The story behind the stairs
A family name.
A love of proper ale.
Bannister began with Josh Bannister’s surname, a childhood joke and a lasting affection for the flavour of traditional English ales.
A name with character
The joke that
became a brewery name.
Bannister is Josh’s family name. As a child, the connection with a banister and a staircase was an easy joke. It made him laugh, and the idea stayed with him.
When it came to naming the brewery, Bannister Brewing Co. felt right. It carried something personal without taking itself too seriously: a family name with a bit of wit, and a theme that could run through every beer.
First Step, Top Step, Halfway Up and the rest of the family each follow their own route around the stairs. The names are playful; the love of beer behind them is sincere.
English ale at heart
Flavour worth
taking your time over.
Traditional English ales are Josh’s personal favourite. Gentle hops, toasted malt, a rounded amber ale or the depth of a darker pint: those flavours are at the heart of Bannister.
That affection shaped the look as well as the beer. The old English lettering, warm colours and familiar character on the stairs belong to the same world as a country pub: welcoming, full of personality and comfortable in its own skin.
There is room in that family for a brighter hop character too. From golden ale to IPA and oatmeal stout, every beer has its own flavour and its own place.
The country pub feeling
It starts with
that first sip.
Ask Josh what stays with him about a great pint and the answer is immediate: a cool beer, a thick foamy head and that first sip through it. The creamy head of a nitro-poured beer captures the feeling he loves.
It is an inspiration rather than a single way to serve the whole range. What matters is the experience: the aroma, the texture and the flavour that makes you pause and enjoy the beer in front of you.
For Josh, beer’s appeal goes well beyond alcohol. He loves its depth of flavour and its long history as part of everyday life. Bannister carries that curiosity and affection into a brand with a familiar pub spirit.
Eight beers. One family.
A little humour.
A lot of character.
The staircase ties the range together, but each beer brings something different to the table. First Step is bright and balanced. Halfway Up leans into toasted malt. Under the Stairs brings the roasted depth of oatmeal stout.
The same character appears across the family, with colours and names that make each beer easy to recognise. It is Bannister’s way of keeping the identity warm and memorable, while letting the flavour do the talking.