As previously mentioned, Cuckoo Ales was established in 2006 by Andrew Nash, whose background is in haematology - part of the hospital's pathology department. Before brewing his own beer, Andy did several months work experience in the First in Last Out (FILO) brewery, High Street, Hastings Old Town working with Tony Champion who is their brewer. This enabled him to begin brewing his own beers while waiting for his own premises to be completed.

Using the brewery has given him the oppurtunity to hone his own beer recipes (these are invented by the brewer based on choosing hop varieties with particular taste-properties). The name 'Cuckoo Ales' was coined due to this 'borrowing' of the brewery. Andrew has also visited many other breweries and spent a short time helping out with the brewing at the Waveney Brewery (brew pub) in Earsham on the Norfolk/Suffolk borders at the Queen's Head pub and thanks go to John Hamps the owner and brewer for making this possible.

Several months studying, notably reading such books as 'Brewing' by Ian S. Hornsey (a partner and founder of the Nethergate Brewery Co. Ltd. in Suffolk) and 'Brewing' second edition by Michael J. Lewis and Tom W. Young, helped to form a comprehensive knowledge of the science and art of making beer.