems work, he is forever learning. He has a particular interest in pleomorphic yeast and bacteria and hopes to take it further.