Squaring the Barrel with Russ Karasch

While Russ Karasch has been a cooper for over 32 years, he has been in the wood industry for more than five decades. Alongside his daughter, Heidi Korb, Russ founded Black Swan Cooperage in 2009. Thanks to the support of their family, friends, and community, Black Swan Cooperage has grown to a global brand recognized for its high-quality cooperage products and innovations.

Russ joins us today to discuss how Black Swan Cooperage is helping reduce distilleries’ wood consumption through their square barrels. He shares the history of Black Swan Cooperage. He describes the role of yeast in distillation and reveals how barrels impact liquor flavor. He also divulges issues Black Swan faces in the industry and underscores the magic of amburana wood.

This week on Consuming the Craft:

●      Black Swan wood products, how they’re made, and where it all started

●      How Black Swan is driving innovation in the cooperage industry

●      Barrel characterization and its effects on whiskey flavor

●      The art of distillation and the role of yeast in the distillation process

●      Why white oak wood is a stalwart in the cooperage industry

●      Why Black Swan’s square barrels are more environmentally sustainable

●      Yellow birch, guava, and other great woods for aging

●      Wood shortage, supply chain issues, and other concerns in the cooperage industry

Connect with Russ Karasch:

●      Black Swan Cooperage LLC

●      Black Swan Cooperage on Facebook

Consuming the Craft 

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Consuming the Craft Podcast, brought to you by AB Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | GooglePlay

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more craft beverage enthusiasts.

To learn more about AB Tech and the Craft Beer Institute of the Southeast, visit our website.