Writer and Beer Afficianado, John Holl, stopped by the Heritage Radio Network studio this week to join the panel on Beer Sessions Radio (TM). He spoke to us about the genesis of his upcoming book Indiana Breweries and traded tales with Warren Monteiro (Beer Sensei of Ale Street News fame) and Jeremy Cowan of Shmaltz Brewing Company who, incidentally, has his own book that has just been released called Craft Beer Bar Mitzvah.
John took a moment to post about his Beer Sessions Radio (TM) appearance on his blog, John Holl’s Beer Briefing.
In addition, John took the time to answer a few questions about the pursuit of good beer.
What is the allure of craft beer and the craft beer community to you, personally?
I love the creativity that goes into the various beers. That after centuries of brewers making the same ales and lagers over and over again, the American brewers have really kickstarted the industry and will take risks and get inventive. I also like the fact that the brewers are approachable. To this day, it can be impossible to get close to anyone at the larger breweries, but you can walk into just about any craft brewery in the country, talk with the owner/brewer. It gives a great sense of community.
How do you define the “craft beer community”?
I like the Brewer’s Association definition of small, independent, local. But, it’s more than that. It’s the inventiveness that goes into the product. It’s about the feeling and passion that goes into each batch. There are some who argue that Blue Moon is craft because it has quality ingredients and is not of the mainstream styles. I disagree with that. I think something is lost when there is a corporate parent.
Do you find yourself to be more forgiving/ critical of a particular brewer’s product if you know them personally/professionally?
I’m more likely to try something or keep purchasing a quality beer if I know the owners/brewer. But, if I get a bad batch or something that I just don’t care for, I’ll tell them. No one can please everyone all the time.
How does your knowledge of beer enhance your enjoyment of beer?
Taking time to learn about ingredients. Tasting them individually, outside of the beer itself, gives me a better perspective of how the ingredients work in perfect harmony to create a great beer.