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

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

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

Evan Watson - Plan Bee Farm Brewery

Creation, innovation, pushing the limits, and supporting the local economy and community.  Evan and Emily Watson, the husband wife team behind Plan Bee Farm Brewery are living examples of these words.  The proof?  They moved to a 1 acre plot of land in Fishkill, NY to start a brewery that produces 1 barrel (~32 gallons) of beer per batch, uses all local New York ingredients, and when possible, ingredients that can be harvested on their own property.  To drive the point home, the yeasts strains used in Plan Bee's beers have been harvested from fruits and other things found on their property.  The beers are now all fermented using yeasts harvested by Evan and cultivated to produce delicate, balanced, and complex beers.  It doesn't get much more local than that.  Sure, its harder this way; and, sure it's less profitable, but it's exactly what they want.  A product that tastes like where it's from.  A beer with a terroir and a sense of place.  A product that not only represents their brewery and style but the actual plot of land that birthed its components.  

Still, there's much more to it than that.  Evan's music (google him, you won't be disappointed) screams America - with a hints of blues, southern rock, gospel, and folk, also reflects the persona behind the Plan Bee beers.  A back to the basics, salt of the earth approach to music.  It's raw and passionate. Again, creation and creativity stand at the forefront.  As Evan puts it, anything can be influential when brewing his beers, including music and arts.

As Plan Bee looks to expand, their goals are not driven by money.  In fact, Evan still wants nothing to do with distribution.  Instead, he wants to continue to be the one who hands his customers his product and drinks them on the property they own.   The expansion, if and when it happens, will instead look like 20-30 acres of land where Evan can grow each and every component of his beer with a large building where people can share beer and enjoy themselves, and where Evan can Emily can be a part of the local economy and, more importantly, community.  This product is more than just a beer it's Evan's artistic interpretation of where he is literally and spiritually.  Plan Bee truly is art in a glass.  We hope you enjoy this conversation.

Cheers!