Consuming the Craft

Greg Hill has a deep passion for learning. Greg—the Head Cider Maker and Production Director at the Urban Orchard Co. in Asheville—is one of the first graduating cohorts of A-B Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute program. He completed a Master’s in Education and Training and is currently working on a Ph. D. in Education and Training. A lifelong learner, Greg believes that standardizing education and t...

Pop quiz: the shape of a drinking glass can affect the flavor and aroma of liquor—fact or fiction? John Lyda and I put this question to the test. The brewmaster extraordinaire, John Lyda, is the former Sr. Vice President of Highland Brewing Co. and current full-time instructor at A-B Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. He is highly regarded in Asheville for introducing the community...

The man of the hour, John Lyda, is an instructor at A-B Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. Before joining the program’s faculty, John served as Senior VP and Brewmaster at Highland Brewing Co. But after more than two decades of working with the company, John—who was pivotal in laying the foundations of the Beer City—thought it was time to pass along his knowledge to the next generat...

While Russ Karasch has been a cooper for over 32 years, he has been in the wood industry for more than five decades. Alongside his daughter, Heidi Korb, Russ founded Black Swan Cooperage in 2009. Thanks to the support of their family, friends, and community, Black Swan Cooperage has grown to a global brand recognized for its high-quality cooperage products and innovations. Russ joins us today to d...

Mike Roberts used to hate beer while he was in university. It wasn’t until he had a taste of pilsner during a visit to Prague that he had an epiphany: the drink tasted phenomenal, and Mike knew he fell in love. Fast forward to today, and Mike serves as the Craft Solutions Facilitator at Cru Brewing Systems and boasts 15 years of brewing experience. Before joining Cru Brewing Systems, Mike worked w...

Max Fann is the Co-owner and Chairman of Inbox Beverage, a company making innovations in the industry by building and distributing breweries, wineries, and distilleries in shipping containers. Max is an alumnus of A-B Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. After graduating from the Fermentation program, Max went on to work as a brewer at Wicked Weed Brewing—eventually becoming its Resea...

While we have varying degrees of knowledge and education in the industry, some things—such as accuracy, cleaning, and sanitation—need to follow standards. This is an idea Karen “Kay” Gonzalez—an alumnus of the ABTech Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast program—agrees on. Being mindful of accuracy, Kay notes, is what made her brewery succeed well. And she’s right—to be a successful brewer in...

John “Laser” Lazarovic is an alumnus of the Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. Before studying at ABTech, John was in the culinary world and only did some home brewing on the side for fun. He later graduated with the class of ‘21 and interned at the Oklawaha Brewing Company in Henderson, North Carolina. Today, John works at Turgua Brewing Co., a brewery based in Fairview, North Carolina. J...

Mike Fuller is a master brewer at Kite Hill Brewing Co. at Clemson City in South Carolina. After graduating from ABTech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast program, Mike spent nine years in Asheville, North Carolina working in several breweries, including Oskar Blues and DSSOLVR. Later, Mike dreamed of going to Clemson to give the city its first brewery—a dream he would soon realize by wor...

Andrew Boyd is the President of Blue Label Packaging Company, a printing and packaging company dedicated to translating the spirit of their clients’ businesses into labels and packaging. As the President of Blue Label, Andrew is passionate about well-designed business processes and upholding the company’s high service standards to customers.   Andrew joins me today to discuss printing, packaging,...

Rebecca Murphy has a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature from Eastern Michigan University, a Master's Degree in Physical Therapy from Western Carolina University, and an Associate in Applied Science from A-B Technical Community College in Brewing, Distillation, and Fermentation. A former Army Engineer, Rebecca has moved on from building and blowing things up to drinking profession...

Max Fann is the Co-Owner and Chairman of Inbox Beverage and a Brewing and Fermentation Program alumni of A-B Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. After completing the program, Max when on to become a brewer and Wood Cellarman at Wicked Weed Brewery, where he eventually became the Lead Pub Brewer and Research & Brand Development Brewer. With his knowledge from the Craft Beverage In...

Kimberly Floyd is Co-Founder and Executive Director for the North Carolina Craft Beverage Museum. She also currently serves as the Site Manager at the Zebulon B Vance Birthplace State Historic Site. She has a Master's degree in Public History with a concentration on Museum Studies from North Carolina State University and a Bachelor’s degree in History from Meredith College. Kimberly has worked in...

John Lyda is a full-time faculty member at AB Tech and is the thumb that grasps the educational hammer in our Brewing, Distillation, and Fermentation program. It’s the first two-year accredited degree in the country that gives students an Associate’s of Applied Science in Distillation and Fermentation. After working at The Highland Brewing Co. for over 20 years, John took his passion and applied i...

Johnny Knowles is the Head Brewer, Distiller, and jack-of-all-trades at Rye Knot Brewery, Distillery, and Pub. A Craft Beverage Institute alumni, Johnny was an EMT before starting in the industry as a bartender. The brewing bug bit, and he has been working on the production side of the business ever since.   Today, Johnny shares his many roles within the Rye Knot Brewery, Distillery, and Pub. He s...

I often take on the task of trying exotic spirits, weird and wonderful flavors of craft beer, and new products in the beverage industry. You may be familiar with wheat bourbon, but perhaps less so with wheat whiskey. Today, I try a Kentucky straight wheat whiskey, which is underserved in our industry.   In today’s Booze Bits, I sample Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey and see how wheat changes the f...

Tina Hoffert is an A-B Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast alumni and Brewer at the North Belgian Brewing Company. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from East Carolina University, and following a career in the pharmaceutical industry, Tina moved into the brewing business. Prior to working with the North Belgian Brewing Company, Tina worked with local craft brewers, Catawba Brew...

A-B Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast alumni, Karen (Kay) Gonzalez, joins me to share her experiences during her month-long trip to Mexico. She reveals the main flavor characteristics of the beers she tried and what she missed about American beer. We discuss why Mexico is one of the leading rum producers and what it’s like to bring diversity to the brewing industry. Kay shares the n...

I am often tasked with trying unusual spirits, exotic flavors of craft beer, and new and exciting products in the beverage industry. Today I sample something that those of you in the Chicago area will know very well… and you probably have a love-hate relationship with this particular spirit.   Today, I explore the unusual and distinctive flavor of the bäsk liquor, Jeppson’s Malört. I share the int...

Chad Slagle is the Co-Founder of Two Trees Distilling Co. and Chief Executive Officer of Two Trees Beverage Co. Inc. As a serial entrepreneur, Chad has been an innovator and inventor in the fitness, technology, and beverage industries since 2005. He is the co-inventor of the rapid whiskey aging technology utilized at the Two Trees Distilling Company and has worked as the head of product developmen...

John Lyda is my cohort in arms at the Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. After working as the Senior Vice President and Brewmaster at The Highland Brewing Co. for over 20 years, John took his passion to the next level and began teaching at the Craft Beverage Institute as a Brewing, Distillation, and Fermentation Instructor.   John joins me for today’s Booze Bits to discuss vegetable-based...

Stephen Daniels is the Food and Beverage Business Development and Sales Manager at Filtrox, North America. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an Associate's Degree in Viticulture and Enology from Walla Walla Community College. He is a filtration expert at Filtrox, working on innovative filtration technol...

Chall Gray is the founder of three companies with experience in hospitality, real estate, and entrepreneurship. His Slings & Arrows Consulting bar projects have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, the Whiskey Advocate, and more. Chall is the co-owner and Booze Jockey of the acclaimed local bar, Little Jumbo in Asheville, NC, and the author of The Cocktail Bar: Notes for a...

CBI023 - Preserving a Farmland, Starting a Winery, and Talking on the Grapevine with Jeff Frisbee of Addison Farms Vineyard Jeff Frisbee is the founder, owner, managing member, and winemaker at Addiso

CBI029  - The Secret Life of Tea and How to Pour the Perfect Cup with Jessie Dean   Jessie Dean is a West Asheville mom and traveler who’s on a mission to create the best cups of tea using locally-sou