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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.
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.
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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? |
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