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

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