Consuming the Craft

  oday on Consuming the Craft, I reconnect with Ivy Ivesdal, a talented educator and improviser, to explore how improv has influenced both personal and professional aspects of life. We journey through Ivy's adventurous leap into improv classes and how those unexpected skills seamlessly overlap with training, public speaking, parenting, and even deeper human connection. Ivy opens up about breaking...

  Today on Consuming the Craft, I got to reconnect with John Lyda for a session of curious sensory exploration, program updates, and plenty of laughter. We dove into the new semester at AB Tech, talked about how the craft beverage industry is evolving, and got our hands (and tastebuds) on some truly unique apple barbecue pork rinds from McConnell Farms. Our mission this time? Find the perfect beve...

  Today on Consuming the Craft, I had the pleasure of welcoming back Evan Wilder, a former student who’s become a true craftsman in beverage alcohol. Our conversation was a walk down memory lane and a glimpse into the future, tracing his journey from the AB Tech classroom to running distillation at Baldwin City Distillery in Kansas. We talked about his time brewing at Boulevard, the adventure of m...

  Today on Consuming the Craft, I got to share an inspiring and practical conversation about the upcoming American Red Cross blood drive at the Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast at AB Tech. The conversation focused on why blood donation matters, the easy steps to participate, and just how much of an impact one donor can make. We sampled a Cosmic Little Thing Hazy Double IPA and a bold whea...

Today on Consuming the Craft, I welcomed Adam Bachmann from The Chemist for a tasting session that turned into a deep exploration of creative spirits production. Adam brought in a preview of their American peated whiskey, drawn from a 30-gallon barrel after just nine months. We discussed the surprising depth and color achieved in such a short time, the craft of balancing peat and sweetness, and th...

Today on Consuming the Craft, I sat down with J.W. Jones, the owner of Asheville Brewer Supply, to talk about his journey from homebrewing in the late '90s to running a beloved shop that’s served Asheville’s makers for over 30 years. We explored the changes in the home brewing scene, why it’s truly the easiest time ever to brew a great beer at home, and the joy of making everything from beer to me...

Today on Consuming the Craft, I had the opportunity to sit down with Magnus and Sebastian, who traveled all the way from Sweden to share insights into the Swedish craft beer scene, their personal journeys into brewing, and what trends they’re seeing both in Sweden and on their current adventure through Asheville’s vibrant breweries. We dug deep into the challenges and triumphs of home brewing, the...

Today on Consuming the Craft, I had the incredible opportunity to explore the art and science of whiskey blending with Chris Spalding, a veteran of the global spirits industry and a key figure behind some iconic releases. We got hands-on (and tastebuds-on!) with samples and talked through the nuance of blending, barrel finishes, and the creative philosophy at the heart of Whiskey Gypsy. From the s...

Today on Consuming the Craft, I caught up with Ari Miller-Sisson, a graduate alumnus and head brewer at Broomtail Brewing Company in Wilmington. We explored Ari's winding journey from passionate home brewer through the challenges of graduating amid COVID to finding his stride in the professional brewing world. Ari reflected on the challenges of scaling up, the importance of creativity even in comm...

In today's episode, I welcomed Russ Robertson, Brewery Operations Director at Highland Brewing Company in Asheville, North Carolina. We explored Russ’s journey from his early influences growing up with a father in the beer industry, through his diverse roles at Miller Brewing, a stint bottling juice for J.M. Smucker, and finally his return to the craft beer world at Highland. Russ shared stories o...

  In today’s episode, I sat down with Carey Harnash, the driving force behind the Western North Carolina Whiskey Festival. We explored his journey from whiskey enthusiast to founder of a festival dedicated to education, community, and of course, great whiskey. Carey opened up about his passion for bringing together local distilleries, whiskey lovers of all levels, and supporting the WNC Harvest an...

Today, on Consuming the Craft, I welcome the living legend of hospitality himself, Walter Rapenski, for an in-depth look at the fast-evolving beverage and hospitality landscape. Together, we explore the dynamic shifts shaping bars, breweries, and restaurants, from the surge in mid-strength beers and creative non-alcoholic offerings to the new expectations for service, sustainability, and authentic...

Today on Consuming the Craft, I welcomed Adam Bachman, the head production distiller and manager at The Chemist. We dove deep into the craft of distilling, from Adam’s 11+ years of commercial experience in the industry to the evolution of American single malt whiskey. Adam shared stories from his early days building stills (legally for essential oils!), his academic path through biochemistry at Cl...

Today on Consuming the Craft, I welcome back Charlie Stanley from Oak and Grist Distilling Company in Black Mountain, North Carolina. We dive deep into the journey of a small craft distillery navigating the challenges of being in a control state, the growth of Oak and Grist's product line, and the evolution of their spirits since Charlie’s last visit. We geek out on the technical and creative aspe...

  Today on Consuming the Craft, I sat down with Jesse Phillips from Port City Brewing Company in Alexandria, Virginia. We took a deep dive into Port City's current lineup, including their much-lauded Oktoberfest, their adventurous lager series, and their limited-run Brewer's Cut releases. Jesse also shared his perspective on seasonal beer trends, local collaborations—especially with coffee roaster...

  Today on Consuming the Craft, I sat down with Brian Simpson, CEO of Riverbend Malt House, to explore the fascinating evolution of craft malt in the southeast. We covered Riverbend’s journey from a modest basement setup in 2010 to a dynamic operation producing unique and locally sourced malts for breweries and distilleries across the country. I poured Brian a special whiskey from Oak and Grist, m...

  Today on Consuming the Craft, I welcomed Chris Reedy, Senior Director of Food, Beverage, and Natural Products Industry Training at the Natural Products Laboratory and Test Kitchen of NC BioNetwork. We dove deep into the rapidly evolving food safety landscape, particularly focusing on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) 204 and its sweeping impact on food and beverage traceability. Our conve...

Today on Consuming the Craft, I welcomed Charlie Frisch from the American Red Cross to dive into the often-misunderstood world of blood donation. We got into what the Red Cross really does—going beyond blood drives to offer lifesaving training, disaster relief, and resources for veterans. Charlie shed light on the urgent and ongoing need for blood, especially in Western North Carolina, and shared...

In today’s episode, I sat down with Greg Hill, a longtime cider maker at Urban Orchard Cidery and a dedicated adjunct instructor in the brewing program here in Asheville. Greg is wrapping up his PhD work while guiding Urban Orchard through an incredibly tough year—one marked by supply challenges, wild weather events, and a major orchard fire. Together, we dove into his ongoing dissertation about w...

  Today on Consuming the Craft, I welcomed back Jeff Frisbee from Addison Farms, a returning guest and the driving force behind one of our region’s finest family-run wineries. We caught up over a glass of wine—okay, maybe more than one glass—while sharing laughs about the unique problems that accompany running a vineyard, especially as harvest season approaches. From creative deer deterrent tactic...

Today on Consuming the Craft, I’m joined by Dan Rowe, the head brewer at Yeehaw Brewing Company, who returns for his third appearance. We dive deep into the evolution and expansion of Yeehaw, from its origins a decade ago in Johnson City to its impressive reach across Tennessee, South Carolina, and beyond. Dan walks us through the complexities of scaling up production, adapting to fast-changing ma...

  Today on Consuming the Craft, I had the pleasure of catching up with Seth Hewitt, brewing supervisor extraordinaire at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. Fresh off a trip to Ireland, Seth dives into the sensory nuances between Guinness in its home country versus what we get stateside, the mystique behind Guinness’ global quality control, and some behind-the-scenes tales from his brewery tours. We al...

  Today on Consuming the Craft, I welcomed two of the driving forces behind Green Man Brewing Company: Joe Summers, Managing Director, and Matt Peyton, Director of Brewing. We dove deep into the world of legacy beer styles, the ebb and flow of trends in the craft beer scene, and how Green Man keeps pivoting and thriving even as the industry gets more crowded and competitive. From war stories about...

Today on Consuming the Craft, I had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. John Gossett, president of Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College, to mark his five-year anniversary leading the institution. Together, we took a candid look at how education, especially at the community college level, has evolved in response to hurricanes, pandemics, technological disruptions, and shifting attitude...

Today on Consuming the Craft, I’m celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the first graduating class from the Brewing, Distillation, and Fermentation program here at AB Tech. Joining me is John Lyda, a full-time faculty member, brewing industry veteran, and program cornerstone who’s been instrumental in driving the evolution of our curriculum. Together, we reflect on how far the program has come—fr...