Mitch Ermatinger - Speciation Artisan Ales

To steal a quote from Greg Koch, founder of Stone Brewing Co., "this beer from Speciation is an awesome example of why the craft brewing industry is so awesome right now."  When pressed further, Koch says "because things like Speciation can exist.  Even just a few years ago, no one would have bought this.  Today, thankfully, people have wised up a little bit as populists.  They're like, 'wait a minute - that crazy thing that one guy is doing at that one place all by himself, it's kind of delicious.' So that's why it's awesome."  It is pretty cool that one year in, Mitch, that guy by himself in that place he makes beer in, is getting the attention of not only locals and other craft beer friends, but some of the biggest and most influential presences in the industry.  This, all while bottling, label, corking, and wire capping each and every bottle by hand - a far cry from Greg's multiple state of the art breweries across the world.  

Mitch is connecting with people.  He's doing so by creating beautiful and innovative beer, exploring terroir, and filling a gap for sour beer lovers in a state dominated by Founders and Bell's.  Speciation has found itself rated amongst the top breweries in the world  on Untappd for months and it's clear this success isn't going to stop.  They're expanding production, exploring new concepts and ideas, and playing more with oak in the coming months. Speciation is only getting started and Mitch is riding his forklift into the next level.  It's a great time to be alive for craft beer fans, Speciation is a shining example of why. 

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

Troy Casey - Founder Casey Brewing & Blending

If you've had any of Troy's beer, you know why people drive hours for a bottle.  You understand that each bottle contains a 750ml picture of Glenwood Springs, CO, represented by microflora, grains, and fruit from surrounding farms.  So incredibly balanced, complex, and thought provoking.  Delicate and purposeful.  The beers are just beautiful.  

Troy's been lauded as one of the best brewers in the country - the attention to detail and precision he employs in the production of the at times untamable wild ales he's producing only helping support that notion.  While he quickly shrugs off that assertion early on in our chat, Casey Brewing & Blending is just one of those breweries that stands out amongst an ever-growing crowd.  Catch our chat hear to learn more about Troy, his brewery, and what goes in to making these truly world class beers.   

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

Jim Crooks - Master Blender Firestone Walker Barrelworks

Barrelworks wasn't a goal of Firestone's ownership and it wasn't necessarily a welcome guest at the brewery either.  The beautiful beers coming out of Buellton today come to us as a result of lots of hard work and a little bit of sneaking around on the part of Jim Crooks, now the master blender of what was almost a scrapped project.  Thankfully his perseverance with the project and constant curiosity about the processes at work inside of his small collection of barrels led to a full time and recognized piece of the Firestone Walker brand.  A piece of the brand that is only getting bigger and better.

Off on their island one hour and one half south of the Paso Robles facility, Barrelworks is exploring the realm of wild beer.  No concerns about infecting any clean beers, no limits or boundaries, and full control over the production of the wildly complex (pun intended) ales leaving the facility on liberation days. With Jim at the helm, the crew is producing some of the most beautifully nuanced and complex beers around.  Beer that give the most curious drinker something to think about while giving the novice craft beer and wild ale drinker a wonderfully balanced introduction to what wild ales should and can smell, taste, and feel like.  Honestly. The beers are beautiful.  The people are awesome.  Jim is no exception.  Listen in on our chat about all things Barrelworks, wild beer, and attempting to produce beers like these at home.

Cheers,

Craft Commander

Bob Sylvester - Founder/Brewer Saint Somewhere Brewing

Before the term "farmhouse ale" became a cool buzz word that people used as a symbol of their arrival in the craft beer scene, Bob Sylvester was delivering some of the best and most complex "Belgian-ish" farmhouse ales in the world.  Small batches, everything done by hand, and everything done with a purpose - Authenticity.  Authentic.  It's the best word to describe Saint Somewhere and Bob alike.  Unapologetic for who he is and what he stands for, the brewery an extension of this sadly, dying character trait. 

Saint Somewhere is a shining star in Florida and a source of inspiration for other breweries around the country.  A great representation of Florida's past, future, and present.

Cheers,

Craft Commander

Joey Redner & Justin Clark - Cigar City Brewing and Florida Craft Beer Legislation

Florida craft beer has been facing an uphill battle in Tallahassee over the past couple years as the market share being taken over by craft beer continues to grow.  Large breweries and distributors have used longstanding political influence to do what they can to stunt the growth of this craft beer boom.  Sadly, rather than evolve and grow, these dinosaurs are trying to legislate out the competition.  This is about as un-American as it comes.  This can not be tolerated.  This must be fought.

Breweries like Cigar City, Florida's craft beer leaders, have learned very quickly that the challenge is a real one.  Millions of dollars are being funneled into the attack by big beer and age-old relationships between big beer and the legislature have forced the young craft beer industry to grow up quickly.  A real life David and Goliath is unfolding right before our eyes here in Florida.  David, armed with integrity, innovation, and the support of a generation seems poised to ensure the outcome remains the same as it did in the age old story.  Just look at the growth in the last 5 years.  Look at the movement and the way our generation has embraced craft beer.  It's not a coincidence and it's not a surprise.

Cigar City has been the catalyst for economic growth for the bay area and the state, has employed hundreds of local people, has increased tourism in a state that prides itself on it, and among other things, has become a source of pride for many Floridians.  Through hard work and dedication, Cigar City is leading by example and paving the way for the other breweries who have opened and will open in the coming years.

The legislature needs to see what a great industry ours is and what a benefit to Florida helping craft beer along can be.  I think they are.  I know they will.  Florida craft beer is here to stay. 

Cheers,

Craft Commander