Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 139 - Lindsay and Shawn Johnson of Birds Fly South Jun 01, 2022

Show notes

Birds Fly South calls itself a “progressively old school urban farmhouse” brewery. It might sound like several contradictions until you start talking with Shawn and Lindsay Johnson, the co-founders, and suddenly this Greenville, South Carolina brewery starts to make sense.

The origin story might sound familiar. Shawn was a beer fan who tried a lot of different styles and visited breweries during his time in the Coast Guard. At the time they were stationed on Kodiak Island, Alaska where early sunsets meant more times for hobbies. Lindsay got him a homebrew kit for Father’s Day one year and the rest… well, you know.

The moved to Florida and Shawn started working with Bob Sylvester of Saint Somewhere, and a deep appreciation for saison and farmhouse ales flourished. A move to the D.C area had Shawn helping to open Fair Winds Brewing Co. in Virginia at that point the idea to have their own place had cemented and needed to come a reality.

Birds Fly South opened in 2016.

In this episode we’ll talk about the brewing process and recipe development with Shawn and front of the house and the taproom with Lindsay all while going deeper into what the brewery wants to be and how it plans to get there.

This Episode is sponsored by:

Cigar City Brewing Co.
Have you met Florida Man? It’s a modern Double IPA with a tropical expression from its blend of American hops, including Citra, Azacca, El Dorado, and Mandarina Bavarian, and is balanced by delicate peach esters from a unique Double IPA yeast and a dash of Canadian honey malt. Learn more about the hero of the sunshine by visiting CigarCityBrewing.com

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer or to check out Beer Edge follow us on Twitter @thebeeredge and visit All About Beer.

Host: John Holl
Guests: Lindsay and Shawn Johnson of Birds Fly South
Sponsors: Cigar City Brewing, The Craft Brewery Cookbook, All About Beer and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Ownership, Florida, Saison, Innovation, Bottles, Growth, South Carolina

Ep. 138 - The State of Non-Alcoholic Beer in America May 25, 2022

Show notes

In a testament to how quickly the beer industry can change, it’s hard to imagine even just a few years ago that a panel like this would be taking place. But as the beer industry matures, there is a tilt towards health and wellness, the rise of non-alcoholic beer in the craft space can not be ignored.

It shouldn’t be ignored.

What you are about to hear was held in a seminar room at the 2022 Craft Brewers Conference in Minneapolis.

This is an expert panel that is pushing the boundaries of non-alcoholic beer in taste, innovation, and positive public perception.

So you’ll hear from:

· Garrett Oliver the brewmaster of The Brooklyn Brewery, the author of The Brewmaster’s Table, and the Editor-in-Chief of The Oxford Companion to Beer.

· Bill Shufelt the co-founder and CEO of Athletic Brewing Co.

And

· Keith Villa Brewmaster and Co-Founder at Ceria Beverages Company

This audio was captured by Erik Eidem who had a microphone and camera set up in the seminar room. So while there aren’t individual mics, it will hopefully give you the sensation that you were in the room with everyone else.

This Episode is sponsored by:

Pro Brewer
Earlier this year Beer Edge starting working with ProBrewer that to bring original articles to ProBrewer.com twice a week covering issues important to the beer industry and aimed at helping breweries of all sizes understand different facets of the business.

Check out our articles on ProBrewer.com every Tuesday and Thursday and visit the site daily for other original content and to stay connected with the beer industry.

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer or to check out Beer Edge follow us on Twitter @thebeeredge and visit All About Beer.

Host: John Holl
Guests: Garrett Oliver, Bill Shufelt, Keith Villa
Sponsors: Pro Brewer, The Craft Brewery Cookbook, All About Beer and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Ownership, Non-alcoholic, marijuana, Innovation, education

Ep. 137 - Brian Hunt and Patrick Rue of Moonlight Brewing May 18, 2022

Show notes

Last week, word got out that Patrick Rue, the founder of The Bruery in Orange County California, and more recently the founder and operator of Erosion Wines in Napa had acquired a 50 percent stake in Moonlight Brewery, a beloved northern California brewery founded 30 years ago by Brian Hunt.

Moonlight is known for its beers like Death & Taxes and Reality Czech and had been half owned by Lagunitas via Heineken for the past six years.

I first learned of the news via Beer by BART, a great site run by Gail Ann Williams and Steve Shapiro. If you’re not already following them on social media, rectify that quickly.

A subsequent press release release from the brewery noted that “Patrick will serve in an advisory capacity and will direct an oak barrel-aging beer program that enhances the integrity and heritage of Moonlight.”

It continued by saying that under the Heineken co-ownership Moonlight "packaging shifted from exclusively draft to additionally offering beers in cans, and both production and distribution have grown all while keeping sales limited to Northern California.

The new ownership strengthens Moonlight’s dedication to remaining locally owned. This will allow for patient growth, greater availability of its coveted beers to its fans and wholesale partners, while maintaining the deliciousness and highest quality for which Moonlight is so well known.”

Press release aside, in this episode we hear from the owners directly.

This Episode is sponsored by:

Cigar City Brewing Co.
Check out Fancy Papers from Cigar City Brewing. With aromas of freshly cut grass and tangerine along with white wine grape and bread-like aromas, this Hazy IPA has flavors of guava, melon, and lime leaf. Brewed with Strata, Sabro, and Idaho 7 hops to draw in lovers of fruit-forward Hazy IPAs, get some today where you buy beer and learn more at cigar city brewing. com Learn more at Cigar City Brewing.com

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer or to check out Beer Edge follow us on Twitter @thebeeredge and visit All About Beer.

Host: John Holl
Guests: Brian Hunt and Patrick Rue of Moonlight Brewing
Sponsors: Cigar City Brewing, The Craft Brewery Cookbook, All About Beer and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Ownership, California, Collaboration, Innovation, Wine

Ep. 136 - Niko Tonks and Evan Sallee of Fair State Brewing Cooperative May 11, 2022

Show notes

"They say that beer brings people together, and that was certainly evident last week in Minneapolis as much of the brewing world gathered for the Craft Brewers Conference and it seems that at some point or another everyone made the trip to Fair State Brewing Cooperative.

I was among them, and had the chance to sit down with co-founders Niko Tonks and Evan Sallee.

From the beginning, as the brewery name suggests, the pair along with other co-founder Matt Hauck, wanted consumers to be involved with the business. Not just funding, but with meaningful feedback.

Fitting that their plan came together at Black Star, another brewery co-op in Austin, and when the doors opened here in 2014 they became the first in Minnesota to follow the model and only the third in the nation.

Now with more than 2,000 members the brewery is hitting a stride. It has been shaped by the pandemic, of course, but the time of COVID has helped Evan and Niko dial in the business, focus more deeply on recipes and really think about the future.

We recorded this in the taproom over a pitcher of pilsner and get into many aspects of the business, and the emerging interest in non-alcoholic beers, including one they had on their taproom menu and that I thoroughly enjoyed."

-John Holl

This Episode is sponsored by:

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer or to check out Beer Edge follow us on Twitter @thebeeredge and visit All About Beer.

Host: John Holl
Guests: Niko Tonks and Evan Sallee of Fair State Brewing Cooperative
Sponsors: Cigar City Brewing, The Craft Brewery Cookbook, All About Beer and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Ingredients, Pilsner, Collaboration, Innovation, Non-alcoholic beer

Ep. 135 - Austin Jevne of Humble Forager Brewing May 04, 2022

Show notes

Much of the professional brewing world is focused on Minnesota this week as the annual Craft Brewers Conference is happening, along with the World Beer Cup competition. I thought it would be a good to check in with a brewer in the state – or at least one connected with the state.

Minnesota beer laws are wonky which has led to creative solutions. Austin Jevne the Owner & Head Brewer of Humble Forager, which is contract brewed in Wisconsin as well as Minneapolis, will explain how the brand developed out of an existing brewpub in Rochester, Minnesota.

From finding local ingredients on his travels that inspire new beers, to scaling up from small batches to large ones while not sacrificing flavor or ethos, Austin takes us through his creative process on brewing that now extends to hard seltzer.

He’s also big on collaborations and gives us a curtain raiser on one that is being brewed this week with Other Half Brewery.

Austin sees beer as an adventure and wants every recipe to reflect that sense.And if you’re still brewing small and curious about finding your own local ingredients he has tips for that as well.

This Episode is sponsored by:

Cigar City Brewing Co.
Jai Alai IPA is a bold, citrusy and balanced India Pale Ale that involves six different hop varietals used generously in a 7.5% ABV beer. Look for notes of orange peel, clementine, and light caramel to share the story and sunshine of Florida with beer lovers across the globe. Learn more at Cigar City Brewing.com

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer or to check out Beer Edge follow us on Twitter @thebeeredge and visit All About Beer.

Host: John Holl
Guest: Austin Jevne of Humble Forager
Sponsors: Cigar City Brewing, The Craft Brewery Cookbook, All About Beer and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Ingredients, Distribution, Collaboration, Hard Seltzer

Ep. 134 - Em Sauter's New Book: Hooray for Craft Beer! Apr 27, 2022

Show notes

"Em Sauter is a cartoonist and visual beer educator who delights readers daily on her website Pints and Panels. She’s worked in breweries and been an advocate for good good beer.

This week she has a new book out – her second – called Hooray for Craft Beer! An Illustrated Guide to Beer, published by Brewers Publications. It’s available where books are sold and you should go buy it.

She takes us readers on a journey through beer history and styles and does so in an engaging way in a book that can be read straight through or just picked up for a few minutes here and there.

While the style of the book and her work might be whimsical, the material is serious and factually accurate. She works hard to make sure what we’re reading in the book not only serves entertainment purposes but also can be used as a study guide or learning tool.

We’ll talk about that, as well as her beer and life pairings, and we’ll meander around the beer world, as we often do when we get together."

-John Holl

This Episode is sponsored by:

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer or to check out Beer Edge: The Newsletter for Beer Professionals, follow us on Twitter @thebeeredge and subscribe to our beer industry focused newsletter. There is more information, articles, and engaging content at Beer Edge.

Host: John Holl
Guest: Em Sauter
Sponsors: Cigar City Brewing, The Craft Brewery Cookbook, and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Books, Education, Baseball, Belgium, Life

Ep. 133 Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery Apr 20, 2022

Show notes

Show notes from John Holl:

"As I’ve mentioned, I’m always on the lookout for new-to-me breweries, especially ones that are bucking the normal trends. Todd DiMatteo of Good Word put Wheatland Spring Farm and Brewery on my radar, and I’m thankful.

I’m talking with John and Bonnie Branding, the couple behind the brewery that sits on 30 acres of farmland, about an hour west of Washington, D.C. There they are growing their own grains, including some that haven’t seen the light of day in beer in quite some time. They have herbs and produce that go into the beers, honey for fermenting and flavor, at least three distinct yeast strains all harvested from the land.

The Brandings say the brewery has been a long time in the making. It opened in 2019 and they are Farming for Fermentation. Working with research facilities and other local farms to source all they need and to push the idea of local agriculture in every pint.

They spoke to me from the brewery. Here’s our conversation."

Host: John Holl
Guests: Bonnie and John Branding
Sponsors: The Craft Brewery Cookbook and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Mixed Fermentation, Lagers, Virginia, Festivals, Grain, Water, Hops

Ep. 132 - Dana Henion of Van Henion Brewing Apr 13, 2022

Show notes

"Lagers continue to get the love in the craft beer space and this week I’m glad to have Dana Henion on the show. She is the co-founder, co-owner and brewer at Van Henion Brewing, a new operation that opened in a brewery space that was previously occupied by Boneyard Brewing in Bend, Oregon.

She runs the brewery with her husband Mark and long time friend and colleague John Van Duzer. Together they say it’s a combined 65+ years of brewing experience at some of the state’s better known breweries.

This includes Oakshire, Deschutes, Ninkasi, and the aforementioned Boneyard.

Similar to just about everyone else, the last two years have been difficult, but ultimately the pandemic, which led to Boneyard merging with Deschutes and the availability of their production space led to the trio being able to chase their dream and open their own spot.

They say it’ll be a lager brewery, and started brewing and distributing earlier this year, but Henion also says they will introduce other beers from time to time, following a model of balancing consumer demands and wants along with brewer passions.

From building out a taproom and seeing the warning signs of burnout, to how the brewing community has evolved but still seems tight-knit, we cover a lot in a short period of time."

Host: John Holl
Guest: Dana Henion
Sponsors: The Craft Brewery Cookbook and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Mixed Fermentation, Lagers, Oregon, Festivals, IPA

Ep. 131 - Troy Casey of Casey Brewing and Blending Apr 06, 2022

Show notes

By now, you might be familiar with Troy Casey and his beer career. After graduating from the University of California at Davis he took a job with the company then known as MillerCoors, working in their Colorado brewery in the A.C. Coors division. It was a research and development facility where they would test out various recipes, noodle around with new ones and see if anything stuck that could eventually be scaled up to the big production brewery.

It's a brewer’s dream. Great equipment, access to ingredients, and some of the smartest beer science minds at arm’s length. It also allowed for some creative license. While there he got the idea to brew a lambic-style ale and assembled it, barrels it and let it sit, testing it compulsively, until it was ready.

It lit a fire in him and soon enough he and his wife Emily decided to open their own brewery where he could embrace sour and wood, play with fruits and let the style of beer that had captured his heart thrive and grow.

The response was immediate with fans coming from around the country to visit the brewery in Western Colorado and lining up by the hundreds at beer festivals.

As you’ll hear, the brewery has since grown and new styles have joined the mix, but there is still a twinkle in his voice when he talks about the style that started this part of his career.

This Episode is sponsored by:

World Beer Awards
I’m honored to serve as a co-chair of judges for the U.S. portion this year and we’re bringing experienced, fair-minded, and engaged judges to Washington D.C. later on this summer to blind taste beers and to hand out medals. The World Beer Awards ensures that each beer is judged both rigorously and fairly to give it its best chance in the competition. If you’re a professional brewer, Learn more about the competition and categories and sign up to enter at WorldBeerAwards.com.

Host: John Holl
Guest: Troy Casey
Sponsors: World Beer Awards and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Sour, Wood, Climate Change, Festivals, Fruit

This Week in Rauchbier 2022 Apr 01, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of This Week in Rauchbier special co-host Erik Lehto talks about home brewing rauchbier and the smoke beer scene in Sweden. Then we're joined by Bill Cherry, the founder and brewmaster of Switchback Brewing in Vermont who shares stories and the inspiration behind the brewery's Flynn on Fire Series. As always, Bart Watson of the Brewers Association joins the show to talk about the smoked beer stats we all look forward to each week. Finally, we have a brewers roundtable to talk about alternative smoked beverages including NA beer and seltzer. Adrian Beck-Oliver and Simon Burhoe of Kit NA Brewing in Portland, Maine are joined by brewery consultant Ethan Cox.

Enjoy these audio smoky delights.

Thanks to Hagen and Bill for the inspiration to do this show. Hear the genesis of This Week in Rauchbier on episode 5 of Drink Beer, Think Beer.

Music for this episode:
NewsSting by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4124-newssting

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Hosts: John Holl and Erik Lehto
Guests: Bill Cherry, Adrian Beck-Oliver, Simon Burhoe, Ethan Cox, and Bart Watson.
Tags: beer, craft beer, rauchbier, smoke, April Fool's Day

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