Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

Strap in, because we’re going on a ride, deep into flavor, our senses and what Randy Mosher calls “Your Tasting Brain.”No matter how long you have been around beer, thinking about beer, drinking beer, listening about or talking about beer, there is always something new to learn.  This is especially true when around Randy Mosher. He’s the celebrated writer behind classic books like Tasting Beer, and a talented brewer and recipe developer.  Last month he was in Orlando, giving the keynote address at the Florida Guild Conference, a stellar event put on by now former director Sean Nordquist. Over the course of 90 minutes, Mosher walked attendees through the sensory systems.  He sat down with me afterwards for a conversation that picked up on that talk, and the info he plans to put into his forthcoming book:  Your Tasting Brain: How it Works and How to Use it Taste, smell and mouthfeel represent fully half of our sensory systems, but we barely notice them most of the time, he says.   Using the simple act of tasting to slice through the new science, this book – which he hopes will publish next year -  brings the science to life and illuminates just how complex, finely tuned and superbly functional these senses are.  School is in session. Professor Mosher is ready to teach.  This Episode is Sponsored By:Denver Rare Beer TastingIf you plan to be in Colorado in a few weeks for the Great American Beer Festival you need to check out the Denver Rare Beer Tasting. It happens on September 22nd and brings together 64 of America's best craft breweries all for a great cause -- the Pints for Prostates campaign. The beer list is incredible, packed with rare, exotic and vintage beers you won't find anywhere else. These are legendary beers the breweries hold back just for the Denver Rare Beer Tasting. This is a bucket list event for both beer fans and brewers. You can get a look at the beer list and find more information at pintsforprostates.org. All-inclusive tickets are $200 and include unlimited beer samples, a great buffet lunch, t-shirt, tasting glass and program. Money raised goes to the fight against prostate cancer including a free health screening before the event, a simple blood test that checks for common health issues that might just save your life. That's the Denver Rare Beer Tasting -- Drinking Beer and Saving Lives.Host: John HollGuest: Randy MosherSponsors: All About Beer, Pints for ProstatesTags: Beer, Florida, Tasting, Recipes, Sensory, Aroma

A lot of breweries talk about sustainability and environmental practices, but few are as committed as Florida’s First Magnitude. This week on the show it’s a conversation with Christine and John Denny, the founders of the brewery.Located in Gainesville, Florida they are the Southeast’s first carbon-neutral brewery through a partnership with We Are Neutral, and they have donated a lot of money to and encourage research into the Florida Springs Institute.  In the brewhouse they are working to reduce waste and to find ways to be more efficient. There are charitable works they brewery touts and they are striving to remain a relevent community hub. As for the beers, they are pretty darn good, including one that I enjoyed during the show: Drift, a session brown ale. What’s a session brown? Keep listening.  This Episode is Sponsored By:Denver Rare Beer TastingIf you plan to be in Colorado in a few weeks for the Great American Beer Festival you need to check out the Denver Rare Beer Tasting. It happens on September 22nd and brings together 64 of America's best craft breweries all for a great cause -- the Pints for Prostates campaign. The beer list is incredible, packed with rare, exotic and vintage beers you won't find anywhere else. These are legendary beers the breweries hold back just for the Denver Rare Beer Tasting. This is a bucket list event for both beer fans and brewers. You can get a look at the beer list and find more information at pintsforprostates.org. All-inclusive tickets are $200 and include unlimited beer samples, a great buffet lunch, t-shirt, tasting glass and program. Money raised goes to the fight against prostate cancer including a free health screening before the event, a simple blood test that checks for common health issues that might just save your life. That's the Denver Rare Beer Tasting -- Drinking Beer and Saving Lives.Host: John HollGuest: Christine and John DennySponsors: All About Beer, Pints for ProstatesTags: Beer, Florida, Water, Sustainability, English Mild

Last Week Jack’s Abby, the Massachusetts-based lager brewery announced that it would soon be releasing a collaboration with Weihenstephan, the venerable German brewery.  It’s called Fest Of Both Worlds and it’s brewed with Pilsner and Munich malts along with Sterling and Adeena hops, and fermented with TUM 34/70, which Weihenstephan shared for this beer. At nearly 1,000 years old Weihenstephan is a brewery of legend around the world and through a commitment to technical brewing and education has helped countless brewers and drinkers better understand beer.  This collaboration with Jack’s Abby is only the third time Weihenstephan has collaborated with an American brewer. The beer will be available later this month in Massachusetts and New York.  My guests are Jack Hendler Co-Founder of Jack’s Abby and Matthias Ebner, the Global Brand Ambassador Weihenstephan. They are here to talk about the collaboration, and so much more. This Episode is Sponsored By:Denver Rare Beer TastingIf you plan to be in Colorado in a few weeks for the Great American Beer Festival you need to check out the Denver Rare Beer Tasting. It happens on September 22nd and brings together 64 of America's best craft breweries all for a great cause -- the Pints for Prostates campaign. The beer list is incredible, packed with rare, exotic and vintage beers you won't find anywhere else. These are legendary beers the breweries hold back just for the Denver Rare Beer Tasting. This is a bucket list event for both beer fans and brewers. You can get a look at the beer list and find more information at pintsforprostates.org. All-inclusive tickets are $200 and include unlimited beer samples, a great buffet lunch, t-shirt, tasting glass and program. Money raised goes to the fight against prostate cancer including a free health screening before the event, a simple blood test that checks for common health issues that might just save your life. That's the Denver Rare Beer Tasting -- Drinking Beer and Saving Lives.Host: John HollGuest: Matthias Ebner, Jack HendlerSponsors: All About Beer, , Pints for ProstatesTags: Beer, History, Non-alcoholic, travel, festbier 

We’re tasting all the time when it comes to beer and our drinking experiences. But there is always a chance to become better, to go deeper and layer in more thought. Mandy Naglich, is the author of the new book “How To Taste” and she is here to guide us.There are several books that exist that help us understand our brains and senses when it comes to tasting. Now, there is a new one to add to your shelf.  How to taste: a guide to discovering flavor and savoring life by Mandy Naglich was released a few weeks ago and is a fun, conversational, and thought provoking book that is worthy of your time and attention.   Mandy Naglich is an Advanced Cicerone, Certified Taster, and journalist. As a Certified Cider Professional and after completing all levels of WSET Spirits Mandy began to teach both consumers and professionals about flavor and service across the beverage alcohol category. Her wildly popular tasting classes sell out around the city and virtually. Mandy uses her experience tasting and studying beverages to report for outlets like Vice, Taste of Home, VinePair, and Wine Enthusiast. Her fans also follow her adventures around the world on her popular blog @drinkswithmandy.  This new book goes beyond just beer and that is to our benefit. This Episode is Sponsored By:Yakima Valley HopsLooking for an easy hop sourcing experience? Yakima Valley Hops offers the finest quality hops from right here in our Valley and premium growing regions around the world. Get the hops you need when you need them, with ultra-fast shipping and awesome customer service. With a full line of liquid hop products and all your favorite varieties, no contracts are needed to brew with the best. Shop now at YakimaValleyHops.com.Denver Rare Beer TastingIf you plan to be in Colorado in a few weeks for the Great American Beer Festival you need to check out the Denver Rare Beer Tasting. It happens on September 22nd and brings together 64 of America's best craft breweries all for a great cause -- the Pints for Prostates campaign. The beer list is incredible, packed with rare, exotic and vintage beers you won't find anywhere else. These are legendary beers the breweries hold back just for the Denver Rare Beer Tasting. This is a bucket list event for both beer fans and brewers. You can get a look at the beer list and find more information at pintsforprostates.org. All-inclusive tickets are $200 and include unlimited beer samples, a great buffet lunch, t-shirt, tasting glass and program. Money raised goes to the fight against prostate cancer including a free health screening before the event, a simple blood test that checks for common health issues that might just save your life. That's the Denver Rare Beer Tasting -- Drinking Beer and Saving Lives.Host: John HollGuest: Mandy Naglich Sponsors: All About Beer, Yakima Valley Hops, Pints for ProstatesTags: Beer, History, tasting, travel, cheese,  

Perspective is important when it comes to enjoying beer and understanding the industry. This episode features a panel comprised of directors of three state brewing guilds.It’s amazing how much has changed in the beer industry in 10 years. We’ve seen the rise of the Hazy IPA all while the the number of operating breweries exploded. Trends have come and gone and mergers and closures dot the landscape. Perspective helps us appreciate where we are and where we can go by examining where we’ve been. Today, three state brewer guild directors: Rob Fullmer of Arizona, Mary MacDonald of Ohio, and Paul Leone of New York are here for a chat about what is happening in their states and what it means for beer in general. All three are celebrating a decade on the job, and with that time comes, yes, perspective. For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.This Episode is Sponsored By:Yakima Valley HopsLooking for an easy hop sourcing experience? Yakima Valley Hops offers the finest quality hops from right here in our Valley and premium growing regions around the world. Get the hops you need when you need them, with ultra-fast shipping and awesome customer service. With a full line of liquid hop products and all your favorite varieties, no contracts are needed to brew with the best. Shop now at YakimaValleyHops.com.Denver Rare Beer TastingIf you plan to be in Colorado in a few weeks for the Great American Beer Festival you need to check out the Denver Rare Beer Tasting. It happens on September 22nd and brings together 64 of America's best craft breweries all for a great cause -- the Pints for Prostates campaign. The beer list is incredible, packed with rare, exotic and vintage beers you won't find anywhere else. These are legendary beers the breweries hold back just for the Denver Rare Beer Tasting. This is a bucket list event for both beer fans and brewers. You can get a look at the beer list and find more information at pintsforprostates.org. All-inclusive tickets are $200 and include unlimited beer samples, a great buffet lunch, t-shirt, tasting glass and program. Money raised goes to the fight against prostate cancer including a free health screening before the event, a simple blood test that checks for common health issues that might just save your life. That's the Denver Rare Beer Tasting -- Drinking Beer and Saving Lives.Host: John HollGuests: Marcy McDonald, Paul Leone, Rob FullmerSponsors: All About Beer, Yakima Valley Hops, Pints for ProstatesTags: Beer, History, Mental Health, Festivals, Travel 

What’s it like being an organic brewery in 2023? Harder than you might think, but getting a little better. My guest is Sandy Boss Febbo of Minnesota’s Bang Brewery and she’ll explain.  I love hearing about breweries that are not trying to be everything to every one. The ones that were founded with a sense of purpose and continue to stick with it. Headed into the craft brewers conference in 2022 in Minneapolis, I heard about Bang Brewing, just over the river in St. Paul. It's an all organic brewery, with a low profile, robust local following, and a strong sense of identity.  Sandy Boss Febbo is the co-owner and co-brewer of Bang Brewing, with her husband Jay. The brewery opened in 2013 after the pair spent a fair amount of time homebrewing and honing recipes. A decade later the brewery is still committed to the original plan: to produce lagers and ale with only sustainably farmed, all-organic ingredients.  The brewery is located in a custom built pre-fabricated grain bin that also houses the taproom. The grounds feature rain gardens, a prairie beer garden, and is dotted with the unwavering focus on environmental responsibility and sustainability. Sandy and Jay are founders of the Organic Brewers Alliance, members of the NRDC’s Brewers For Clean Water Campaign, Partner Member of the Artisan Grain Collaborative, and Patagonia Provisions Partner Brewer.For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.This Episode is Sponsored By:Yakima Valley HopsLooking for an easy hop sourcing experience? Yakima Valley Hops offers the finest quality hops from right here in our Valley and premium growing regions around the world. Get the hops you need when you need them, with ultra-fast shipping and awesome customer service. With a full line of liquid hop products and all your favorite varieties, no contracts are needed to brew with the best. Shop now at YakimaValleyHops.com.Host: John HollGuest: Sandy Boss FebboSponsors: All About Beer, Yakima Valley HopsTags: Beer, Minnesota, Grain, Sustainability, Kernza, Process, Farming, History 

The recent news about Anchor Brewing pulling back it’s distribution to just California and discontinuing Our Special Ale, it’s Christmas offering, had me thinking about the brewery’s place in history and its impact. Scott Ungermann, the former brewmaster of Anchor is here to talk about all that and more. A few weeks ago Dave Infante, of the excellent Fingers Newsletter broke the news that broke hearts: Anchor Brewing, the venerable San Francisco Brewery, the makers of Steam Beer, and now owned by Sapporo, were pulling back its distribution to focus solely on California – already its biggest market – and would be discontinuing it’s annual Christmas tradition beer: Our Special Ale.  “Our Special Ale has always been a bizarre beer,” wrote my colleague Andy Crouch on All About Beer. “It was never particularly popular but it had tradition, pedigree, history and therefore loomed large in American craft beer.” It’s a loss and in an eulogy of sorts, Scott Ungermann, who was the brewmaster and VP of Production of Anchor from 2014 until 2020 is here to talk about his relationship with the brewery and that particular beer.  Anchor has always been part of his beer DNA. A tour of the brewery when he was in college inspired a homebrewing hobby, which led to a degree from University of California Davis, and then a long career with Anheuser-Busch, including a stretch at it’s Newark NJ facility, before a chance conversation and a long simmering desire brought him to the top beer job at Anchor. For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.Host: John HollGuest: Scott UngermannSponsors: All About BeerTags: Beer, California, Anchor, Lager, Christmas, Process, IPA, History 

We’re talking about food science, quality control, and the relationship to beer with Eric Tennant, the founder and master brewer of Virginia’s Benchtop Brewing. Occasionally beer gets sent to the home office here and on the afternoons when the schedule is clear and I’m in the mood for some refreshment, I open a few and let my mind wonder.  A recent box from Benchtop brewing in Virginia got my taste buds and mind working over time in the best possible way, so I asked Eric Tennant the founder of the brewery to come on the show.  He’s  Native of North Carolina and NC State Alumni with a Bachelors Degree in Food Science.  After 15 years experience in the food and beverage industry as an R&D Scientist where he created a US Patented process for a major food manufacturer. During those years working as a food scientist he was also focusing on quality control, process improvements, and consumer insights fields. When he left the food industry he was able to apply his technical skill and knowledge to producing delicious, innovative, and many times, culinary inspired beers.For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.Host: John HollGuest: Eric TennantSponsors: All About BeerTags: Beer, Virginia, Science, Lager, Creativity, Process

Ryan Sentz is here this week to talk about how he and his brother bought back Funky Buddha, the Florida Brewery they sold to Constellation Brands six years ago. There’s an interesting trend happening in beer these days. Small breweries that had sold to larger brewing companies are regaining their independence. The founders of Three Weavers in California re-purchased the brewery from Fireman Capital. 21st Amendment Brewery ended it’s agreement with Brooklyn Brewery. And in the last month we’ve seen Appalachian Mountain Breweryfounders purchase the brewery back from Anheuser-Busch InBev and Florida’s Funky Buddha going independent after a purchase from Constellation Brands.  Ryan Sentz, a co-founder of the brewery is my guest this week and he talks me through the early days of the brewery, the decision to sell in the first place and what life and business was like under Constellation. Constellation made a push into the craft space a few years ago with the splashy and billion dollar purchase of Ballast Point followed by Funky Buddha. The acquisition did not go as planned and after some devaluations Constellation sold Ballast Point to Kings and Convicts.  At that point, Sentz, who stayed on with Funky Buddha, knew that the brewery he founded could be next. He and his brother KC decided to make the move to re-acquire their brewery. For more Drink Beer, Think Beer check out All About Beer.Host: John HollGuest: Ryan SentzSponsors: All About BeerTags: Beer, History, Business, Homebrewing, Creativity, Florida

A note from John Holl: "This week I’m pleased to share with you a recent episode of the Brewer to Brewer Podcast, which runs on the All About Beer channel.  Shaun O’Sullivan of 21st Amendment interviews Mitch Steele of New Realm Brewing. The duo discuss Steele’s career and he shares insight into his time working for Anheuser-Busch at the dawn of craft beer and the movements made to address and combat the upstarts. It’s a fascinating look into business and history and I hope you enjoy listening to this conversation as much as I did."