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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

Brian Groom @groomb.bsky.social · 4h

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

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 2h

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

Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 2h

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

Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 3h

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 · 3h

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 · 3h

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 · 11h

Thanks Laura

Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 13h

Congrats Laura!

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 13h

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

Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 13h

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 · 19h

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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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 2d

Looks very, uh, pale.

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 2d

Muted horn and Hopfenreich are both great bars

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 2d

This was my favourite album from last year. I love it.

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 2d

The balance is now readdressed

Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 2d

But it’s not that terrible, so maybe it doesn’t 🤔

Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 2d

I decided to try somewhere new so the pint is Pravha. The balance once again needs to be readdressed.

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Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 2d

I think it might well be

Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 2d

I could just show you my year on year accounts vs last year if you want to see the kind of impact it’s having

Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · 2d

This is reflective of why ai is so bad though, because it also make us suspicious. I use a lot of em dashes in my writing so someone could well accuse me of the same because ai uses a them a lot in copy. It is polluting the information ecosystem, and our minds.

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