Brewer to Brewer: Brad Clark and Cory King (Ep. 32)
Oct 12, 2023
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Brewer to Brewer: Brad Clark and Cory King. Two brewers reflect on their journey in the beverage industry, discuss past collaborations and memories, explore barrel aging and blending, talk about accurate labeling and experimentation, and celebrate 10 years at Side Project. They also recognize the role of teamwork in brewing.
Barrel aging in brewing can create unique and distinct flavors.
Craft breweries face the challenge of attracting new consumers and adapting to changing drinking habits.
Blending different beer styles allows for continuous exploration and creation of unique flavor profiles.
Deep dives
Overview of the 10th Anniversary Celebration
The podcast episode features a conversation between Brad Clark of Private Press Brewing and Corey King of Side Project. They discuss the recent 10th anniversary celebration of Side Project, which saw an overwhelming turnout and support from beer enthusiasts worldwide. The event featured the release of five new Side Project beers, including a double rye version of BBT and a layered apple brandy finished beer called Continuous Tenure. They also explored the importance of barrels in the brewing process and the unique flavors that can be achieved through barrel aging. The podcast episode highlights the excitement and creativity that comes with experimenting and pushing the boundaries of beer blends and ingredients.
The Future of Side Project Brewing
Looking ahead to the next 10 years, Brad and Corey discuss the changing landscape of the craft beer industry and the challenge of attracting new consumers. They emphasize the importance of staying true to their vision and creating beers they want to drink themselves. They also touch on the evolving drinking habits of younger generations, who are more health-conscious and prioritize aesthetic appeal. Despite these changes, Brad and Corey express their commitment to continue experimenting and pushing the boundaries within the beer industry, exploring unique oak finishes, exotic woods, and unconventional ingredients to create new and exciting flavors.
Reflection on Collaborations and Blending
Throughout the podcast episode, Brad and Corey reminisce about their collaborations over the years and the joy of blending different beer styles. They highlight the importance of barrels and demonstrate how slight variations, such as using rye barrels instead of bourbon barrels, can create new and distinct flavors. They also discuss the pleasure and challenge of working with exotic oaks, such as Mitzanara and Ombaronic, as well as incorporating other barrels, like port wine barrels, into their blends. Brad and Corey conclude that blending beers allows them to continuously explore and create unique flavor profiles that excite their palates and engage their customers.
The Benefits and Challenges of Triple Barrel Aging
Triple barrel aging can produce intense and complex flavors, but it also presents challenges. Triple barrel aging barley wine is easier than stout due to the intense oxidation and high alcohol content. The addition of different types of barrels, such as rye or wheat, can enhance flavor profiles. However, finding the right balance and achieving maturity in each barrel is a delicate process. The use of finishing barrels, like port or red wine, is explored as a potential solution to create softer, more balanced triple barrel stouts.
Expanding the Business Organically
The podcast discusses the future growth plans for the brewery, aiming to create another location with food and beverage offerings. The focus is on providing a family-friendly environment where customers can enjoy food alongside the brewery's beers. This expansion aims to cater to the changing demographics of the customer base, who are looking for places that offer an overall experience rather than just beer. The goal is to continue producing high-quality blends and maintain the brewery's niche flavor profile while accommodating the growing needs and preferences of the customers.
Firsd Tea Firsd Tea is a proud sponsor of the Brewer to Brewer podcast. Discover the advantage of using new and unique ingredients, like lemon myrtle or lapsang souchong. Firsd Tea has been working with brewers to introduce distinctive, high-quality botanicals for innovative craft beers. They focus on being DIRECT, FLEXIBLE, and FAST. You can find out more about Firsd Tea’s collaborations with brewers and tea ingredients by visiting blog.firsdtea.com.
Malteurop Malting Company Malteurop Malting Company (MMC) is based in North America—specializing in growing and producing quality malts for the craft beer and distilling industries. With local farms and Malthouses spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, MMC's commitment to excellence is fully ingrained into every batch it produces, ensuring breweries and distilleries of any size can create the finest beverages on the planet. Visit www.malteuropmaltingco.com to learn how MMC can support your malting needs. Contact MMC at customersuccess@malteurop.com or (844) 546-MALT (6258) for questions or to place your order.
Host: Brad Clark
Guest: Cory King
Sponsor: Firsd Tea, All About Beer
Tags: Brewing, Recipes, Barrels, Growth, Business, Health