EP-385 Averie Swanson of Keeping Together

My guest needs little introduction. Averie Swanson is well-known in the craft beer industry for her work at Jester King Brewery—a brewery in Austin, Texas renowned for their farmhouse ales. She’s also one of 19 Master Cicerones in the world, and the founder and beer maker behind Keeping Together.

Averie is here to talk about one of the most romantic beer styles in craft beer—Saisons. Though IPAs have long reigned in the American craft beer scene, many of us share a deep love for this rustic farmhouse ale, its origins, and the beer’s ability to express a vast range of nuanced flavors.

In our conversation, you'll hear Averie share her Saison philosophy. She also touches on the history of Saisons and how that history connects to some of the style's characteristics. Averie talks about why she prefers stainless steel over oak, and we discuss the idea of keeping the “farm” in farmhouse ales. We also share our favorite food and beer pairing experiences, and finally, Averie gives us an update on what we can expect from Keeping Together in the next year.