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

Council Brewing Co.

Focused. Driven. Passionate. Creative. Hungry. All adjectives that can be interchanged or used in tandem to describe the people behind the beer at Council Brewing Co.  Husband and wife team Curtis & Liz Chism (CEO & Head Brewer, respectively) and Jeff Crane ("The Wild Man") are responsible for producing not only aggressively hopped West Coast IPAs but also for producing an impressive lineup of fruited sour and wild ales, led by Beatitude, a 4.5% tart saison.  They brew beers to drink by the glass.  Beers that can be dissected or enjoyed without a thought.  They're beers for beer nerds and new beer drinkers alike.  Beers that are complex and approachable all at once.  If you couldn't tell, we love them.

The trio, each with their own unique personality and perspective, brings something different to the table.  All complementing the other and putting their mark on the end product.  Liz and Curtis, BJCP judges extremely critical of each and every batch, ensure that what you have in that glass in front of you is special.  Still, it's not just about the beer.  They're people's people.  They treat their employees like family.  Most importantly, they love their fans and anyone who walks in the doors of the brewery for the first time, just the same.  The embodiment of what craft beer is about. 

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

Averie Swanson & Sean Spiller - Jester King Brewery

It's no secret that Jester King holds a special place in our hearts.  Fantastic people making fantastic beers.  Beers that scream Jester King - the place, the mixed culture of yeast and bacteria that lives in every bottle, and the finger print of the brewers who make them.  Since we last spoke with the brewery on Craft Commander, they have purchased the land surrounding the brewery and are beginning to grow more of the ingredients that will influence their beers, they've worked hard to get the spontaneous fermentation project going, and they've continued to push the boundaries of what it is their beer can be.

Averie and Sean are two vital pieces of the puzzle at Jester King - brewing and caring for the beautiful beers that the brewery is known for and that craft beer lovers have come to expect.  They possess an immense knowledge of brewing and fermentation science and use their endless creativity to craft, coax, and influence the ingredients and the living, breathing, and totally unique mixed culture that the brewery uses to give its beers that "thing". Go find a bottle, crack it open, take a whiff and then a taste, and you'll know exactly what we mean.  Jester King and it's constant pursuit of quality and experimentation is what craft beer is all about.  It's always a pleasure to get to hang with these guys, we hope you enjoy our chat!  

Cheers,

Craft Commander

Eric Drew - Casa Agria Specialty Ales

A sense of place - terroir.  A phrase brewers around the country are keeping at the forefront of their minds.  Striving to embrace, represent, and showcase that sense of place is driving wild and sour beer producers in their pursuit of being something truly unique.  As Casa Agria became closer to being a reality, the phrase became a mantra.  For Casa Agria, being regional and showcasing terroir doesn't necessarily mean only using local fruit, grain or hops, it's the presentation of who and what has shaped the culture Ventura County. Not limiting themselves to strict style guidelines allows them to continue to shape their beers into just that - a sense of place.

Sit back, relax, grab a beer, and enjoy.  Casa Agria is creating some exciting beer already and it's only the beginning.

Cheers,

Craft Commander

Kevin Osborne - Cellador Ales

As craft beer continues to become increasing regional and even local, breweries like Cellador will become increasingly more abundant.  Small batch wild ales which seek to express a time and place displaying the identity of the brewer and the locality.  Most of all, breweries like Cellador don't believe in rules and style guidelines - it's all about creating an experience.  The approach is catching on and the beers we're seeing around the country are becoming more expressive than ever before.  Kevin Osborne, the man responsible for the beers that will soon come out of the brewery, is taking this opportunity and running with it.  The beers are balanced, tart, refreshing, and complex.  They look beautiful in the glass and have wonderful aromas.  We're excited for Kevin and Cellador and we can't wait to see where the brewery is this time next year.  Reach out to Kevin, go try some beer before they open, and last but not least, watch this conversation to learn about Cellador, brewing these beers, and what we can expect from the brewery going forward.

Cheers,

Craft Commander

Evan Watson - Founder Plan Bee Farm Brewery (Part Deux)

Since our last chat, Plan Bee has moved from a 1 BBL brew system in a small shed to a 10 BBL brewhouse on a farmstead in Poughkeepsie, NY, and Evan and his wife Emily have begun to cultivate the land which some day in the future will supply most if not all of the ingredients used in Plan Bee's fantastic beers.  This was a conversation we were dying to have, to see the progress on the farm, talk a little less about the basics of Plan Bee (see prior interview), and to really get into what it means to be a farm brewery.  The result - an honest and raw conversation.  A discussion about the struggles of such a grand undertaking, a real look at the life behind the shiny exterior of this craft beer boom, and most importantly, complete candor.  Plan Bee is and will always be one of our favorites, not only because of the quality of the product but for the ideas the couple stand for.  The back to basics and "life's priorities" driven mentality that guides their business decisions.  The fact that Evan prides himself on handing each bottle of his beer to the consumer just one example of what makes this brewery so special.  We hope you enjoy our conversation and take the time to learn more about Plan Bee and the Watsons.  

Cheers,

Craft Commander

Cory King - Founder of Side Project Brewing

Delicate.  Flavorful.  Innovative.  Beautiful.

Cory King, the founder of Side Project Brewing is producing beers that encapture the purist sense of those four words.  Operating within Perennial Artisan Ales, where Cory is the head brewer and director of oak, Side Project finds it's niche in beers that seek to portray the natural landscape surrounding the brewery.  Using a house blend of yeast cultivated from the surrounding farms and always seeing oak, Side Project beers bear an identity prevalent through each and every offering.  It's really a thing of beauty.  There's a sense of purpose to the beers and a complexity unmatched by most other breweries and it's exciting that with releases as small as 185 bottles, Side Project seems to be amongst the leaders in a "get back to the basics" style of brewing.  

With no real motivation to become the next super producer of beer, Cory seems content to be right where he's at - brewing artisan style farmhouse and wild ales, each and every one bearing his stamp.  From brewing to managing the barrels to labeling and bottling the beers, Cory's influence can be felt, seen, and tasted.  Now with his wife joining the team and running the newly opened tap room, Side Project seems poised to become a mainstay in the craft beer world.  This is great news for craft beer.

We hope you enjoy this conversation.

Cheers!

Craft Commander