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BREWING SPOTLIGHT SERIES
A series focusing on the talented individuals that make up the diverse national brewing scene.
Ten questions that pull back the curtain on the geniuses that make our beer great.
Ten questions that pull back the curtain on the geniuses that make our beer great.
Bierstadt Lagerhaus - Denver, CO12/15/2023 Get to know your brewer @bierstadtlager.
Meet Ashleigh—head brewer, self-professed Lagerhead, and all around badass. She, and her husband, Bill, are the owners and operators of one of Denver’s most popular breweries: Bierstadt Lagerhaus. • Bierstadt opened its doors in August 2016–bringing you some of the best Lagers in the country. • Ashleigh has been brewing professionally since August of 2011. • The first beer she brewed at Bierstadt was an IPL collaboration with @comradebrewing, in order to test out their brewhouse before making their core beers: the Slow Pour Pils, Helles, and Dunkel. • Bierstadt brews with a 30 bbl system. They utilize eight 100+ bbl horizontal fermenters for those delicious Lagers. • Ashleigh’s favorite style to brew would be, you guessed it, Lagers. That’s the only style they make at Bierstadt. Their philosophy is, “Do one style, but do it well.” • The hardest challenge she’s faced as the head brewer would be just improving—to get more dialed in every day and not be complacent. Her most challenging skill would be learning packaging. It wasn’t a skill she opened the brewery with and had to learn quickly. • Unlike other breweries, you won’t catch Bierstadt planning on new beers. Ashleigh loves doing collabs with friends, and she emphasizes the importance of Bierstadt getting in a groove and continuing to make their core offerings exceptional. • A great reason to stop by Bierstadt would be the fact they make some of the best Lagers in the business. They are committed to making Lagers traditionally, with patience, and serving it well. She wants one to feel like you haven’t visited Denver without a stop at Bierstadt. • Asleigh’s favorite lawnmower beer would be @coorsbanquetor @theoriginalolympia. • When she’s not brewing, you can catch Ashleigh hanging out with her dog, traveling, drinking Lagers and talking shit. Oh, and she makes some mean tortillas. Next time you’re in Denver, make sure to stop by Bierstadt and savor their excellent array of Lagers. It’s not a trip to Denver without a visit. 😉
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Pryes Brewing - Minneapolis, MN8/10/2023 Get to know your brewer @pryesbrewing and @idyllforestartisanales.
Meet Jeremy Pryes. He’s the founder, head brewer, and creative genius at Pryes Brewing and Idyll Forest Artisan Ales. • Pryes first opened in Minnetonka in 2012 under a dual proprietorship with Lucid Brewing. This allowed Pryes to use their equipment while supplying their own malt, hops and yeast. They brewed with @badweatherbrew, @inboundbrewco and @badgerhillbeer as a kind of “brewery incubator” program. Four top MN breweries came out of Lucid’s facility! Pryes, as you know it now, opened its doors in 2017. • Jeremy was a home brewer (beer, ciders, mead) for 12 years before getting his brewing degree at the American Brewers Guild. He’s now been brewing professionally for 11 years. • The first beer he brewed at Pryes was Miraculum, their flagship Midwest IPA—first designed at Lucid in 2012. • Pryes Brewing currently operates a 15bbl, three vessel hybrid system. This allows an overlap of turns on a brew day. • Jeremy’s favorite style to brew is what you see above—his Lambic-influenced/mixed culture program: Idyll Forest. He formed Idyll Forest to explore where flavors can go. It embodies a hands-on approach to create these exceptional hybrids—a true farm-to-table or grain-to-glass experience. • The hardest challenge for Jeremy has been raw materials. Ingredients are never the same because Mother Nature doesn’t care about consistency like brewers do. • Future plans at Idyll Forest include releasing a Cider Hybrid series. His custom coolship allows the production of these hybrids with what is in the air at any given time. It’s a celebration of the day, if you will. • A good reason to stop by Pryes is their new expanded taproom—and also their exceptional shows and music acts put together by the wizard, @drewkoe. • Jeremy’s favorite lawnmower beer would be @buschbeer. He once had 13 in an afternoon on a bet, but just ended up very full. Not even tipsy, just full. 😆 • When he’s not brewing, you can catch him with his wonderful wife and two kids at a local park. At night, he’s probably getting primal around a campfire. He doesn’t have an off switch yet, but he’s working on it. Get to know your brewer @boathouse_bros.
Meet Emmett. He’s the owner, head brewer, and resident prankster at Boathouse Brothers Brewing in Prior Lake, MN. • Boathouse Brothers opened their doors on April 20th, 2018. • Emmett started brewing at age 11 (he jokes as he explains his disappointment when he found out his dad’s @mrbeer kit wasn’t producing root beer). Fifteen years later, a session at Vine Park turned him on to the home brewing world. • The first beer Emmett made for Boathouse was the CTZ IPA—a simple smash brew to see how the bigger equipment would work with his recipe designs. • The brewery has a 3bbl brewhouse, and a cellar of four 3bbl and five 7bbl fermenters, for double batches. • Emmett’s favorite style to drink would be a Märzen. His favorite style to brew would be his Pilsners—something about that clean, crisp Lager that makes trickier parts of brewing fun. • The hardest challenge he’s faced at Boathouse has been equipment that seems to break or malfunction at inopportune times. • Future plans for the brewery include expanding to a 7bbl system (but he’s going to have to figure out the logistics of how to raise the ceiling first). • A great reason to stop by Boathouse Brewing this year would be their multiple tap lines and constant rotation. They’ve put around 100 different beers on their menu in the last five years! Emmett isn’t afraid to put different beer styles on nitro either. • Emmett’s favorite crushable lawnmower beer would be Purgatory Pils from @unmappedbrewing. It’s crisp, cold, and a reliable old friend. When he’s not brewing, you can catch Emmett playing Legos with his “assistant” brewer son, Soren. Emmett and his wife do a fantastic job with charity beers, and have organized some fun and philanthropic events in the taproom. If you’ve never made your way to Prior Lake before, stop on in to Boathouse Brothers. You never know what delicious styles will be on tap next! Zilker Brewing - Austin, TX5/25/2023 Get to know @zilkerbeer.
Meet Dan and Marco. Dan’s the Chief Brewing Officer, aka head brewer, and Marco is the Director of Brewing Operations, one of the principal owners (along with Patrick and Forrest Clark) of Zilker Brewing in Austin, TX. • Zilker opened its doors in 2015, after years of Marco, Patrick and Forrest dialing in their award-winning beers. Dan came on board as head brewer in January 2021. • Dan’s first commercial brewing job came @gordonbiersch in San Diego. Later, he worked as the head brewer @rockbottombrewery in La Jolla, CA, before opening the brewpub, Puesto Cerveceria. Marco volunteered @jesterkingbrewery for three years, being a jack of all trades (bottling, cleaning, milling) and even some koelschip work before plying his trade creating beers for Zilker. • The first beer Dan brewed at Zilker was Parks & Rec Pale Ale. The first beer he designed was a Czech Style Pilsner. Marco’s first beer was, you guessed it, the beer that became Marco IPA. • Zilker utilizes a 15bbl two-vessel brewhouse, with five 15bbl, seven 30bbl, and three 60bbl fermenters. • Dan’s favorite style to make at Zilker is any seasonal Lager or clear IPA. • Production demands are the biggest challenge at Zilker. Making as much beer as possible seems straightforward, but it’s a multifaceted challenge. “Good problems,” but problems nonetheless. • Future plans for Zilker include a packed schedule of seasonal releases and one-off collaborations. Keep an eye out for new collabs dropping! • A great reason to stop by Zilker would be their super fresh hoppy beers of all clarity levels. And don’t forget their expanded patio with @spicyboyschicken! • Dan’s favorite crushable lawnmower beer would be Budweiser. Otherwise, you can catch him sipping Hans Pils by @realalebrewing, with Marco apparently, because it’s his favorite crushable beer as well! • When he’s not working, you can find Dan going to shows, playing guitar, and hanging out with his wife…and designing new beers. Marco enjoys cooking brisket, exercising, and recently took up classes in Español. Lotus Beverage Alliance - Lincoln, NE5/17/2023 Get to know the CEO of @lotusbevall.
Meet John Ansbro, Chief Executive Officer of the newly formed Lotus Beverage Alliance. This $100 million merger of six different craft beverage entities— @automatedextractions, @brewmation, @gwkent_equipment, @stouttanks, @alphabrewops and @twinmonkeysbeveragesystems—will allow manufacturers, and breweries of all sizes, access to the most comprehensive array of products for every step of the craft brewing process. And we’re not just talking about beer. Lotus covers wine, hard cider, spirits, cold brew coffee, kombucha, sake and CBD/THC-infused beverages as well. John has had over 30 years of equipment manufacturing and infrastructure experience and was tabbed to lead this joint venture. The five founders of the six merged companies will also remain in senior leadership positions in order to keep years of relationships and product knowledge within the company. It’s important to Lotus, as John says, “To go the extra mile for our customers. Most of our sales people are craft brewers themselves, or have brewery experience.” Lotus also offers financing in as little as 24 hours, so that breweries can get on their feet, or secure the equipment they need. Although 80% of their business focuses on the beer and wine space, Lotus is pushing into other markets to assist brewers in the fields of kombucha, specialty coffees, ready-to-drink cocktail beverages, and more. Lotus is an end-to-end supplier—a one stop shop. Beyond hardware, they also specialize in consumables. Their vast network includes the ability to secure malt and specialty ingredients, or even cleaning agents. Brewers can rest easy knowing they can connect with Lotus for all of their brewing needs. Lotus is driven by continued innovation, growth, and expert end-to-end customer service and support. They are an employee-owned company with a bold vision to both facilitate, and simplify, the business of brewing. So, the simple question is, could Lotus be the next Amazon for brewing? Hayes' Public House - Buffalo, MN3/10/2023 Get to know your brewer @hayespublichouse.
Meet Pugs. He’s the owner, head brewer, and flat cap extraordinaire at Hayes’ Public House in Buffalo, MN. The only place with SIX beer engines in the state! Together, with his right hand man, Jake, they make some of the best traditional ales in MN. • Hayes’ opened its doors on November 19th, 2013. • Prior to the brewery opening, Pugs had been home brewing for about seven years. • The first beer he brewed at Hayes’ was their Irish Stout, still his go-to beer. It is simply one of the best beers they have, especially on the hand-pull. • Hayes’ brews off of a 7 bbl system by @pdxkettleworks, artfully engineered to brew high-gravity beers (it can be pushed to 8 bbls, if needed). They have four 7 bbl fermenters and one 15 bbl fermenter. • The hardest challenge for Pugs has been staying relevant in a world of ever-changing beer trends. Staying on top of your creative game is vital. • Future plans for the brewery include expanding into different packaging sizes for customers. They would love to be able to expand the taproom to accommodate more seating as well. • Reasons to stop by Hayes’ are their six traditional hand pulls, live music, and a patio that overlooks Buffalo Lake. Also, they plan on having a three day event for St. Patrick’s Day next weekend. 🍀 • His favorite lawnmower beer would be either @hammsthebeer or @oldstylebeer. • When he’s not brewing, you can catch Pugs at car shows, music events, or even swing dancing with his lady. He loves to cruise around in his 1946 Chevy Coupe. If you get the chance, pick a day next weekend to go visit one of the most authentic Irish taprooms in Minnesota for St. Paddy’s. That Irish Stout on the beer engine will be worth it. Get to know your brewer @heavyrotationbrewing.
Meet Josh. He’s the head brewer, and henchman of Hazies, at Heavy Rotation Brewing in Brooklyn Park, MN. • Construction of HRB started in November of 2021, and they opened their doors April 8th, 2022. Their one year anniversary is coming up! • Josh first began home brewing in 2010. He’s had recent stints @wickedwortbrewingcompany and later, in packaging, with the good folks @utepilsbrewing. • The first beer Josh brewed at HRB was their Zwickelbier—a fresh, sessionable, slightly hoppy Pilsner. • HRB uses a 3.5 bbl, three vessel electric brewhouse by @blichmannengineering. They also have eight 3.5 bbl stainless @ssbrewtech unitanks. • Josh loves to brew what he likes to drink. And for him, that’s definitely his Vienna Lager and the English Dark Mild. • There haven’t been too many hiccups at HRB, thankfully. Josh says he leaned pretty heavily on @brewermichaels at Venn Brewing and @tombergmpls at Falling Knife. Both guys were excellent resources for HRB. Proper carbonation in a fermentation vessel can also be a finicky leaning curve too. • Heavy Rotation just started offering four-packs of 12 oz bottles from their taproom. They’ll be starting a small barrel-aging program this year. HRB just recently teamed up with Minnesota legend, @gablesteveson. Check the beer out! • HRB always has 16 different beers on tap. Their smaller system allows them to consistently put out new beers. They also have a free arcade! • Josh’s favorite lawnmower beer would be @modelousa, both Especial and Negra. • When he’s not brewing, you can catch Josh spending time with his partner, Jessi, and their two dogs, Bogart and Jimmy. He loves to cook, camp, and kayak. ABV Technology - St. Paul, MN1/30/2023 Get to know the head of NA craft beer pioneer, @abvtechnology.
Meet Ben, CEO of ABV Technology in St. Paul, MN. ABV has been turning your favorite craft beer into delicious nonalcoholic beverages, from Stouts to Cold IPAs. They’ve ramped up the inclusivity game in the national craft beer scene. • ABV Technology incorporated in 2017, spending the first three years developing their Equalizer: a dealcolyzer that removes the ethanol from regular craft beer. In 2020, they also came up with their Analyzer: their ABV% measuring device for craft beverage manufacturers. • ABV services over a third of Minnesota’s craft breweries. Currently, you can find their NAs on tap at 36 breweries across the state! • The first NA beer they produced for sale was the Helles from @bauhausbrewlabs. Bauhaus has been a leader in the MN craft NA scene for five years, with five distinct Nah beers both on tap and in cans. • Their Equalizers allow producers to make 32 gallons of NA beverages per hour. They can process approximately 6000 bbls of craft NA beer per year. The added benefit is nearly the same amount of clear, filtered alcoholic beverage is produced (used as a base for most seltzers around town). • Ben enjoys a clean, crisp NA Lager the most. Right now he’s drinking a ton of the NA Cream Ale from @ursa_minor_brewing. • The biggest challenge ABV has faced has been the turbulent market during this nascent NA scene. ABV was a pioneer in the craft NA world. Navigating the early years of the pandemic with a nonalcoholic beverage business was difficult, but now the tide has swung and NAs are one of the largest growing beer options. • ABV is looking forward to expanding their offerings to craft wineries, cideries, and more. They’ve established a presence on both coasts and in Canada as well. • A good reason to enjoy an NA is that their craft NAs always start as a fully fermented beverage. The flavors, aromas, and experience of your favorite beer styles are carried over to an ABV NA. • Ben enjoys crushing crisp Lagers, especially the Kellar Pils from @summitbeer. • When he’s not working, you can catch Ben gardening, running, cooking or procrastinating home repairs. Grand Strand Brewing - Myrtle Beach, SC12/30/2022 Get to know your brewer @grandstrandbrewco.
Meet Christophe, head brewer and caretaker of the Seven Dwarves (brew fermenters) at Grand Strand Brewing, nestled in the heart of downtown Myrtle Beach, SC. • Grand Strand Brewing opened in February of 2021. • Christophe has been brewing professionally for five years, with stops @randomrowbrewing in Charlottesville, VA, @wildwolfbeer in Nellysford, VA, and @palmettobrewing in Charleston, SC. • The first beer he brewed at GSBC was Jolene, their Red Ale (it’s absolutely fantastic). • Grand Strand uses a 15bbl brew system with four 30bbl, one 15bbl, and a 7 bbl fermenters. That seventh dwarf must be hiding… • Christophe’s favorite beer to brew would be Jolene, due to the challenge of getting the red color to shine with that beer. He also loves to brew Belgian-style beers, although doesn’t get to as much because they are a beach brewery—Belgians are a tough sell sometimes. • The hardest challenge he’s faced as head brewer has been the consistency of their flagship Hazy IPA. Haze is easy at the start of the brew, but keeping that haze in suspension and keeping it consistent was a difficult challenge. But they’ve dialed it in now! • Future plans for the brewery include eventually having a second location and concentrating on their R&D. They hope to release a “Flip Flop Hop” series that will concentrate on new hop varieties throughout the US. • A great reason to pop by is the fact they have spent two years focusing on their flagships. They look forward to a lot of hop-heavy beer and crazy new brews in 2023! • Christophe’s favorite crushable beer would be @labattbreweries. His mother is Canadian, so it holds a special place in his heart. • When he’s not brewing, you can catch Christophe building out his man cave in his garage. He also likes to spend time in his vegetable garden when the weather is pleasant. So zen… Stop on by Grand Strand whenever you’re in Myrtle Beach, just a block from the beach. Say hey to Christophe and the crew and sip some of their splendid brew! Edmund Oast Brewing - Charleston, SC11/30/2022 Get to know your brewer @eobrewing.
Meet Clint. He’s the head brewer, taproom jester, and magician of malts at Edmund’s Oast Brewing in Charleston, SC. • EOB started as a tiny bottle shop in 2008 as the Charleston Beer Exchange. Scott Shor and Rich Carley helped bring craft beer culture to the state and opened Edmund’s Oast brewhouse in 2014. Their full production facility opened in 2017. • Clint originally started on the bottling line @palmettobrewingin 2009. After reading “The Joy of Homebrewing,” by @charlie_papazian, he started making brews of his own. Wanting to earn Charlie’s fist bump at GABF, Clint finally succeeded winning a bronze in the Fruited Sour category in 2019 with EOB. • His first beer that he brewed at EOB was “Something Cold,” an American Blonde Ale. • Clint brews off of a 30bbl, four vessel brew house with a 15bbl mash lauter. They have three 15bbl, three 30bbl, two 60bbl and eight 80bbl fermenters. In addition, EOB has two 90bbl, two 60bbl, three 30bbl and three 15bbl brite tanks. • Clint loves to brew traditional Lagers. They’re light, sometimes malty or dark, and difficult to hide your mistakes. • His most difficult challenge at EOB was wrangling the beer, “Fistful of Foam,” a Czech-style Lager. It had a double decoction mash, which made the brew difficult, but well worth it. • Future plans include their collaboration with local meadery, @garagistemeadery, called, “Depeche Mjød.” It’s made with California Cab grape must, Turkish pomegranate and blueberries, aged on American Oak, Brazilian Amburana and Southern Bald Cypress. • Best reason to stop by EOB? Their staff. Everyone is knowledgeable and passionate about beer. Also, EOB is in the middle of the brewery district in Charleston! • When he can, Clint prefers sipping Coors Lights on the water when it’s hot. • Clint loves making meads at home—they make great Christmas gifts! He also loves burning calories so he can drink more (which means taking his dog on long walks and taking in the beautiful city). Stop on by Edmund’s Oast for some amazing brews and eats. Or, pick up one or their fantastic beers when on the East Coast. You can’t beat that lovely black & white can art! |
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