James Howat - Founder & Brewer at Black Project Spontaneous & Wild Ales

Fueled by the need to explore, Black Project is pushing boundaries at every turn.  James questions everything.  He sees things in a way most adults have forgotten how to.  Guided by the questions "why?" and "what if?" - it's this characteristic that has propelled Black Project into the elite of wild and sour beer breweries.  As the name suggests, Black Project ferments its beers on spontaneous and wild caught microbes - always.  Even their IPA is fermented on a foraged Saccharomyces strain from an apple tree in James' neighborhood. The beers are wonderfully beautiful and display terroir in a playful way.  The complex and thought provoking beers coming out of the brewery are a beer geek's dream; yet, they are approachable enough for a novice to enjoy.  Honestly, go find some now.  

As craft beer continues to evolve, it will breweries like Black Project and people like James and his wife Sarah who will force evolution and encourage exploration.  They'll lead by example, never take no for an answer, and always ask "why?"  We hope you enjoy our chat.

Cheers,

Craft Commander

Alex Wallash - Founder The Rare Barrel

The Rare Barrel has become one of the country's foremost producers of sour beer.  That's no surprise if you've had the opportunity to try their beer - it's clean but just funky enough, it's purposeful, and the fruited offerings beautifully display all of the best in the fruits they use.  Batch after batch, The Rare Barrel is consistently impressing thanks to their willingness to dump bad beer and only use the best their massive barrel collection has to offer.  Just last year, the brewery dumped 25% of its stock because of a fluke off flavor that just wouldn't go away.  Rather than attempt to blend away this imperfection, the guys decided that to live up to their standard the only viable option was to dump.  And dump they did.  Hundreds of gallons of beer were poured down the drain.  Doing things like this ensures that when anyone walks in to the brewery they are going to love what is poured in to their glass or is in the bottle they are taking home.  Even more importantly, it protects and furthers the cause which is sour beer by providing quality and consistency with a style that is only now in its infancy here in the states.  Please enjoy our chat (even the "interlude") and grab some Rare Barrel to drink while you do!

Cheers,

Craft Commander

Jeff Mello - Bootleg Biology

Homebrewing and small scale experimentation is pushing the envelope in brewing.  The lack of a production schedule and a required consistent core line-up allows small scale non-professional brewers and some pro brewers to explore technique, develop styles, and go out and find yeast cultures that most pro brewers don't have the time or ability to play with.  Jeff is one of those homebrewers turned "yeast wizard" that is pushing beer forward.  Culturing wild yeast, working to catalog yeast in every zip code and internationally, and most importantly, reminding brewers to constantly evolve and learn.  He's a steward of the craft and for all the right reasons.  This chat was fun and insightful but most of all, inspirational.  Jeff was a reminder of why craft beer has become such a large part of our lives and why we're excited to see what breweries that make the time and space for exploration in yeast and fermentation are going to come up with next.  If you brew, check out Jeff's site.  Buy the yeast wrangling kit. Buy one his proprietary cultures.  Brew a beer completely unique to yourself.  Contribute to his project and be a part of brewing history.  Most of all, explore the craft - the sky's the limit.

Cheers,

Craft Commander

Gerard Olson & Daniel Endicott - Founders of Forest & Main Brewing Company

Unique.  Unapologetic.  Creative.  Magic.

Forest and Main is a wonderfully complex brewery.  This complexity is not only found in the beautiful liquid that has garnered Gerard and Dan, the founders, critical acclaim and fandom across the world.  You can find it in the labels that Dan paints himself and which tell a story that evolves as time moves forward.  You can find it in the beautiful Victorian house Forest and Main calls home.  You can find it in the two owners and their band, their love for Belgian and English beers, their desire to fully immerse themselves into any and all endeavors, and finally in their execution of the "split house" which is Forest and Main.  

Things like creating vintages of beer through the use of locally foraged yeast, captured every year, act as a snapshot of their community.  Forest and Main relies upon the community which surrounds its taproom to survive.  They're in love with the romantic idea that they can supply their neighbors, family, and friends with this piece of the puzzle of their lives.  As Dan put it during our chat, as much as the brewery was theirs as they planned, brewed, and built it, it has since become their community's.  That's one lucky community. 

Cheers,

Craft Commander

Peter Bissell - Bissell Brothers Brewing

Bissell Brothers is quickly making a name for itself by producing some of the best hop forward ales around.  Hazy, juicy, fruity, a soft mouthfeel, and incredibly aromatic, the beers are just beautiful.  They're also as "to the point" as Peter is - they are what they are and there's no excuses being made.  It's incredibly refreshing both literally and figuratively.  

With no commercial brewing experience in either brother's resume the move into Bissell Brothers Brewing was gutsy.  There would be no easy fix when things went wrong, there would be no pedigree to draw upon when seeking capital, and everything would a first time thing.  Huge hurdles by any account; yet, after chatting with Peter, these things seem like positives to a certain degree for the brothers.  It gave them a blank slate to work from and zero pre-conceived notions of how things had traditionally been done.  In other words, it set the stage for creativity and a hunger to succeed which has propelled Bissell Brothers into an expansion and incredible growth just two years in.  It's just the beginning for Bissell Brothers and we can't wait to see where they end up!

Cheers,

Craft Commander

Michael Tonsmeire - The Mad Fermentationist

Author. Consultant. Homebrewer. Economist!  Mike has made a name for himself as one of the country's most respected experts on the production of sour beer.  His book "American Sour Beers" and his blog www.themadfermentationist.com are invaluable resources for brewers looking to improve on their craft.  He's also consulted with breweries like Modern Times to develop recipes that we've all come to enjoy on the commercial level.  Point is, he's a wealth of knowledge for homebrewers and professional brewers alike.  We're lucky to have had the opportunity to bring you some of that knowledge and experience in this conversation.  We geared the conversation towards providing homebrewers (and those thinking about starting) with a base knowledge of yeast and bacteria treatment in these wonderfully complex beers, as well as some insight into how to think about recipe creation.  Sit back, relax, and learn something! 

Cheers,

Craft Commander

Jeffers Richardson - Director of Firestone Walker Barrelworks

When you think about breweries who exemplify quality, consistency, complexity, and balance, few meet the standard set by Firestone Walker. From Brewmaster Matt Brynaldson on down, the team is committed to achieving the perfect beer every single time.  While Firestone Walker certainly made a name for itself in Paso Robles and around the world for its clean, straightforward approach to saccharomyces fermented ales (and maybe some of you have heard of Pivo Pils), Barrelworks, about 90 miles South in Buellton is bringing Firestone back to its original location to brew old world wild ales.  That project, which in a few short years has already become a major success, is led by Jeffers Richardson, its Director, who was hand-picked to come back and lead the charge on this new venture.  Along with his team, including master blender Jim Crooks "Sour Jim", Barrelworks is producing some of the most complex and balanced wild ales in the country, if not the world.  

Jeffers was Firestone Walker's first brewmaster, Barrelworks is located in Firestone's original location, and the emphasis for the project is on going back in time to recreate and expand upon old world wild beers - everything is coming full circle.  As the program continues to grow, a coolship and more foeders are in the works.  And guess what?  That merger with Duvel isn't changing things for the brewery, at least not in a bad way.  Duvel brings a like-minded approach to beer and affords the team the ability to continue to grow and serve you more of this incredibly high-quality beer.  So quit the trolling.  Things are looking up.  Barrelworks is leading Firestone in to a new era.  Sit back and enjoy it.

Cheers, 

Craft Commander

Daniel Heisler - Head Brewer Blackberry Farm Brewery

Fresh off the silver medal at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival, Blackberry is only looking forward. Paying respect to the past while pushing the boundaries into the future.  Up to now, a beautiful Belgian inspired saison has been king at Blackberry, with variations available for each season.  The Summer variant being the recent GABF winner.  Inspired by Belgium but ultimately inspired by the brewery's home in the mountains of Tennessee. 

To call the farm beautiful is an understatement.  One look at the green fields tucked in below wooded mountain sides and you're taken away to another time.  A simpler time.  Only, at Blackberry, the farmhouses are home to James Beard award winning restaurants, and now a brewery that produces beers rooted in that simplicity and beauty that make Blackberry such a wonderful place.  Daniel became the head brewer at Blackberry after spending time brewing in Utah and Michigan and brought a wealth of knowledge with him to Tennessee to brew Belgian inspired beers in a brewery custom made to mimic the Belgian breweries the team at Blackberry admires.

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Beer is an experience.  Your surroundings often times influencing your impression of the liquid in the glass.  At Blackberry, the surroundings are a great start to that initial impression.  Fortunately, the beers follow through from start to finish.  Beautiful in the glass - complex yet approachable on your palate - wonderful with food.  We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.  

Cheers,

Craft Commander

Luke Dickinson - Founder/Brewer Wicked Weed Brewing Co.

                           "A wicked and pernicious weed"

                                               - King Henry VIII (on hops)

In one of the best beer towns in the country, Wicked Weed is producing some of the best beers available in America.  Aggressively hopped west-coast style IPAs and wonderfully complex and balanced sour ales have brought the brewery world-wide acclaim and allowed Wicked Weed begin expansion into a 5 million dollar facility which will have a 50,000 bbl per year capabilities.  In just over two years, Wicked Weed has become the #2 tourist attraction in Asheville, NC, a statistic that Luke is still in disbelief over.

Why the success?  How so quickly?  Wicked Weed is one of the most innovative breweries in the country right now.  Constantly pushing the boundaries with traditional approaches and new ingredients and combinations.  With an eye towards creating a complete sensory experience, the label art, the look of the liquid, the nose, and ultimately the taste, take people lucky enough to try their beers through layer and layer of complexity. Just pour the beer into a glass and allow yourself to really experience the beer and you'll see a connection to the amazing art on the labels.  It's all about the experience.  Understanding that the beer is more than just a drink - it's a place in time, a memory, and ultimately an experience.  

Watch our conversation to learn about the past, the present and what the future holds for Wicked Weed from co-founder Luke Dickinson. 

Cheers,

Craft Commander

Matt Lincecum - Founder Fremont Brewing Co.

"Because Beer Matters"

                                   - Fremont Brewing Co.

          Fremont Brewing Co., located in Seattle, Earth, is just one of those breweries that you love to support.  In the product - balance, integrity, quality, local, purpose, and innovative are words that immediately come to mind.  Yet, Fremont is more than great beer.  Why?  "Because beer matters."  At Fremont, beer matters because (1) it makes the community better; (2) it provides great local jobs; and, (3) craft breweries engage and benefit the community as participants.  They truly believe these things, but more importantly, they act on them wholeheartedly.  Business decisions are made and beers are produced in accordance with the mantra.  From providing all employees with full healthcare, to partnering with local farmers to create sustainable organic hops and quality grain, to cutting profits in order to provide the working class people that inhabit the surrounding neighborhood with a "fair drink at a fair price," Fremont literally and figuratively puts its money where its mouth is.  

         Matt left his career as an attorney to follow his passion for craft beer after years of homebrewing.  It's that passion that drives the quality of Fremont's beers and it's that passion that keeps them true to their core principles of being environmentally friendly, sustainable, and local.  Fremont will grow into an 80,000 square foot facility by 2016 while maintaining the current 8,000 square foot facility for experimentation.  Yet, they will lose none of their identity in this growth.  They'll continue to forge the way in improving sustainable hops and grain farming to meet its needs and hopefully start a trend that spreads throughout the country.  More importantly, they'll continue to produce world class beer all while making the community better and continuing their active participation in that same community.  It's something to be proud of.  It's something more should try to replicate.  Because beer matters.

         We hope you enjoy and learn from this conversation as much as we did.  Now, go find yourself a Fremont beer!

Cheers,

Craft Commander            

Jesse Friedman - Founder/Brewer at Almanac Beer Co.

"We want to stand for something."  It's the take away from the conversation.  Almanac Beer, going in to it's fifth year stands for California, the idea that local is best, that quality supersedes quantity, and that beer is coming to knock wine off its throne in the kitchen.  Using Northern California's local produce (sourced through collaborations with local farms) and a local house strain of yeast is allowing Almanac to provide a sense of terroir - a sense of place - the image of California popping up in your head when you look at, smell, and finally taste their beer. Still, what's most impressive is the way they truly view their beer as art.  An expression of themselves.  A look inside their soul.  This is what craft beer needs to continue it's growth and sustain it's place in the market.  

Jesse, while proud of what Almanac has been able to produce - saying that his favorite Almanac beer is always the last one released - truly believes that it can always be better, that nothing will ever be at its best, and that he will never see the day when he can say that his beer is perfect.  Not exactly the "big beer" marketing strategy but it speaks to the essence of this movement; that we are constantly meant to evolve, progress, and improve ourselves and what we do. This is what I love about craft beer and what I love about Almanac.

Cheers,

Craft Commander 

Khristopher Johnson - Brewer/Owner Green Bench Brewing

"Complex without being overly aggressive."

It's the motto Khris and Green Bench strive to live up to - and they do.  Balanced, delicate beers that scream complexity and big flavors with intent at the forefront of every stage in the development of the beer.  Green Bench, while producing some of the cleanest and brightest sour beers Florida has to offer, somehow flies under the radar in its own home State.  That, my friends, is a shame.  Please do yourself the favor of finding your way over to the tap room the next time you find yourself in Tampa or St. Pete.  They're producing beers that us here in Florida should be proud to show off - and we here at Craft Commander are proud to show off to the world.

Not only is Green Bench using foeders and other creative and unusual fermentation techniques not typically used in Florida, but they are currently developing a koelschip for spontaneous fermentation and are planning a Florida terroir spontaneously fermented beer. A "traditional" Florida Geuze!  Lofty goals for a dedicated and creative brewer in Khris that has the attention to detail and quality control to achieve them.  

Stay tuned for the future of this great up and coming Florida brewery.  We're excited to see what the future holds and are proud to say Green Bench is pushing the boundaries of what Florida has to offer.  We hope you enjoy the conversation and we hope you do yourself the favor of trying the fantastic beers Green Bench is producing.  To learn more, go visit the brewery, say hi to Khris, and grab a beer on the lawn!  

Cheers,

Craft Commander

Greg Rapp and Joe Scheibelhut - Rapp Brewing Co.

Rapp Brewing Company in Pinellas County, Florida, has made a name for itself by producing high-quality true to form old world styles.  The Gose is highly acclaimed and the Munich Dunkel is right there with it.  But they're also producing more modern takes on beer like their ever so popular Chocolate Peanut Butter Stout that tastes exactly like the name suggests.  Fact is, whatever Rapp Brewing decides to put out is put out with such a strong emphasis on quality and attention to detail that you could literally point at any one of the 20 beers that are always available in the taproom and find yourself wanting more.  

Rapp Brewing is the kind of brewery that we love.  Small, intimate, and friendly - ensuring that the people who enter find something that they like and have an experience that will lead to more visits with more friends.  It's a responsibility that Greg and his head brewer Joe both are completely conscious of and embrace as they help push the Florida beer scene forward.

Florida needs small artisan producers.  The beer industry need Rapp Brewing.