Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast

391: Kevin Ely of Wooly Pig Finds Small Tweaks That Make Big Impacts in Robust, Farm-Brewed Lagers

Dec 13, 2024

Kevin Ely, Co-founder and Brewmaster of Wooly Pig Farm Brewery, shares his journey from Uinta's big-brewery operations to crafting lagers on a self-sufficient farm in Ohio. He reveals how to transform rustic well water into distinctive brews, using innovative techniques like higher-kilned malts for fuller flavors. Ely discusses integrating livestock to reduce waste and create a sustainable brewing environment. The conversation also highlights the importance of careful ingredient handling and the unique character that farm-brewed lagers can embody.

01:22:16

Creator website

Episode guests

Kevin Ely

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Wooly Pig Brewery's unique approach combines traditional German brewing with sustainable practices, utilizing farm resources like Mangalitsa pigs for waste management.

Kevin Ely emphasizes the importance of precision in brewing lagers, using careful techniques to maintain malt integrity and enhance flavor profiles.

The brewery aims to expand its community presence and sustainability efforts while preserving its focus on high-quality, farm-brewed lagers.

Deep dives

The Allure of Woolly Pig Brewery

Woolly Pig Brewery, located in Fresno, Ohio, has garnered attention for its unique approach to brewing German-style lagers on a working farm. The brewery was co-founded by Kevin Ely, who previously worked at Uintah Brewing in Salt Lake City, and his journey back to Ohio was inspired by a trip to Bavaria where he discovered the Mangalitsa pigs. This breed of pig plays a crucial role in the brewery's sustainability efforts, as the spent grain from brewing is fed to the pigs, creating a symbiotic relationship between the farm and brewery operations. The rural setting, combined with German brewing traditions, allows Woolly Pig to craft high-quality lagers while embracing a farm-to-table ethos.

Intro

2min

Crafting Tradition: The Woolly Pig Brewery Journey

6min

From Beer Dreams to Farm Reality

8min

Brewing Innovations and Waste Management

6min

Mastering the Brewing Process

12min

Exploring Yeast Strains and Brewing Techniques

2min

Mastering Lager Brewing Techniques

24min

Sustainable Brewing Practices and Water Quality

18min

Exploring a Unique Farm Brewery Experience

3min

Kevin Ely spent many years running the brewhouse at Uinta’s production brewery in Salt Lake City, but family brought him to a farm in rural eastern Ohio. Built next to the farm where his wife grew up, Wooly Pig Farm Brewery is the result of applying big-brewery-systems thinking to the smallest, most self-sufficient farm scale. From embracing the imperfect but interesting well water on the farm to side-streaming brewhouse waste via their drove of Mangalica pigs, he’s using every tool available to reduce waste and costs while making the highest-quality beer.

In this episode, Ely discusses:

making farmhouse lagers on a small scale without sacrificing quality
gently handling everything—from milling grains to fermenting beer via carefully boiled wort—for a more delicate beer
using slightly higher-kilned pilsner malt for better flavor and fullness
building character into dunkel with rye malt
evaluating water sources and managing their unusual well water
creating engaging beer experiences at the farm
using livestock to process organic waste from the brewery

And more.

This episode is brought to you by:

G&D Chillers (https://gdchillers.com): At G&D Chillers they always strive to Build Great Chillers. Partner with them as you Build Great Beer. Choose G&D Chillers on your next Expansion or Brewery start up and receive 1 free year of Remote control and Monitoring of your new G&D Chiller!
ProBrew (https://www.probrew.com) “ProBrew is excited to now offer 2-4 week lead times on all in-stock ProFill Rotary Can Filler and Seamers. This special lead time is only while supplies last, so send us an email at contactus@probrew.com or call us at 262-278-4945. ProBrew, Brew YOUR Beer.”
Old Orchard (https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer): Berry Blend, Blood Orange, Lemonade, and Tart Cherry are the latest additions to our lineup of flavored craft juice concentrate blends. To learn more and request your free samples, head over to oldorchard.com/brewer
Omega Yeast (https://omegayeast.com): Experience distinct transparency and juiciness with Omega Yeast’s DayBreak-V. We've genetically eliminated haze in the popular British-V strain, allowing you to preserve the fruit-boosting prowess while achieving crystal clarity. Learn more at info@omegayeast.com.
Five Star Chemical (https://fivestarchemicals.com) Our cleaning solutions are specifically formulated to meet the unique needs of breweries, ensuring that your equipment stays clean and free of harmful bacteria and contaminants. From cleaning fermenters to kegs, we have a solution for every step of the brewing process.
RSS Maclin (https://RSSMACLIN.com) provides the training and resources breweries of all sizes need to ensure the exceptional quality of your product remains the same from beginning to end. For more information, visit RSSMACLIN.com or email Service@rssmaclin.com
Indie Hops (https://indiehops.com) breeds new hop varieties to help brewers captivate beer lovers. Brewers worldwide trust Indie’s unique varieties — Strata, Lórien, Luminosa, Meridian and Audacia — to modernize, brighten and diversify their beer lineup. Visit indiehops.com/podcast to discover what’s new in hop flavors.
Berkeley Yeast (https://berkeleyyeast.com). Superbloom strains make classic hops flavor; Fresh strains keep diacetyl low even with large hop additions; Tropics strains make a tropical bouquet reminiscent of the finest southern hemisphere hops. Mention this podcast for 20% off your first order.