I may not be practicing the greatest objectivity in my nomination, but the fact that I’ve worked closely with Cloudwater Brew Co.’s Paul Jones for the latter part of this year means I’ve had up-close insight into an already-influential industry leader. Most everyone knows Jones in one capacity or another, more commonly as the face of Cloudwater, or as the occasional DJ of eclectic taste. For those who follow him on social media, he’s also known as a deeply introspective and sensitive personality. In a year of great upheaval all over, Jones is someone who has felt it keenly.
It’s been a year for everyone, but Jones’ started on a high, with the much-acclaimed Friends & Family & Beer Festival. A mere month after the event, the world was in lockdown. Jones’ analysis of the situation and the risks to drinkers—and venues—meant Cloudwater was ahead of the curve, and helped a number of other businesses and individuals in their decision-making, myself included.
Jones is the type of individual to keenly feel the weight of human suffering. Where many others might overlook injustices and inequities, Jones agonizes over them, to the point that it informs much of his work. Outside of Cloudwater, he works for the U.K.’s Racial Justice Network, and is a non-executive director of Eat Well MCR, which provides meals to vulnerable people across Manchester.
As well as partnering with nonprofits like Beer Kulture and Craft x EDU, he and the team at Cloudwater also launched the Wayfinder project, which allows Cloudwater to be used as a platform by four participants a year to conduct meaningful work that’s not limited, crucially, to the realm of beer. [Disclosure: I was the first Wayfinder in this project, and worked closely with Cloudwater and Jones.]
The project was born of Jones’ dissatisfaction with the rate of change within a homogenous industry, and it makes use of the brewery’s significant platform and resources. Jones and co are looking to offer up the privileges and experiences of the Cloudwater team to support, facilitate, and coach in whatever manner the participant chooses. It’s going to be truly fascinating to see the effect this has on the industry over the next year or so, as more Wayfinder residents come through.
Words,Lily Waite