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January 20, 2013

Interview Spotlight: Jake Shiffer from Leprechaun Cider Company

by bryancarey — Categories: Domestic — Tags: cider, houston, interview, texas — No Comments

Craft beer is an industry on the move. Just ask anyone who has bothered to browse the beer aisle at their local supermarket or who has taken the time to lookup breweries and brewpubs in the local area- they will affirm that there are more craft beer choices, more interesting and unusual varieties, and more brands than they have ever seen before. The industry is enjoying a boom as of late, and more and more entrepreneurs continue to jump on the craft beer bandwagon, hoping to tantalize consumers and create the next award- winning product.

Craft beer is certainly a growing business, but there is a related business that, in percentage terms, is expanding at an even faster rate. The business is hard cider and it continues to win over fans who enjoy it as an alternative yet often equally enjoyable substitute for craft beer. In the Houston, Texas area, there is a newer cider business- one founded by a young and ambitious entrepreneur by the name of (more…)

September 8, 2012

Interview Spotlight: Ray Cato of Caldera Brewing

by bryancarey — Categories: About Beer, Breweries, Domestic, Microbrews — Tags: beer, brewery, brewing, craft, interview, oregon — No Comments

As most craft beer lovers are fully aware, Oregon is one of the best states in the nation for finding great craft beers and its small, independent brewing operations can be found throughout the state. Portland, the state’s largest city, claims a large percentage of these craft breweries but there is no shortage of great craft beer elsewhere in the state. One craft brewing operation that many outside of Oregon have likely not heard about but may know better in the coming years is Caldera Brewing, in Ashland, Oregon. I had the chance to converse recently with Ray Cato, Brand Manager at Cato. He was kind enough to answer some questions about Caldera and craft brewing in general. Here are my questions and his honest responses to each:

1. The craft brewing industry has made great gains in the past few years and there are over 2,000 breweries and brewpubs in the United States. Do you see the growth continuing or

(more…)

June 9, 2012

Interview Spotlight: Travis Guterson of 7 Seas Brewing

by bryancarey — Categories: Beer Media, Beer Travel, Breweries, Domestic, Microbrews — Tags: ale, beer, brewery, craft, interview, lager, washington — No Comments

Washington state is far away from most of the country, but to the lover of craft beer, this area of the United States holds special meaning. The Pacific Northwest is known as an area where a large percentage of hops- one of othe four main ingredients in all beer- are grown and it is home to a very large number of craft brewing operations. An individual could easily dedicate several vacations to craft beer exploration in the Washington/Oregon area and still not be able to visit all of the breweries and brewpubs in this two- state hotbed of craft brew.

One of the many different craft breweries in the state of Washington is 7 Seas Brewing, a small brewery located in Gig Harbor, not far from Tacoma. 7 Seas was founded in 2008 by Travis Guterson and Mike Runion and it has enjoyed much success and growth over the past few years. Great Beer Now caught up with co- owner and brewmaster Travis Guterson just recently and posed a few questions to him about 7 Seas Brewing and the craft brewing industry in general. Here are the questions and his candid response to each:

The craft brewing industry has made great gains in the past few years and there are now close to 2,000 breweries and brewpubs in the United States. Do you see the growth continuing or is the industry reaching a saturation point?

My guess is that the Craft-Beer industry will (more…)

June 1, 2012

Interview Spotlight: Alaskan Brewing Company’s Mike King

by bryancarey — Categories: About Beer, Award Winning, Breweries, Domestic, Microbrews — Tags: ale, beer, brewery, craft, interview, travel — No Comments

Alaska is often referred to as the Last Frontier, and for good reason. Our northernmost state is not only far removed from the rest of the United States, it is also our most unspoiled state in terms of human development, with much of it still in its primitive, natural form. For this reason, we don’t often associate Alaska with major industries, but one business that is growing and thriving in the capital city of Juneau is Alaskan Brewing Company. This brewing operation was founded in 1986 and it continues to wow consumers with its delicious malt beverages and attention to detail.

Alaskan Brewing products just recently entered the Houston market and they have had a noticeable impact on the craft beer scene as Houstonians sample Alaskan Brewing White Ale, Amber, IPA, and others for the first time and discover their distinct taste and quality. I had the chance to converse with some Alaskan Brewing personell, one of whom spends his days combining ingredients, pitching yeast, and otherwise assuring that Alaskan Brewing is able to meet consumer demands and maintain its high level of quality. His name is Mike King, and he offered up some insightful responses to questions related to his brewery and the business of beer in general:

1. Craft beer continues to gain popularity and the number of breweries and brewpubs continue to increase. What do you see happening to craft beer over the next few years in terms of growth? What obstacles, if any, will need to be overcome? I think that the current growing popularity of craft beer revolves around the (more…)

May 16, 2012

Interview Spotlight: Rahr & Sons Founder Fritz Rahr Jr.

by bryancarey — Categories: Beer Travel, Breweries, Domestic, Microbrews — Tags: beer, brewing, Fort Worth, interview, microbrew, Rahr & Sons, texas — No Comments

Texas is a large state with a thriving business community that continues to innovate. The state has met many challenges over the past few years and has fared far better than other states, in large part due to the business- friendly laws and diverse people who are always looking for ways to create new things and improve on existing processes. This is true across many industries, but it is particularly true in the business known as craft beer. Texas’ craft brewing businesses have enjoyed a good deal of growth as of late and one company that has its sights set high is Rahr & Sons Brewing, a business based out of Fort Worth. Rahr & Sons has been around since 2004 when Fritz and Erin Rahr decided to revive a Rahr family tradition dating back to 1847 and while the company is actually more established than other Texas breweries, it continues to look for ways to improve product selection and better serve its customer base.

I caught up with Rahr & Sons president and founder, Frederick “Fritz” Rahr Jr. just recently and had a chance to learn more about his brewing operation, his company’s outlook, and his opinions on the craft brewing business in general. I offered up some questions and he responded with some honest, thoughtful words of wisdom on the business of beer and its future:

Across the United States, the craft brewing industry is enjoying tremendous growth and influence. What is your feeling regarding these trends? Has the industry reached a peak, or is the best yet to come?

I think the growth of craft beer is exciting. I think this growth is more than sustainable as more and more people get (more…)

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