Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

Latest Episodes:

All About Malört: Listen at Your Own Risk Aug 28, 2024

Show notes

Author Josh Noel talks about his new book Malort: The Redemption of a Revered and Reviled Spirit. It's a story of stubbornness and luck, determination, underground appreciation, and mainstream popularity. The wormwood liquor is easy to hate but should be wonderfully appreciated. It is a uniquely Chicago story, and there is no one better than Noel to tell the story.

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.

Host: John Holl

Guest: Josh Noel

Sponsors: All About Beer

Tags: Chicago, Malort, Bars, Drinking

Photo by John Holl

Creating Low ABV Beers with Great Depth Aug 21, 2024

Show notes

There’s some really fun beers happening inside of a small Rhode Island brewery. This week, it’s a conversation with Cheyne Tessier of Origin Beer Project about low abv beers, art, and establishing a home base.

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.

Host: John Holl

Guest: Cheyne Tessier

Sponsors: All About Beer

Tags: Rhode Island, ABV, Lager, IPA, Hop Water, Business

Photo by John Holl

John Mallett Drives Home the Importance of Brewery Safety Aug 14, 2024

Show notes

A conversation recorded in Providence, Rhode Island with longtime brewmaster John Mallett, formerly of Bells Brewery who is currently happily retired. It’s a chat about brewery safety, building recipes, and insight from a career that impacted so many.

Last week I was in Rhode Island to help judge the inaugural Rhode Worthy Beer Cup. It was happening along side the state brewer’s guild conference. John Mallett, the long-time Bells Brewery brewer and production manager was giving the keynote. He’s an Ocean State Native, and was kind enough to take some time to cross the road after his talk and sit down with me for a conversation at the newly opened Buttonwoods Brewery location.

If you don’t know Mallett, maybe you’ve been living under a rock.

In addition to his work at Bells, which spanned more than 20 years, helping develop and shepherd many of the brands beloved beers to market, he’s also the author of Malt: A Practical Guide from Field to Brewhouse (released by the Brewers Publications in 2014).

He served on many boards and technical committees, including the Master Brewers Association of the Americas, Brewers Association, Hop Quality Group – of which he was a founder - and American Malting Barley Association.

Mallett retired a few years ago but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have anything left to share or teach. He is passionate about brewery safety, and finding ways to bring creativy, knowledge, and passion to an industry that he has loved for so long.

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.

Host: John Holl

Guests: John Mallett

Sponsors: All About Beer

Tags: Rhode Island, Bells, Safety, Hop Quality Group

Photo by John Holl

Beer History Through Brewhouse Sales Aug 07, 2024

Show notes

It’s a conversation about both history and modern beer with Alan Pugsley, the long-time brewery consultant who helped launch so many beers in the early days of the craft movement and more recently has gotten into the gluten-free beer space.

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.

Host: John Holl

Guests: Alan Pugsley

Sponsors: All About Beer

Tags: Maine, Brewing, Gluten-free

Photo by Dave Delsonno

The State of the National Black Brewers Association Jul 31, 2024

Show notes

As it continues to do important work, reach milestones, and look towards the future, the National Black Brewers Association has put out a report detailing its accomplishments. Kevin Asato, the executive director is here for a conversation.

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.

Host: John Holl

Guests: Kevin Asato

Sponsors: All About Beer

Tags: Lager, Brewing, Associations, Membership, Growth, NB2A

Photo by NB2A.ORG

Bonus: Brewer to Brewer with Shaun O'Sullivan and Chuck Silva Jul 24, 2024

Show notes

Shaun O'Sullivan of 21st Amendment Brewery interviews Chuck Silva of Silva Brewing on this bonus episode of Brewer to Brewer.

This Episode is Sponsored by:

Firsd Tea
Firsd Tea is a proud sponsor of the Brewer to Brewer podcast. Firsd Tea has been working with brewers on a wide range of teas and botanicals in popular and successful beers. Firsd Tea combines flexible order sizes with the experience you need to create innovative and successful craft brews. They get you the most direct-to-farm tea selection so you are working with flavorful and consistent products. You can find out more about Firsd Tea’s collaborations with brewers and tea ingredients by visiting firsdtea.com or email info@firsdtea.com

Host: Shaun O'Sullivan
Guest: Chuck Silva
Sponsor: Firsd Tea, All About Beer
Tags: Brewing, IPA, California, Ingredients

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Hip Hop Intro 06 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9533-hip-hop-intro-06
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Artist website: https://linktr.ee/taigasoundprod

Beware the Grain Dust: A Conversation About Brewery Safety Jul 17, 2024

Show notes

A few weeks back Dave Haydysch of Lone Rider Beer began posting shots of himself on social media in the hospital after being admitted for breathing problems. It turns out it was exposure to malt dust that landed him there. He’s been part of the North Carolina Craft Beer Industry since 2010 when he got his start at Fullsteam Brewery in Durham, NC. In 2016 Dave was brought on to develop and lead brewing operations at Mason Jar Lager Company.

He is now leading brewing ops at Lonerider Brewing in Raleigh and co-brewing with the team at Fortnight Brewing in Cary. Dave is an active member of the NC Brewers Guild and sits on the Education Committee for the Guild. On this episode he walks us through his career and the last several scary weeks.

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.

Host: John Holl

Guests: Dave Haydysch

Sponsors: All About Beer

Tags: Lager, Brewing, Safety, Malt, Brewing

Photo by John Holl

Learning Life Lessons with Lew Bryson Jul 10, 2024

Show notes

Lew Bryson is on the show this week. He’s a long-time writer in the beer and whisky space, a voice of reason, and honestly just a force of good and positivity in an otherwise dreary world.

I’ve been fortunate to call Bryson a friend for the better part of 20 years now. As a writer starting off in the beer space he was one of a few that was generous with his time, advice, and expertise. That’s not a unique to me experience. Lew has helped so many better understand drinks and culture.

He’s kind and intelligent with the kind of resume that can only come with being among the very best. He was managing editor of Whisky Advocate magazine for 20 years. He is the author of Tasting Whiskey, and Whiskey Master Class, and writes a column for Craft Spirits Magazine.

His work has appeared in countless publications, including a long stint in All About Beer. Bryson is a Kentucky Colonel, and a member of The Order of The Writ, an honorary association of the bourbon industry. He lives in central Pennsylvania, which is the topic of his podcast, “Seen Through A Glass." – a show you should tune into regularly.

A few months back we were approached by Rich Colli of Varga Bar to do an event for Philly Beer Week. It was great fun, pouring and talking about whisky and beer. Before all that we sat down at Victory Brewing in Philly, to talk about writing, careers, home bars, and more.

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.

Host: John Holl

Guests: Lew Bryson

Sponsors: All About Beer

Tags: Lager, Whisky, Home Bars, Books

Photo by John Holl

Don Tse Nerds Out with Brewers About Decoction Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

Don Tse takes over hosting duties on this episode recorded live at Forever Lager. He talks with a trio of brewers about decoction mashing. This is a fun, entertaining, and engaging listen.

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.

Host: Don Tse

Guests: Zach Adams of Fox Farm, Eric Larkin of Cohesion Brewing, and Shawn Cooper of Halfway Crooks

Sponsors: All About Beer

Tags: Lager, Brewing, Malt, Mashing, Decoction

Photo by John Holl

Cool Brewers Doing Cool Things Jun 26, 2024

Show notes

This week is a conversation recorded at Notch Brewing, during the Forever Lager Festival. In a moment you’ll hear from the brewers Wild East Brewing, Working Draft, and Dovetail, a bunch of cool brewers doing cool things.

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.

Host: John Holl

Guests: Jenny Pfafflin of Dovetail Brewery, Clinton Lohman of Working Draft Beer Co., and Brett Taylor of Wild East Brewing.

Sponsors: All About Beer

Tags: Lager, Brewing, Rice, Hazy IPA, Festival

Photo by Andy Crouch