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Matthew Curtis

@totalcurtis.bsky.social

2.6K followers 780 following 2.8K posts

A writer and photographer obsessed with beer, pubs and their culture. Founding editor @pelliclemag.com. He/Him. More about me and my work: www.totalales.co.uk

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · Sep 10

In February 2024 I visited French & Jupps, the UKs oldest existing maltster, and roasted malt specialist. I’d never heard of them before, despite them being in operation since 1689. It’s story fascinated me, so I wrote it for @pelliclemag.com here:

www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/9/...

A spurt of soaked grain leaping in the steep tanks at French and Jupps

Crystal malt coming off the roaster at French and Jupps

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Reposted by Matthew Curtis

David Nilsen @davidnilsenbeer.bsky.social · 3h

Congratulations to @totalcurtis.bsky.social for his First Place award in Best Personal Essay at the @nagbw.bsky.social awards for his excellent story On Deaf Ears—Beer Spaces and the Hard of Hearing from Final Gravity Issue 08. www.beantobarstool.com/shop/p/final...

Graphic showing person installing noise-cancelling panels on a bar roof with text "Beer Space & the Hard of Hearing by Matthew Curtis. Being hard of hearing doesn't just influence where this writer wants to drink, but where he definitely doesn't want to."

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Reposted by Matthew Curtis

Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 1d

Especially proud of @davidnilsenbeer.bsky.social for receiving an hon. mention for this incredible piece of writing.

www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/4/...

Between the Bars — On Alcohol, Suicide, and Depression in the Beer Industry — Pellicle

Content Warning: This article makes frequent and detailed references to suicide and severe depression, therefore reader discretion is advised. No one should struggle with their mental health alone....

www.pelliclemag.com

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Reposted by Matthew Curtis

Will Hawkes @willhawkes.bsky.social · 15h

Delighted to win best historical writing at the @nagbw.bsky.social awards last night for this story about Dora Kulka. Thanks to the judges, & to @pelliclemag.com for publishing it - and well done to all the other winners. www.pelliclemag.com/home/2024/8/...

The Story of Dora Kulka, and How One Woman Changed British Beer Forever — Pellicle

In 1942, Dr. Dora Kulka had a lot on her mind. She was struggling to establish herself in Britain having been forced to flee Nazi-controlled Vienna because she was Jewish. She was caring for her moth...

www.pelliclemag.com

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 7h

Podcast heads! The latest @pelliclemag.com podcast is out now, featuring a lengthy panel discussion with the folks from @sirencraftbrew.bsky.social at their recent Time Hops event. Listen to it here, or wherever you get your podcasts, etc.

The Pellicle Podcast Ep79 — Time Hopping with Siren Craft Brew — Pellicle

Established in 2013, Berkshire’s Siren Craft Brew has rightfully grown to become one of the most well-respected modern breweries in the United Kingdom. We at Pellicle have been lucky to have follow...

www.pelliclemag.com

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 7h

The same people who will tell you that IPAs are awful are the same people who will tell you that negronis are the best thing ever

Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 9h

Louder for those of you at the back.

David Desi Pubs Dason @davidjesudason.bsky.social · 10h

A sad but necessary reminder: I’m a professional journalist/reporter and haven’t got the time or resources to work, advise or advocate for free. Stop hounding me with DMs

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 9h

Thanks again David.

Reposted by Matthew Curtis

Katie Mather @katiematherkm.bsky.social · 11h

Super pleased to have received a bronze medal at the @nagbw.bsky.social awards for my piece on cyclocross and beer. More people should hear about cyclocross!

www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/2/...

Races Are Coming Your Way — Beer and Cyclocross in Belgium and The Netherlands — Pellicle

Near the startline of Namur’s citadel cyclocross course in Wallonian Belgium, two women with dark-dyed 80s bouffant mullets wander towards me, a beer apiece. It’s 10.30am. I take this as confirmation ...

www.pelliclemag.com

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 10h

Congrats Pete!

Reposted by Matthew Curtis

Brian Groom @groomb.bsky.social · 15h

Marble Arch Inn, Manchester, painting by Brenainn Shackleton. #NorthernArt

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 13h

Recently, one of them put our entire free to access pitching guide behind their paywall

Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 13h

Freelance newsletters just make this stuff up. Case in point: my inbox

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 14h

I’m particularly proud of Joey because I mentored him as part of a @britbeerwriters.bsky.social scheme and we worked on that piece as our coursework for that, and the hard work I made him do makes it feel extra special. Congrats all of the winners.

Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 14h

It was also a great night for @pelliclemag.com with nine wins, our best ever showing at these awards. Huge congrats to all our winners inc @willhawkes.bsky.social for his gold and @beerinthecity.bsky.social for his silver. I’ll post the full list on Instagram.

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 14h

I was thrilled to pick up a first place at last nights @nagbw.bsky.social awards for an essay in Final Gravity about my diagnosis of hearing loss. Huge thanks to @davidnilsenbeer.bsky.social for commissioning and careful edits.

Best personal essay, First Place — Curtis, Matthew. “On Deaf Ears—Beer Spaces and the Hard of Hearing.” Final Gravity, April 1, 2025

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 22h

Thanks Laura

Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 1d

Congrats Laura!

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 1d

Especially proud of @davidnilsenbeer.bsky.social for receiving an hon. mention for this incredible piece of writing.

www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/4/...

Between the Bars — On Alcohol, Suicide, and Depression in the Beer Industry — Pellicle

www.pelliclemag.com

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 1d

Good show in the @nagbw.bsky.social awards tonight, some very worthy winners. Congrats to them all.

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 1d

Had an important business meeting with @austinlouisray.bsky.social this afternoon.

Austin Louis Ray and Matthew Grant Curtis

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 1d

I walked past a queue and straight to a bar in a taproom yesterday to a few disgruntled looks, but soon they realised that they could all get served faster if they just went to the bar and the queue disappeared

Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 1d

Got some Trealy Farm boudin noir for breakfast, as a little treat.

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Reposted by Matthew Curtis

Katie Mather @katiematherkm.bsky.social · 8d

I'm on my way home after three weeks of travel in Germany and Belgium.

It would be absolutely ace to get back to some new orders of my zine A Place To Be!

If you've not got yours yet, please take a look here: www.pelliclemag.com/shop/a-place...

A Place To Be — A Zine About Drinking In Liminal Spaces by Katie Mather — Pellicle

A Place To Be is a brand new zine and the first work published in print by Pellicle Magazine. Written and designed by Pellicle’s deputy editor Katie Mather, A Place To Be is a collection of found s...

www.pelliclemag.com

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Reposted by Matthew Curtis

Will Hawkes @willhawkes.bsky.social · 5d

I’ve written for @pelliclemag.com about the Dog and Bell, a unique pub whose evolution over the past 40 years nevertheless illustrates the story of modern London pubs. It’s here: www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/9/...

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out — The Dog and Bell in Deptford, London — Pellicle

On a Friday night in early December, Deptford’s Dog and Bell is Christmas as imagined by a Haribo-addled toddler.  A huge resin Santa, grinning merrily in his sleigh, squats in Prince Street out...

www.pelliclemag.com

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Reposted by Matthew Curtis

Boak & Bailey (Jess & Ray) @boakandbailey.bsky.social · 2d

This week's edition of news, nuggets and longreads is now up, with all sorts of great stuff, including several responses to one of our own posts from earlier in the week. 🍺🍻

boakandbailey.com/2025/10/news...

News, nuggets and longreads 11 October 2025: The Bird That You Can’t See

Every Saturday we round up the best writing about beer from the past week. This time, we’ve got Deptford, Belgian craft, and more on beer festivals.

boakandbailey.com

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