Consuming the Craft
118 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 16 ratingsInterviews and entertainment in the craft beverage industry. Join Puff as he explores the wonderful world of craft beer!
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Episodes
Everyone Has an ‘O-pina’ on Scotch & Tequila with John Lyda
November 02, 2022 09:00 - 25 minutes - 34.4 MBJohn Lyda is the master of all-things-brewing. He is a full-time faculty member and instructor at CBI where he shares his wealth of knowledge and experience on brewing, distilling, and fermentation with his students. John joins me for today’s Booze Clues Special - his favorite type of spirit - tequila. We share our “o-pinas” on tequila and scotch and discuss some of the best-tasting tequila and scotch drinks we’ve enjoyed. We also discuss how CBI aims to help students learn the art of ma...
Lazy Brewing, Brilliant Marketing, and Remembering Bill Coors with John Lyda
October 26, 2022 09:00 - 23 minutes - 32.8 MBIt’s a sad time in the brewing industry. Bill (William) Coors, an executive at Coors Brewing Company, recently passed away at the age of 102. So, as John Lyda and I tip our glasses to remember the great Bill Coors, we share our thoughts on proper beer filtration methods and brewing styles. John joins me to discuss “lazy brewing” and the brilliant marketing strategy behind the New England Style IPA beers. John shares his concerns about New England’s style and filtration methods and why he...
Homemade Flavored Vodka and Scratching the Beer-y Itch with Lite Beer with John Lite
October 26, 2022 09:00 - 23 minutes - 32.9 MBThis week on Consuming the Craft, John joins me to scratch the ‘beer-y itch’ and discuss all things related to lite beer. We dive deep into the history of lite beer and share who really invented the golden elixir. We discuss the process of reducing calories in beer, why lite beer was originally created, and the characteristics of the best-selling beer in the world. We also share our most and least favorite beer and wine choices and how to infuse your favorite flavors into vodka. This ...
Hop & Spicy Cider, Cake-Flavored Rum, and Avoiding Blueberry Face Punches with Greg Hill of Urban Orchard Cider
October 19, 2022 09:00 - 14.2 KBGreg Hill is a Certified Cicerone and the Production Director at Urban Orchard Cider, a family-owned and operated craft cider producer based in Asheville, NC. Since it’s launch in 2015 at the Craft Beer Rising event, the company has gained multiple awards and recognition including taking First Place as the Best Place to Drink Cider in America in 2017 by Food & Wine Magazine. In addition to crafting some of the best tasting cider in the country, the company frequently holds events at their We...
Han Solo Hops and the Brew-Union Hop Report with Ian McHarg of Country Malt Group
October 19, 2022 09:00 - 21 minutes - 16.9 MBIan McHarg is the Herald of Hops; the Leader of Lupulin at Country Malt Group. With over 100 years of combined brewery and brewing experience as well as 11 warehouses across North America, the group is committed to providing a wide range of quality ingredients and excellent service throughout the craft beverage industry. Ian joins me today to discuss the State of Brew-Union and share his analysis of the Hops Report. He explains why European hop harvest yields are low for 2019 while those...
Booze Clues, Scotch Jacuzzis & the Food Safety Modernization Act with Chris Reedy of NC BioNetwork
October 12, 2022 09:00 - 7.4 KBChris Reedy is the Director of Food, Beverage, and Natural Products at NC BioNetwork. NC BioNetwork offers educational and lab resources, courses, and training programs that impact the economic and workforce development within the biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and life sciences industries across North Carolina. Chris is responsible for providing leadership and administrative oversight for statewide programs and resources. Chris joins me today to discuss the Food Safety Modernization A...
Drinking for the Climate with Palmer Fox
September 28, 2022 09:00 - 26 minutes - 36.5 MBAfter graduating with a degree in Environmental Design in Architecture from North Carolina State University, Palmer Fox found himself in an early-life crisis. He always had a knack for entrepreneurship when he was young, and spending his life in front of a drafting board didn’t sound so appealing. So, after some soul-searching in Asheville—and falling in love with the mountains—Palmer found himself in craft beverages learning how to do prohibition-era cocktails. He soon became the Bar Progra...
Learning About Craft Beer from The Grateful Dead Tours with Kevin Sondey
September 21, 2022 09:00 - 29 minutes - 40.4 MBAs a young man, Kevin Sondey followed The Grateful Dead's rock band to learn about music and himself. The Grateful Dead not only provided him with great music—but also introduced him to craft brews. Kevin is a stalwart of the craft beverage industry, having worked in several market niches, from distilling and brewing to kombucha and ginger beer; as the Production Manager of Ginger's Revenge, Kevin focused on supporting his team in efficiently creating quality products. Kevin joins me today ...
Serving Tea and Saving Lives with Sara Stender Delaney
September 14, 2022 09:00 - 29 minutes - 40.3 MBSara Stender Delaney came to the Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast at A-B Tech with a vision—an idea she wanted to morph and mold into something new: draft tea. A working mother in Asheville, Sara wanted more fun, healthy, nonalcoholic options in the Beer City. Since then, she has put her skills, passion, and determination into creating Sarilla, an award-winning nonalcoholic beverage in cans and kegs made with organic, fair-trade Rwandan tea. Sara is also the founder of Africa Healin...
Booze Bits - How Many Kegs of Beer Do I Need
August 31, 2022 09:00 - 5 minutes - 7.14 MBHow much beer do you need to entertain a room full of friends and family? How many kegs would you need to throw your next get-together or party? While the answer to these questions relies on many different factors, the short answer is…it depends. How big is the keg? This week, I discuss how to determine the number of beer kegs you will need to throw your next party or get-together. I explain why kegs come in various shapes and sizes and discuss some of the key factors you need to con...
Booze Bits: Dansk Mjød Mead with John Lyda
August 17, 2022 09:00 - 15 minutes - 20.8 MBWhat does it take to become a great mazer? Or brewmaster? Or winemaker? John Lyda—full-time instructor at A-B Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast and meadmaker extraordinaire—says that the key is playing around with the different flavors your raw materials can give you. He’s brought a bottle of mead he found all the way from Denmark to demonstrate what he means. In this Booze Bits episode, John and I have a bottle of mead from the Danish company Dansk Mjød, and discuss mead ...
Launching a Winery in the Heart of Asheville with Lauren Turpin
August 10, 2022 09:00 - 26 minutes - 35.8 MBWhen Lauren Turpin was in high school, she always thought about opening a sports bar or beer place, though she wasn’t sure where the interest came from. She later graduated from Babson College and worked in corporate America. But, while completing a Master’s in Information Science at UNC Chapel Hill, Lauren became interested in wine. She was inspired to write a business plan for an urban winery and, when the opportunity to turn that plan into a reality presented itself, Lauren jumped at the ...
Standardizing Education for the Craft Beverage Industry with Greg Hill
August 03, 2022 09:00 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBGreg Hill has a deep passion for learning. Greg—the Head Cider Maker and Production Director at the Urban Orchard Co. in Asheville—is one of the first graduating cohorts of A-B Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute program. He completed a Master’s in Education and Training and is currently working on a Ph.D. in Education and Training. A lifelong learner, Greg believes that standardizing education and training can help increase the progress of the craft beverage industry. Greg joins me today to...
How Glass Shape Affects Flavor and Aroma with John Lyda Part 2
July 27, 2022 09:00 - 18 minutes - 25.6 MBPop quiz: the shape of a drinking glass can affect the flavor and aroma of liquor—fact or fiction? John Lyda and I put this question to the test. The brewmaster extraordinaire, John Lyda, is the former Sr. Vice President of Highland Brewing Co. and current full-time instructor at A-B Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. He is highly regarded in Asheville for introducing the community to different beer styles that would lay the foundations of the Beer City. In this episode th...
Welding Well with John Lyda Part 1
July 20, 2022 09:00 - 22 minutes - 30.5 MBThe man of the hour, John Lyda, is an instructor at A-B Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. Before joining the program’s faculty, John served as Senior VP and Brewmaster at Highland Brewing Co. But after more than two decades of working with the company, John—who was pivotal in laying the foundations of the Beer City—thought it was time to pass along his knowledge to the next generation of local brewers. John joins me today to discuss why great welding work is important to cra...
Squaring the Barrel with Russ Karasch
July 13, 2022 09:00 - 13 minutes - 19.1 MBWhile 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 ...
Geeking Out on Brewing Systems with Mike Roberts
July 06, 2022 09:00 - 19 minutes - 26.7 MBMike Roberts used to hate beer while he was in university. It wasn’t until he had a taste of pilsner during a visit to Prague that he had an epiphany: the drink tasted phenomenal, and Mike knew he fell in love. Fast forward to today, and Mike serves as the Craft Solutions Facilitator at Cru Brewing Systems and boasts 15 years of brewing experience. Before joining Cru Brewing Systems, Mike worked with several other companies, including Old Yale Brewing in Canada and Mountain Goat Beer in Aust...
Industry Innovations with Max Fann
June 29, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutes - 9.27 MBMax Fann is the Co-owner and Chairman of Inbox Beverage, a company making innovations in the industry by building and distributing breweries, wineries, and distilleries in shipping containers. Max is an alumnus of A-B Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. After graduating from the Fermentation program, Max went on to work as a brewer at Wicked Weed Brewing—eventually becoming its Research and Brand Development Brewer. Max joins us in this episode to discuss how Inbox Beverage is...
Industry Standards and a Mind for Accuracy with Kay Gonzalez
June 22, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutes - 9.89 MBWhile we have varying degrees of knowledge and education in the industry, some things—such as accuracy, cleaning, and sanitation—need to follow standards. This is an idea Karen “Kay” Gonzalez—an alumnus of the ABTech Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast program—agrees on. Being mindful of accuracy, Kay notes, is what made her brewery succeed well. And she’s right—to be a successful brewer in the industry, you have to have a mind for perfection. In this episode, Kay and I discuss the ac...
Taproom Trends with John Lazarovic
June 15, 2022 09:00 - 16 minutes - 23.2 MBJohn “Laser” Lazarovic is an alumnus of the Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. Before studying at ABTech, John was in the culinary world and only did some home brewing on the side for fun. He later graduated with the class of ‘21 and interned at the Oklawaha Brewing Company in Henderson, North Carolina. Today, John works at Turgua Brewing Co., a brewery based in Fairview, North Carolina. John joins us today to describe his time at ABTech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. ...
Fly Fishing and Other Tales from a CBI Alumnus with Mike Fuller
June 08, 2022 09:00 - 13 minutes - 18.5 MBMike Fuller is a master brewer at Kite Hill Brewing Co. at Clemson City in South Carolina. After graduating from ABTech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast program, Mike spent nine years in Asheville, North Carolina working in several breweries, including Oskar Blues and DSSOLVR. Later, Mike dreamed of going to Clemson to give the city its first brewery—a dream he would soon realize by working with Kite Hill Brewing Co. Mike joins us today to discuss his career journey after graduat...
Thinking Further Outside the Box with Andrew Boyd
June 01, 2022 09:00 - 17 minutes - 24 MBAndrew Boyd is the President of Blue Label Packaging Company, a printing and packaging company dedicated to translating the spirit of their clients’ businesses into labels and packaging. As the President of Blue Label, Andrew is passionate about well-designed business processes and upholding the company’s high service standards to customers. Andrew joins me today to discuss printing, packaging, and labeling for craft breweries. He describes his background and how he got started in printi...
Craft Cocktails in a Can and the Unique Properties of Kernza with Rebecca Murphy
May 25, 2022 09:00 - 22 minutes - 31.3 MBRebecca Murphy has a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature from Eastern Michigan University, a Master's Degree in Physical Therapy from Western Carolina University, and an Associate in Applied Science from A-B Technical Community College in Brewing, Distillation, and Fermentation. A former Army Engineer, Rebecca has moved on from building and blowing things up to drinking professionally and doing very careful math as Head of Product Development of Two Trees Distilling Co. in F...
Redefining the Micro Brewery with Max Fann
May 18, 2022 09:00 - 15 minutes - 20.7 MBMax Fann is the Co-Owner and Chairman of Inbox Beverage and a Brewing and Fermentation Program alumni of A-B Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. After completing the program, Max when on to become a brewer and Wood Cellarman at Wicked Weed Brewery, where he eventually became the Lead Pub Brewer and Research & Brand Development Brewer. With his knowledge from the Craft Beverage Institute and his pursuit of an MBA from LSU, Max wanted to create a faster and easier way to build a ...
Nerding Out About Craft Beverage History with Kimberly Floyd
May 11, 2022 09:35 - 20 minutes - 28.2 MBKimberly Floyd is Co-Founder and Executive Director for the North Carolina Craft Beverage Museum. She also currently serves as the Site Manager at the Zebulon B Vance Birthplace State Historic Site. She has a Master's degree in Public History with a concentration on Museum Studies from North Carolina State University and a Bachelor’s degree in History from Meredith College. Kimberly has worked in the public history field for over 14 years and is part of the team working to bring the North Ca...
The Evolution of the Craft Beverage Institue with John Lyda
May 04, 2022 09:00 - 25 minutes - 34.7 MBJohn Lyda is a full-time faculty member at AB Tech and is the thumb that grasps the educational hammer in our Brewing, Distillation, and Fermentation program. It’s the first two-year accredited degree in the country that gives students an Associate’s of Applied Science in Distillation and Fermentation. After working at The Highland Brewing Co. for over 20 years, John took his passion and applied it to teaching at the Craft Beverage Institute. Today, John and I discuss the evolution of th...
For the Love of Food, Booze and Bikes with Johnny Knowles
April 27, 2022 09:00 - 23 minutes - 31.8 MBJohnny Knowles is the Head Brewer, Distiller, and jack-of-all-trades at Rye Knot Brewery, Distillery, and Pub. A Craft Beverage Institute alumni, Johnny was an EMT before starting in the industry as a bartender. The brewing bug bit, and he has been working on the production side of the business ever since. Today, Johnny shares his many roles within the Rye Knot Brewery, Distillery, and Pub. He shares the best things about the AB Tech program, the unique way he found out about it, and the...
Booze Bits Featuring Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey
April 20, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutes - 9.05 MBI often take on the task of trying exotic spirits, weird and wonderful flavors of craft beer, and new products in the beverage industry. You may be familiar with wheat bourbon, but perhaps less so with wheat whiskey. Today, I try a Kentucky straight wheat whiskey, which is underserved in our industry. In today’s Booze Bits, I sample Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey and see how wheat changes the flavor profile. I explore the sensory analysis of the product and how the whiskey would work in...
The Joy of Whiskey, Fortified Wine Wonders, & Getting Crazy for Hazy Spirits with Tina Hoffert
April 13, 2022 09:00 - 30 minutes - 41.9 MBTina Hoffert is an A-B Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast alumni and Brewer at the North Belgian Brewing Company. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from East Carolina University, and following a career in the pharmaceutical industry, Tina moved into the brewing business. Prior to working with the North Belgian Brewing Company, Tina worked with local craft brewers, Catawba Brewing Company. Currently, she is continuing her booze education at the Heriot-Watt University of E...
Pro Tips and How to Drink Your Math with Kay Main
April 06, 2022 09:00 - 28 minutes - 39.8 MBA-B Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast alumni, Karen (Kay) Gonzalez, joins me to share her experiences during her month-long trip to Mexico. She reveals the main flavor characteristics of the beers she tried and what she missed about American beer. We discuss why Mexico is one of the leading rum producers and what it’s like to bring diversity to the brewing industry. Kay shares the new recipes she is working on and tips for anyone wanting to start a craft brewing company. And i...
Booze Bits Featuring Jeppson's Malört
March 30, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutes - 9.89 MBI am often tasked with trying unusual spirits, exotic flavors of craft beer, and new and exciting products in the beverage industry. Today I sample something that those of you in the Chicago area will know very well… and you probably have a love-hate relationship with this particular spirit. Today, I explore the unusual and distinctive flavor of the bäsk liquor, Jeppson’s Malört. I share the interesting history of the spirit and how it is made. Sampling the flavor palate and unusual fra...
Chad Slagle of Two Trees Distilling Company
March 23, 2022 09:00 - 23 minutes - 32.4 MBChad Slagle is the Co-Founder of Two Trees Distilling Co. and Chief Executive Officer of Two Trees Beverage Co. Inc. As a serial entrepreneur, Chad has been an innovator and inventor in the fitness, technology, and beverage industries since 2005. He is the co-inventor of the rapid whiskey aging technology utilized at the Two Trees Distilling Company and has worked as the head of product development for the company since its inception in 2018. Chad joins me to share the journey of the Tw...
Booze Bits Featuring John Lyda and Aquavit
March 16, 2022 09:00 - 5 minutes - 7.35 MBJohn Lyda is my cohort in arms at the Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. After working as the Senior Vice President and Brewmaster at The Highland Brewing Co. for over 20 years, John took his passion to the next level and began teaching at the Craft Beverage Institute as a Brewing, Distillation, and Fermentation Instructor. John joins me for today’s Booze Bits to discuss vegetable-based spirits and shine a spotlight on a delicious, potato-based liquor called Aquavit. We taste the...
The Wonders and Magic of Filtration with Stephen Daniels of Filtrox
March 09, 2022 10:00 - 25 minutes - 35.6 MBStephen Daniels is the Food and Beverage Business Development and Sales Manager at Filtrox, North America. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an Associate's Degree in Viticulture and Enology from Walla Walla Community College. He is a filtration expert at Filtrox, working on innovative filtration technologies for the beverage industry. Today, Stephen joins me to discuss all things filtration, incl...
Cocktails To-Go, Weirdo Alcohol and the Nuances of Bar Ownership with Chall Gray
March 02, 2022 10:00 - 36 minutes - 50.4 MBChall Gray is the founder of three companies with experience in hospitality, real estate, and entrepreneurship. His Slings & Arrows Consulting bar projects have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, the Whiskey Advocate, and more. Chall is the co-owner and Booze Jockey of the acclaimed local bar, Little Jumbo in Asheville, NC, and the author of The Cocktail Bar: Notes for an Owner & Operator, covering everything from choosing an initial bar concept to the day-to-day bu...
Drive-Through Booze and Revisiting Classic Beers with Leah Rainis
October 31, 2020 09:00 - 28 minutes - 39.9 MBCBI033 - Drive-Through Booze and Revisiting Classic Beers with Leah Rainis Leah Rainis is the Executive Director and the mind behind the Asheville Brewers Alliance (ABA). Starting her career in the
The Big Little Jumbo in the Room and Running a Cocktail Bar with Chall Gray
October 31, 2020 09:00 - 35 minutes - 49.1 MBCBI026 - The Big Little Jumbo in the Room and Running a Cocktail Bar with Chall Gray Chall Gray is an entrepreneur, author, and handsome athlete extraordinaire. His passion for mixology and cocktai
Preserving a Farmland, Starting a Winery, and Talking Grapevine with Jeff Frisbee of Addison Farms Vineyard
October 31, 2020 09:00 - 20 minutes - 28.3 MBCBI023 - Preserving a Farmland, Starting a Winery, and Talking on the Grapevine with Jeff Frisbee of Addison Farms Vineyard Jeff Frisbee is the founder, owner, managing member, and winemaker at Addiso
The Meandering Path that Leads to Brewing and Being a Female Brewer with Rebecca Murphy
October 31, 2020 09:00 - 40 minutes - 55.6 MBCBI035 - The Meandering Path that Leads to Brewing and Being a Female Brewer with Rebecca Murphy Rebecca is a student in the brewing, distillation, and fermentation program at CBI Tech. She grew up
The Secret Life of Teas and How to Pour the Perfect Cup with Jessie Dean
October 31, 2020 09:00 - 36 minutes - 50 MBCBI029 - The Secret Life of Tea and How to Pour the Perfect Cup with Jessie Dean Jessie Dean is a West Asheville mom and traveler who’s on a mission to create the best cups of tea using locally-sou
Brown Liquor Love and the Restauranteur Journey with Former Navy Captain Bob Byron
October 31, 2020 09:00 - 28 minutes - 39.1 MBCBI036 - Brown Liquor Love and the Restaurateur Journey with Former Navy Captain Bob Byron Bob Byron is a Naval Academy Graduate and retired Navy Captain that took a different direction from most af
The Shining and Brewing Lessons with ABTech Alumnus Dan Rowe
October 31, 2020 09:00 - 30 minutes - 42.3 MBCBI027 - The Shining and Brewing Lessons with ABTech Alumnus Dan Rowe Dan Rowe is an alumnus of ABTech’s brewing program. After graduating in 2017, Dan worked at Dogfish Head Brewery for two years b
The Battle of the Negroni and Concocting Spirits with the Urban Gastronome, Jeremy Hood
October 31, 2020 09:00 - 22 minutes - 31 MBCBI028 - The Battle of the Negroni and Concocting Spirits with the Urban Gastronome, Jeremy Hood Former cocktail hobbyist and self-proclaimed ‘cocktail nerd’, Jeremy Hood, took his passion for spir
The Politics of Yeast and the Art and Science of Winemaking with Shruthi Dhoopati
October 31, 2020 09:00 - 21 minutes - 30.3 MBCBI030 - The Politics of Yeast and the Art and Science of Winemaking with Shruthi Dhoopati Shruthi Dhoopati, the young winemaker extraordinaire, was once a Political Science student at the Universi
Instant-Aging and Rewriting the Brewing Book with Chad Slagle
October 31, 2020 09:00 - 28 minutes - 39.8 MBCBI037 - Instant-Aging and Rewriting the Brewing Book with Chad Slagle Chad Slagle is one of the co-founders of the Two Trees Distilling Co. based in Fletcher, N.C. A Black Mountain native, Chad lov
How Community College Can Develop Soft Skills with President John Gossett
October 31, 2020 09:00 - 26 minutes - 37.2 MBCBI031 - How Community College Can Develop Soft Skills with President John Gossett Dr. John Gossett became the President of ABTech Community College in March 2020. He has a 32-year career in higher
Talking Picklebacks and Riding the Cider Wave with Greg Hill
October 31, 2020 09:00 - 23 minutes - 32.1 MBCBI032 - Riding the Cider Wave and Talking Picklebacks with Greg Hill Greg Hill is the head cider maker at Urban Orchard, a first-level sommelier, and graduate of the CBI program. He has a love of p
Words of Wisdom and Questions from Students with Fellow CBI Instructor John Lyda
October 31, 2020 09:00 - 43 minutes - 60.3 MBCBI034 - Words of Wisdom and Questions from Students with Fellow CBI Instructor John Lyda John Lyda is the Brewing, Distillation and Fermentation Instructor at the Craft Beverage Institute. A long a
Female Brewing Ambitions & Collecting Recipes from the Women of Craft Beer with Anita Riley
October 31, 2020 09:00 - 29 minutes - 40.2 MBCBI025 - Female Brewing Ambitions & Collecting Recipes from the Women of Craft Beer with Anita Riley Anita Riley is a Board Member of the an organization that supports the progression of women in t
The Drinkable Art of Wine Pairing with Certified Wine Specialist and Drinker to the Stars Andy Hale
October 31, 2020 09:00 - 28 minutes - 39.9 MBCBI024 - The Drinkable Art of Wine Pairing with Certified Wine Specialist and Drinker to the Stars Andy Hale Andy Hale is the Education Director and primary teacher at the Asheville School of Wine i