Every great brewing story has a humble beginning -- and this one started in a shed. Not a fancy industrial unit, not a trendy co-working space, but a simple wooden shed tucked away behind a home in Plymouth.

Back in its early days, the brewery (Bulletproof Brew Co) was operating from the back garden of founder Patrick Lawrence's mum's house. One article even described it as "Britain's smallest microbrewery ... producing 1,000 pints a week -- from inside a garden shed." The London Economic

Patrick reflected on the setup: "I looked around for a (business) space, but they are very expensive so I set up in the back of my parents' house." The London Economic

The shed was just 12 ft × 10 ft, and the pair spent about £2,600 to acquire it and another £2,400 on the base and amenities. They then imported about £11,000 of brewing equipment from the USA. The London Economic

Inside that modest wooden shell, steel fermenters hummed, hoses looped, and the smell of malt and hops filled the air. The beers they brewed -- with names like "Hollow Point Helles" and "Metal Base Maibock" -- were German-style lagers infused with New World hops. The London Economic

What made this shed-based operation special wasn't just the output -- about 400 litres a week -- but the spirit behind it. Patrick teamed up with his friend and former bartender colleague Connor Johnson to bring the hobby to life. They weren't chasing big-industrial scale; they were chasing craft, character and community.

Demand came fast. Local bars and restaurants snapped up the beer. As they put it: "Being a small craft brewery we can't make as much as we need to keep up with demand." The London Economic

Fast forward a few years, and that same small-scale ambition has evolved. The brewery has grown into a fully-fledged venue: production and a public-facing bar in Plymouth. As one headline put it: "Plymouth's new brewery and bar started life in a tiny shed." facebook.com

Now you can walk in, see the brew kit, pull a pint of the same lager that once bubbled away in the garden, and chat with the brewers themselves. The shift is more than physical; it's about experience. They've created a space where people don't just drink the beer -- they become part of the story.

That garden shed is more than a quirky anecdote -- it's the foundation of the story. It symbolises creativity, boldness and the belief that you don't need a huge factory to make something meaningful.

By beginning in such modest surroundings, Patrick and Connor captured an ethos: local, handcrafted, authentic. That resonates in a market crowded with mass-produced options. The authenticity of their back-garden origins gives the brand character and helps the connection with people who appreciate craft and story.

Today, Bulletproof Brew Co stands as a symbol of local pride -- a reminder that you don't have to wait for perfect conditions to start something. That shed, once filled with fermenters and ambition, helped build a brand and a destination.

So next time you're in Plymouth and craving a pint with a story behind it, skip the big names. Head to the little brewery that could -- the one that started in a shed, with two friends, some second-hand gear, and a city's worth of support.

Because sometimes, the best stories -- and the best pints -- start at the bottom of the garden.

Read more from the Plymouth Live

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