Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 120 - Jean-Claude Tetreault of Trillium Brewing Jan 19, 2022

Show notes

For a brewery less than a decade old, it’s been a hell of a ride for Trillium in Massachusetts. Starting in a small cramped space near Boston’s waterfront, to now boasting a growing roster of locations including restaurants and a farm, the brewery has been celebrated and scrutinized but always focused.

This is most apparent in the beers themselves. Sure, there are hazy IPAs and big imperial stouts but also beers that celebrate agriculture, or play with ingredients like wine grapes and honey.

So that he did a spontaneous blend, in the Belgian tradition shouldn’t be a surprise. That they are elegant and fun to drink shouldn’t be a surprise either.

These beers, as all of the growth, is deliberate and is a push towards a goal that has been coming more and more into focus over the years.

Beers aside, J.C. Tetreault who founded the brewery with his wife Ester, has also been trying to build a better beer community and culture, even recently hosting a symposium on best practices to eliminate the sexist undertones and overtones that have been in and around the beer space.

On this episode he talks about all of that and more.

This Episode is sponsored by:

NZ Hops
NZ Hops, the co-operative of Master Hop Growers are a passionate collective of farms dedicated to innovation and sustainability. Leading the charge in sustainable farm practices, some NZ Hops farms have over five generations of knowledge that inform their composting program, used by growers to promote healthy regenerative growth of hops year upon year. This creates high quality soil, a critical component of healthy growing conditions. At NZ Hops, they feel that sustainability is not only being a steward for the land, but for our future.

Athletic Brewing Co.
Athletic Brewing Company’s innovative process allows them to brew great-tasting

craft beer without the alcohol. From IPAs to stouts to golden ales and more, they offer a full selection of beers starting at only 50 calories. Now you can keep your head clear and enjoy the refreshing taste of beer anytime, anywhere. Place an order today at

athleticbrewing.com and get free shipping on two six packs or more. New customers

can also get 10% off their entire order with code BeerEdge10. Limit one per customer.

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: J.C. Tetreault
Sponsors: NZ Hops, Athletic Brewing, and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Bars, COVID-19, Florida, Belgium, Food, Culinary Beers, Special Ingredients

Ep. 119 - Kevin Abbott of Barrel of Monks Jan 12, 2022

Show notes

Before he started in the brewing industry Kevin Abbott was a wine steward. His time in restaurants helped form his idea behind food and beverage – something that exists to this day. He started as a homebrewer and then jumped into the deep end of the pool, starting as the head brewer for Funky Buddha in Florida back when they were launching into brewpub operations.

He stayed there for nearly four years and then moved to Due South Brewing before becoming a Partner and Head Brewer at Barrel of Monks in 2015. Since then he’s become the director of operations. Abbott oversees most aspects of the brewery including production, distribution and the tap room and this episode covers it all.

This Episode is sponsored by:

Athletic Brewing Co.
Athletic Brewing Company’s innovative process allows them to brew great-tasting

athleticbrewing.com and get free shipping on two six packs or more. New customers

can also get 10% off their entire order with code BeerEdge10. Limit one per customer.

Host: John Holl
Guest: Kevin Abbott of Barrel of Monks
Sponsors: NZ Hops, Athletic Brewing, and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Bars, COVID-19, Florida, Belgium, Food, Culinary Beers, Special Ingredients

Ep. 118 - The World Atlas of Beer Jan 05, 2022

Show notes

A lot of experiences are lost in the digital age. We get so accustomed to seeing places virtually on a screen, or reading pieces built for short bursts that when a book like theWorld Atlas of Beercomes along we all should take notice.

This 3rd edition is completely revised and authors Tim Webb and Stephen Beaumont take us on a tour of the world through its beer culture. This isn’t a travel book per se, but an examination of what each country has created in the brewing space, what it aspires to be, and what we can expect or look to appreciate when we visit for ourselves.

The authors are proper writers and travelers and their collective knowledge, inquisitive nature, and discerning palates are evident in each page.

Now, about the authors:

Tim Webb spent six years on the board of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) where he ran Britain's national beer festival and co-founded CAMRA's publishing company. He has written Good Beer Guide Belgium continuously since 1992 and has won awards for beer writing in four countries.

Stephen Beaumont is the author or co-author of ten additional books about beer, including The Beer & Food Companion, and two editions of The Pocket Beer Book, and a contributor to many others. He’s hosted tastings, dinners, and educational events around the globe.

Get a copy of this book. The World Atlas of Beer should be in your collection and well thumbed through before you put it up on a shelf for later reference. What makes this book special is not just the country entries, but the included maps, the sidebars, photos and graphics. Digital can’t compete with that on this scope, and getting lost in the pages for a while is a great vacation for the brain as you plot out your next real trip for beer.

This Episode is sponsored by:

Athletic Brewing Co.
Athletic Brewing Company’s innovative process allows them to brew great-tasting

athleticbrewing.com and get free shipping on two six packs or more. New customers

can also get 10% off their entire order with code BeerEdge10. Limit one per customer.

Host: John Holl
Guests: Tim Webb and Stephen Beaumont
Sponsors: NZ Hops, Athletic Brewing, and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Bars, COVID-19, Travel, South America, France, Canada, United Kingdom, Belgium

Ep. 117 - The State of Bars with Chris Black, Michael Roper, and Polly Watts 2021 Dec 29, 2021

Show notes

Show notes from John Holl:

"A lot of us had high hopes for 2021 and getting back into normalcy, old routines, and sitting down on familiar barstools.

It didn’t turn out as we’d hoped.

Again, over the course of this past year, I’ve talked with a lot of brewery owners and brewers about how COVID-19 has impacted them and changed the brewing industry, but like we did at this time last year, I want to talk about bars and what the pandemic has done to them.

Once again on the show I’m honored to be joined by three of the very best in the country:

Polly Watts of the Avenue Pub in New Orleans, Michael Roper of Hop Leaf in Chicago, and Chris Black of Falling Rock Tap House in Denver.

Black, of course, closed the Falling Rock earlier this summer, a huge loss for beer in America. With a few months of hindsight he offers up thoughts on what nearly 25 years in business did to him and how he’ll move forward."

This Episode is sponsored by:

Athletic Brewing Co.
Athletic Brewing Company’s innovative process allows them to brew great-tasting

athleticbrewing.com and get free shipping on two six packs or more. New customers

can also get 10% off their entire order with code BeerEdge10. Limit one per customer.

Host: John Holl
Guests: Chris Black, Michael Roper, Polly Watts
Sponsors: NZ Hops, Athletic Brewing, and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Bars, COVID-19, Chicago, Denver, New Orleans

Ep. 116 - Reflections on Beer in 2021 Dec 22, 2021

Show notes

For the second year in a row, as we end a year amid a pandemic, there continues to be innovation and uncertainty in the beer space. To reflect on it all host John Holl gathered some of his friends and fellow writers to talk about the year that was and what might be coming over the horizon of 2022.

Guests this week are:

- Christopher Shepard the senior editor of Craft Brew News, published by Beer Marketers Insights;

- Freelance writer Carla Jean Lauter;

- Matt Kirkegaard, the founder and editor of Australia Brews News;

- Andy Crouch, the publisher of Beer Edge, and the host of the beer edge podcast.

We hoped to have Melissa Cole back with us this year, but she was unable to make it. Still she has a new book out – The Ultimate Book of Craft Beer. We encourage you to find it and buy a copy where books are sold.

The groups talks a little business, has a little fun, and takes a walk through the green door.

Get a beer, get comfortable, and let’s have some fun.

This Episode is sponsored by:

Athletic Brewing Co.
Athletic Brewing Company’s innovative process allows them to brew great-tasting

athleticbrewing.com and get free shipping on two six packs or more. New customers

can also get 10% off their entire order with code BeerEdge10. Limit one per customer.

Host: John Holl
Guest: Andy Crouch, Matt Kirkegaard, Carla Jean Lauter, Christopher Shepard
Sponsors: NZ Hops, Athletic Brewing, and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Lager, Rauchbier, IPA, Non-Alcoholic, Brave Noise, Mergers, Sales, Cans, Bottles, Christmas

Ep. 115 - Daniel Carey of New Glarus Brewing Co. Dec 15, 2021

Show notes

A lot of ink has been spilled writing about Spotted Cow, the behemoth flagship of New Glarus Brewing Co., but there are a good number of beers that the brewery puts out each year, including seasonals and one offs that go beyond the bovine.

It’s the limited edition beers that often capture the interest and attention of beer fans – if they can get them. Recently New Glarus released two small batch beers, both boasting chocolate as an ingredient. A Blueberry Chocolate Stout and a Mocha Berry Bock are delightful in their own ways, never neglecting the base beer and teasing out the chocolate with each sip.

To find out more about these beers and working with special ingredients we reached out to Daniel Carey. He’s the co-founder and brewer at New Glarus Brewing Co. He and wife Deborah Carey founded the brewery in 1993 and have been there every step of the way as it has grown and thrived all while staying in the confines of Wisconsin. Daniel had a long career in beer before starting his own brewery, and he talks about his love of certain styles, customer feedback that is sometimes slings and arrows and sometimes loyal pride and praise.

If you follow beer news you might know that the brewery is also in the midst of a lawsuit and countersuit. Since that is ongoing it’s not something the brewery said it was able to publicly discuss.

So, for this show we’re sticking with flavor and process.

This Episode is sponsored by:

Athletic Brewing Co.
Athletic Brewing Company’s innovative process allows them to brew great-tasting

athleticbrewing.com and get free shipping on two six packs or more. New customers

can also get 10% off their entire order with code BeerEdge10. Limit one per customer.

Host: John Holl
Guest: Daniel Carey of New Glarus Brewing Co.
Sponsors: NZ Hops, Athletic Brewing, and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Lager, Rauchbier, Pilsner, IPA, Chocolate, Fruit, Spotted Cow, Wisconsin

Ep. 114 - Brewers Talk About the Best of the Year Dec 08, 2021

Show notes

Show notes from Host John Holl:

"Wine Enthusiast Magazine released its Top 50 Beers of the Year list earlier this week. I’m the contributing editor for beer in those pages, and you should give it a look if you haven’t already. In thinking about the list and all the beers I was lucky enough to taste on the blind panels this year I wanted to bring together some brewing industry folks – those who are on the list - for a chat about the year that was and where they see the current state of beer.

The panel includes:

- Lisa Allen, the head brewer of Heater Allen Brewing

- Jude La Rose of Hop Butcher for the World

- Matthew Steinberg of Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing

- Cambria Griffith of Radiant Beer Co.

This quickly turned into a fun back and forth between them, sharing stories about shared experiences and unique challenges, and a shared fondness of baked goods.

Thanks for listening."

This Episode is sponsored by:

Stomp Stickers
Stomp Stickers is a proud member of the brewers association that produces a wide variety of printed brewery products such as beer labels, keg collars, coasters, beer boxes and much more. Stomp’s website features an easy-to-use design tool, low quantity orders, fast turn times, and free domestic shipping. Visit StompStickers.com and use code DRINKBEER15 for 15% off your first order.

Athletic Brewing Co.
Athletic Brewing Company’s innovative process allows them to brew great-tasting

athleticbrewing.com and get free shipping on two six packs or more. New customers

can also get 10% off their entire order with code BeerEdge10. Limit one per customer.

Host: John Holl
Guests: Lisa Allen, Cambria Griffith, Jude La Rose, Matthew Steinberg
Sponsors: NZ Hops, Stomp Stickers, Athletic Brewing, and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Lager, IPA, Coffee Cake, Adjuncts, Taprooms, Marketing, Distribution, Customer Experience, Brave Noise

Ep. 113 - Sam Riggins of Cosmic Eye Brewing Dec 01, 2021

Show notes

Sam Riggins is making the most out of his brewery. Cosmic Eye Brewery is his long running vision of a brewing operation that he could call home. Starting as a home brewer and then working for Nebraska Brewing Co., he and his wife started the Lincoln, Nebraska based brewery about four years ago, envisioning it as a local taproom that could also make beer to for the local market.

The pandemic, of course, has complicated things. But a stick-to-it-ness and a desire to make beer that doesn’t follow hype trends, tastes like the beer he wants to drink and is proud to serve, and helps bring new drinkers into the fold has him happy and moving forward.

That he is brewing without fuss doesn’t mean he is against experimentation. He’s thoughtful and creative when putting recipes together, sometimes relying on the “less is more” approach, especially when it comes to IPA.

As you’ll hear, it has helped him grow a customer base and forge deeper connections with beer drinkers.

This Episode is sponsored by:

Athletic Brewing Co.
Athletic Brewing Company’s innovative process allows them to brew great-tasting

athleticbrewing.com and get free shipping on two six packs or more. New customers

can also get 10% off their entire order with code BeerEdge10. Limit one per customer.

Host: John Holl
Guest: Sam Riggins
Sponsors: NZ Hops, Stomp Stickers, Athletic Brewing, and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Lager, Music, Homebrewing, Collaboration, Nebraska

Ep. 112 - Chefs Talk About Beer Pairings and Perfect Menus Nov 24, 2021

Show notes

Notes from Host John Holl:

A well conceived and executed beer dinner is a wonderful thing. It is a combination of a chef's creativity and a brewer's best efforts coming together on one table. It is best paired with companions that are enthusiastic about flavor and exploration.

One of the best beer dinners I’ve ever attended was at The Ruck, a great beer bar in Troy, New York. The chef at the time Rachel Mabb outdid herself course after course pairing with, and occasionally cooking with Allagash beer.

She’s since left the restaurant and is now teaching culinary students at nearby Union College. It’s a great pleasure to have her on the show today.

The same is true for Heather Hutton. She’s the pastry chef at Edmund’s Oast in South Carolina. I’ve been working on a new cookbook about beer and food pairing, and Heather was kind enough to share a recipe for a Tres Leche cake that just blew everyone away during the testing and writing phase of the project. Baking and beer are a lot alike and she has great insight.

And Brandon Plyler is the brewery’s Advanced Cicerone and is doing a little bit of everything these days. He has keen insight into pairings, service, and has a respect for the classics are often overlooked.

This Episode is sponsored by:

Host: John Holl
Guest: Rachel Maab, Heather Hutton, Brandon Plyler
Sponsors: NZ Hops, Stomp Stickers and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Food, IPA, Hops, Lager, Saison, Thanksgiving

Ep. 111 - Matt Manthe of Odd Breed Wild Ales Nov 17, 2021

Show notes

Inspired by Belgium and its beers, Matt Manthe has a strong respect for wild microbes, spontaneous ales, and the results that come from letting cultures express themselves. His professional brewing career and studies have taken him from South Carolina, to Berlin and now to Florida, where he did the work of shift and head brewing making clean beers for thirsty customers.

Behind the scenes and at home he was experimenting with his own house strain, and thinking about long and wood aged ales.

You’d expect nothing less from a brewer who has a degree in microbiology.

Odd Breed Wild Ales opened in 2017 and is the expression of Manthe and the beers he wants to make, the ones that come from an idea that often has to wait for months or years for a formal debut. From whole cone hops to locally sourced whole fruit, to wild lagers he has deep thoughts on it all.

This Episode is sponsored by:

Host: John Holl
Guest: Matt Manthe of Odd Breed Wild Ales
Sponsors: NZ Hops, Stomp Stickers and The Beer Edge
Tags: Beer, Fruit, Lager, Local, IPA, Spontaneous, Hops, Wood, Ken Grossman

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected