Fergus Fitzgerald, Adnams head brewer, on hot cheese, Avatar and eating carrots out of the ground


What was your first-ever job? First weekend job was milking cows at a neighbour's farm, first full-time job was in the lab at a dairy. Every Monday morning I had to test the emulsified cheese that had been stored at 40C. It was as fragrant as it sounds.

You've 25 words to describe your career to date. Lab Boy. Lab Tech. Trainee Brewer. Assistant Brewer. Head Brewer. Happy Brewer.

If you could change one thing in grocery what would it be? An end to extreme fluctuation in barley prices.

If you were allowed a dream perk what would it be? A chauffeur. Quality control in a brewery is hard work.

What is your motto in life? Make your own mistakes.

What do you like to do outside work? Just spend time with my family.

What was the first music single you bought? The earliest I can remember buying was Real Life by Simple Minds but I'm sure there must be something before then. I have a vague memory of Under The Boardwalk by Bruce Willis being in our house.

What did you want to be when you were a kid? Astronaut or Luke Skywalker.

What's your favourite movie and why? My favourite movie as a kid was Return Of The Jedi, I love Harvey with James Stewart and I thought Avatar was great. I've always liked films with a fantastical element.

What has been the most embarrassing moment in your life? Once put the wrong label on a labeller and didn't realise until about 40,000 bottles in.

Which celebrity would you pick to join your staff? Comedian Dylan Moran. Not sure his stand-up persona is exactly the image we want but it would be fun.

What would you request as your final meal? Anything they do at Cafe Paradiso, a vegetarian restaurant in Cork. I'm not vegetarian but my wife is and we go there whenever we can. They always have something new to get excited about.

What's the weirdest thing you've eaten? When I was about 10 I would eat carrots straight out of the ground, mud and all, I must have thought I was Ray Mears.

What luxury would you have on your desert island? A boat. I can't stay on a desert island; I burn up just looking at a postcard of somewhere warm.

What animal best reflects your personality and why? Probably a bit of a cliché, but I'd say a swan, looks nice and calm on the water but its feet are working flat out.