Sensory analysis, setting up a lab for QC tests, and understanding your raw ingredients are all paramount when it comes to improving the quality of your beer. We talk with two experts - Lindsay Barr and Ashton Lewis - who are here to help you level up beer quality in a small-scale brewery.

Guests:
Lindsay Barr is the CSO and Founding Partner of DraughtLab Sensory Software where she helps food & beverage companies use tasting technology to make products that people love.  After earning a Masters in Food Science from UC Davis, she began her career at New Belgium Brewing Company managing the Sensory and Consumer Research program. Along with her work at DraughtLab, she teaches Sensory for the Master Brewers course at UC Davis and the Siebel Institute and judges global beer competitions. During her career, she has published numerous groundbreaking techniques to lower the barrier-to-entry into sensory science and continues to be passionate about making sensory accessible for all businesses. She currently lives in San Francisco and can be found running or lounging in Golden Gate Park, sailing, or playing around in the Castro.

For the last 29 years Ashton Lewis has worked for Brew Your Own Magazine as technical editor and “Help Me, Mr. Wizard” columnist.  His day job since December 2016 has been with RahrBSG where he is currently Manager of Training and Technical Support.  Prior to working in the world of ingredients, Ashton was the Staff Master Brewer and Brewing Group Sales Manager for the Paul Mueller Company living in the world of custom stainless steel.  He was also a partner in the Springfield Brewing Company (SBC) in Springfield, Missouri, and SBC’s master brewer from 1997 to 2019.  Ashton holds a B.S. in Food Science from Virginia Tech (1991) and a M.S. in Food/Brewing Science from UC Davis (1994), and is currently the MBAA District Great Plains Technical Chair.  In his spare time, he enjoys music, cooking, homebrewing, talking about beer, and playing with Excel.

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 67  is sponsored by:

Five Star Chemicals

Looking for a powerful, no-rinse sanitizer that gets the job done fast? Meet Saniclean PAA Pro from Five Star Chemicals. This EPA-registered, PAA-based acid sanitizer is tough on beerstone and perfect for everything from kegs to packaging lines. Available in two convenient sizes, it’s ideal for coarse sprayers, fermenters, and more. Trusted by pros, designed for performance—Saniclean PAA Pro helps you brew with confidence. Learn more at fivestarchemicals.com. Brew better. Brew with Five Star.

Fermentis
Wanna brew a Lager? Discover the whole SafLager™ range by Fermentis. Whether you’re looking for floral, fruity, or even estery notes, Fermentis has your back! Want to know more about Fermentis yeasts? Visit www.fermentis.com! 

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 67
Host: John Holl
Guests: Lindsay Barr, Ashton Lewis

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell

This episode takes a deep dive into malt offerings from both the larger suppliers and those on the craft side. As we take a look at this critical ingredient, experts will share insight on innovation, use, flavor, and more. This episode is in two segments, the first focusing on the larger malt companies, and what they are offering small craft breweries, and then a dive into the craft malt side of things and how your small brewery can best work with local farmers. Guests include Aaron Hyde, the Senior Director of Product Portfolio for RahrBSG, Steve Kurowski, the Executive Director of the Craft Maltsters Guild, and Ian A. Goering, the Director of Operations of the Blue Ox Malthouse in Maine. 

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 66  is sponsored by:

Siebel Institute
With the famous 12-week International Diploma in Brewing Technology program from Siebel Institute and World Brewing Academy, you will spend 6 weeks covering commercial-level brewing theory at Siebel Institute in Chicago followed by 6 weeks of practical brewing and advanced theory at Doemens Academy in Germany. With the next program starting soon, contact us today to start on a path to build your brewing career.Visit us at www.siebelinstitute.com for complete details.

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 66
Host: John Holl
Guests: Aaron Hyde, Steve Kurowski, Ian A. Goering

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell

The Craft Brewers Conference was held in Indianapolis last month and at the ingredients supplier booths, amid the talk of new hop varieties, there were several beers brewed with non-traditional grains. That’s worthy of a closer look and on this episode you’ll hear from two brewers - Garrett Oliver of the Brooklyn Brewery and Sandy Boss Febbo of Bang Brewing - who are all in on Fonio and Kernza.
 

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 65  is sponsored by:

RahrBSG / Gambrinus IPA Malt
Gambrinus IPA Malt possesses an elusive color falling between very pale pilsner and golden pale ale malt. Tailor-made to complement contemporary West Coast IPAs, it provides balancing sweetness and body in the presence of piney, juicy, and tropical hop profiles. Delivering a delicate profile of bread, toast, grain, and slight nuttiness, Gambrinus IPA Malt is a workhorse base malt. Available now as the latest addition to the premier range of brewing malts offered by RahrBSG. More info at: rahrbsg.com/gambrinus-ipa-malt/

Five Star Chemicals

Big news, brewers—Five Star Chemicals Saniclean PAA Pro officially launched at CBC. This powerful new acid-based sanitizer combines the best of Saniclean with the strength of per-acetic acid for fast, effective cleaning that keeps your equipment in top shape. Trusted quality, pro performance—now in a PAA formula. Learn more at fivestarchemicals.com. Brew better. Brew with Five Star.

Fermentis
Discover the whole SafLager™ range by Fermentis, covering traditional to modern-style lagers: elegant lagers with floral notes, fruity and hoppy ones. And you can even imagine an estery Lager with the new SafLager™ E-30, producing some fruity esters with subtitle banana characters. Available in 500g, 100g and 11.5g formats. Want to know more about SafLager™ yeasts? Visit www.fermentis.com.

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 65
Host: John Holl
Guests: Garrett Oliver, Sandy Boss Febbo

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell

These are confusing times, and hard times to work in a small business. As Bart Watson of the Brewers Association recently said, beer makers really dislike uncertainty. So, how can anyone plan when the global supply chain is changing minute by minute? On this epidode we talk about how to budget for the unknown.

 
The last few months have seen a fire hose of news coming out of Washington D.C., a lot centered around tariffs and global trade. Admittedly, it’s difficult to do a show on the topic because of the chaotic nature of the rollout from the White House and how seemingly concrete plans crumble minutes after they are announced. 

This obviously creates uncertainty in the markets and on main street. This episode features two conversations that center around what might be coming and how to best prepare. Bart Watson the president and CEO of the Brewers Association talks about the bigger picture and then Audra Gaiziunas of Brewed for Her Ledger tells us how you can best budget for uncertainty. 

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 64  is sponsored by:

RahrBSG / Gambrinus IPA Malt
Gambrinus IPA Malt possesses an elusive color falling between very pale pilsner and golden pale ale malt. Tailor-made to complement contemporary West Coast IPAs, it provides balancing sweetness and body in the presence of piney, juicy, and tropical hop profiles. Delivering a delicate profile of bread, toast, grain, and slight nuttiness, Gambrinus IPA Malt is a workhorse base malt. Available now as the latest addition to the premier range of brewing malts offered by RahrBSG. More info at: rahrbsg.com/gambrinus-ipa-malt/

Five Star Chemicals

Big news, brewers—Five Star Chemicals Saniclean PAA Pro is officially launching at CBC. This powerful new acid-based sanitizer combines the best of Saniclean with the strength of per-acetic acid for fast, effective cleaning that keeps your equipment in top shape. Trusted quality, pro performance—now in a PAA formula. Learn more at fivestarchemicals.com. Brew better. Brew with Five Star.

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 64
Host: John Holl
Guests: Bart Watson, Audra Gaiziunas

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell

How can your brewery make the most out of the holidays? More than just slinging stout on St. Patrick’s Day, or a festbier during Oktoberfest, there are ways to create a welcoming vibe that will get people coming back year after year and can establish your brewery as a hospitable spot.

One person who has been working to crack the code is Sam McNulty. He has developed and operates seven restaurants and breweries on West 25th Street in the Ohio City neighborhood of Cleveland's Near West Side. 

Three of these concepts are brewpubs of vastly different scale: One a nano brewery where experimental beers are concocted, while another is a brewpub restaurant with close to five hundred seats, and in 2016 he rebuilt a 43,000 square foot warehouse that dates back to the 1800s and launched a full-scale production brewery sending Market Garden Brewery beers out across Northeast and Central Ohio.

He has lived largely car-free in Ohio City for the past 20+ years. And one of his guiding investment principles is to nest his businesses within a 15-minute bicycle ride from the Market Garden Brewery. As one of his former professors once said: “Sam is a beer entrepreneur fermenting the rise of a post-industrial frontier with opportunity galore. Sam is building on the Pride of Cleveland.”

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 63  is sponsored by:
Fermentis
How can you make your beer stand out? There might not be one magic answer, but one thing is certain: yeast plays a pivotal role in shaping your beer's unique character. Explore the Fermentis range, crafted to support your brewing ambitions with:
- Unmatched quality
- Simplicity in use
- Boundless creativity
Ready to elevate your brew? Visit www.fermentis.com and start crafting the beer of your dreams!”

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 63
Host: John Holl
Guest: Sam McNulty

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell

While it is rewarding and exciting to own a small brewery, there is also a lot of worry that comes with it. Over time things can snowball, accumulate, and become a burden. Regular check-ins on mental health are important, and no matter who you are in the brewing space, or your role, taking care of yourself is paramount. That’s the focus on this episode. 

Everyone is feeling the stress these days. From outside influences to internal worry, everyone is carrying a lot of weight on their shoulders. If you’re running a small business, the worry of your staff is on you as well. While there are many things in our control, there are also a lot of things that are simply not easily dealt with. Finding balance from within and managing what you can is important to mental health. Being pulled in a dozen different directions all at once rarely brings calm, but by focusing on what you can control and finding the moments - or longer - to take a break adds up to a better human experience. Of course there are other considerations to mental health in the beer space, and other challenges to navigate. 

To get a better understanding on what is available out there and how to best access it, we're pleased to be joined by J Jackson-Beckham, the Director of Member Resources for the Brewers Association, better known in the industry as Dr. J.

A former professor of Communication Studies, Dr. J dedicated her academic career to the study of American beer. She is an author, speaker, vocal advocate for the craft beverage community, homebrewer, and Certified Cicerone. In 2018, Dr. J was named the Brewers Association's first-ever Diversity Ambassador. In 2020, she was named Imbibe Magazine's Beer Person of the Year. Today, she helps craft beverage organizations develop practices that drive success, build communities, and empower individuals as the Brewers Association Director of Member Resources.

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 62  is sponsored by:

RahrBSG / Gambrinus IPA Malt
Gambrinus IPA Malt possesses an elusive color falling between very pale pilsner and golden pale ale malt. Tailor-made to complement contemporary West Coast IPAs, it provides balancing sweetness and body in the presence of piney, juicy, and tropical hop profiles. Delivering a delicate profile of bread, toast, grain, and slight nuttiness, Gambrinus IPA Malt is a workhorse base malt. Available now as the latest addition to the premier range of brewing malts offered by RahrBSG. More info at: rahrbsg.com/gambrinus-ipa-malt/ 

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 62
Host: John Holl
Guest: Dr. J Jackson-Beckham

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell

Dry January is upon us and showing no signs of leaving the calendar anytime soon. So what is a small brewery to do? There are options when it comes to making or serving low or no-alcohol options. On this episode, experts from the field weigh in.

Richard Priess is cofounder of Escarpment Laboratories, a yeast producer and developer in Guelph, Ontario. Richard graduated from the University of Guelph with a Masters of Science in Molecular Biology & Genetics. Richard leads the company's product and business developments. He has also contributed to publicly available brewing science research on a variety of topics including kveik yeast, yeast hybridization, and Brettanomyces. His favorite beer styles are German Pils and Saison.

ABV Technology CEO Ben Jordan. Founded in 2017, ABV Technology makes products and services for the craft beverage industry to create flavorful and high quality reduced and non-alcoholic beverages.

Nate Anderson spent almost 20 years teaching physics and basic chemistry at the high school and college level before finding himself on the brew deck of a small brewery in northern Minnesota.. While brewing, he established the QA/QC program for the brewery and brought that experience to ABV Technology. Nate now runs the testing lab at ABV Technology, uses his brewing experience to help produce and improve NA beverages, uses his science education background to continue to innovate in the craft beverage industry, and is involved in the American Society of Brewing Chemists subcommittee on alternative beverages.

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 61  is sponsored by:

Fermentis
How can you make your beer stand out? There might not be one magic answer, but one thing is certain: yeast plays a pivotal role in shaping your beer's unique character.  Explore the Fermentis range, crafted to support your brewing ambitions with: 
- Unmatched quality
- Simplicity in use 
- Boundless creativity
Ready to elevate your brew? Visit www.fermentis.com and start crafting the beer of your dreams!

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription featuring a regular Nanobrewing column. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 61
Host: John Holl
Guests: Richard Priess, Ben Jordan, Nathan Anderson

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell

This is always a good time to reflect and get excited about a new calendar year. To help put the industry into perspective and to think about how to strengthen beer in the year to come, I’ve asked three smart and plugged in folks to share their insights, knowledge, and even offer some homework. If you’re a small brewer navigating these tough craft beer waters, there’s a lot you can learn and hopefully take to heart. 

Guests:

Steve Parkes. He is the owner and lead instructor at the American Brewers Guild Brewing school in Vermont. He graduated from Heriot-Watt University, with a degree in Brewing Science in 1982 and has spent the last 42 years working in small and medium sized breweries on both sides of the Atlantic. He has built breweries from scratch using both used and new equipment, and has years of experience in practical problem solving. He has been a regular speaker at the annual Craft Brewers Conference, is a veteran GABF and World Beer Cup judge, held office at the regional level with MBAA, and at a national level with the AOB board of advisors. In 2009 he was the recipient of the Association of Brewers Russell Scherer award. He is also the owner of Drop In Brewing in Middlebury Vermont.

Laura Lodge began her craft beer journey in the distribution tier in the late 1990s working with a small, independent distribution company in the mountains of Colorado. As anyone in small business knows, “everything” is your job description. She shares her experience to benefit the artisanal/craft business owner in Distribution Insight for the Craft Brewer. Today, Laura is the owner of Customized Craft Beer Programs, a consulting business offering insight and assistance with all things craft beer. With experience over all 3 tiers, she has consulted for breweries and distributors, created retail programs for destination resorts, is the Executive Director for the well-known Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival held in the Colorado Rocky Mountains each year (pre-pandemic), and has participated with the creation and production of educational & experiential craft beer events throughout the country. During the pandemic, Laura became the Co-Founder of Start A Brewery, LLC, a business created to help dreamers, breweries in planning, and growing breweries by pulling together a community of savvy industry professionals and resources across the brewing industry. Free to the public, StartABrewery.com divides the daunting process into phases and breaks it down by category, further augmented by a library of information. Start A Brewery has turned out to also be a resource and connection hub for her participation the Brewers Association Mentorship Program. Laura grew up in the Cleveland, Ohio area, and now splits her time there with home in Vail, Colorado, where she lives and enjoys the outdoor lifestyle.

For the last 29 years Ashton Lewis has worked for Brew Your Own Magazine as technical editor and “Help Me, Mr. Wizard” columnist. His day job since December 2016 has been with RahrBSG where he is currently Manager of Training and Technical Support. Prior to working in the world of ingredients, Ashton was the Staff Master Brewer and Brewing Group Sales Manager for the Paul Mueller Company

living in the world of custom stainless steel. He was also a partner in the Springfield Brewing Company (SBC) in Springfield, Missouri, and SBC’s master brewer from 1997 to 2019. Ashton holds a B.S. in Food Science from Virginia Tech (1991) and a M.S. in Food/Brewing Science from UC Davis (1994), and is currently the MBAA District Great Plains Technical Chair. In his spare time, he enjoys music, cooking,

homebrewing, talking about beer, and playing with Excel.

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 60  is sponsored by:

Fermentis
How can you make your NEIPA truly exceptional? While there may not be a single answer, one thing is clear: yeast is key to crafting a recipe with a distinctive character! Discover the Fermentis NEIPA range, designed to help you create the beer you want:

SafAle™ K-97: Perfect for delicate and hop-forward beers.

SafAle™ S-33: Ideal for a hoppy and fruity profile.

SafAle™ S-04: Delivers balanced fruity notes.

Available in 11.5g, 100g, and 500g formats.

Ready to take your brew to the next level? Visit www.fermentis.com to explore the range!

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 60
Host: John Holl
Guests: Laura Lodge, Steve Parkes, Ashton Lewis

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell

As we all settle in for the cozy autumnal season, it’s hard not to think about comfort food and warm beverages. This month, we're glad to speak with the owners of two different breweries about their food and beverage program, and how they are approaching menu items that go beyond beer. Their insight might just help your own brewery.

Guests include Keith Yager, owner and head brewer of Cross Eyed Owl Brewing in Decatur, Alabama and James and Paul Macchione, the co-owners of Flapjack Brewery. 

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 59  is sponsored by:

Fermentis
Attention, beer lovers and brewing enthusiasts! Fermentis is thrilled to present an exclusive, FREE webinar that will equip you with all the tips and insights you need to take your craft brewing to new heights. Sign up today and brew your best beer yet! Head to www.fermentis.com to register now — you don’t want to miss out!”

RahrBSG / Gambrinus IPA Malt
Gambrinus IPA Malt possesses an elusive color falling between very pale pilsner and golden pale ale malt. Tailor-made to complement contemporary West Coast IPAs, it provides balancing sweetness and body in the presence of piney, juicy, and tropical hop profiles. Delivering a delicate profile of bread, toast, grain, and slight nuttiness, Gambrinus IPA Malt is a workhorse base malt. Available now as the latest addition to the premier range of brewing malts offered by RahrBSG. More info at: rahrbsg.com/gambrinus-ipa-malt/ 

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual digital magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 59
Host: John Holl
Guests: Keith Yager, James Macchione, and Paul Macchione

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell

Autumn has taken hold across North America and it’s a good time to start thinking about the colder months. First, we’ll visit with Evan Watson of Plan Bee, a farm brewery in New York’s Hudson Valley to learn about the land, coolships, and the evolving nature of the business. Then it’s a conversation with Trevor Zumpano of Brewery Branding Co. about merchandise and what your small brewery can be doing to deliver the goods to customers.

The BYO Nano Podcast Episode 58  is sponsored by:

Five Star Chemicals
Whether you're brewing small batches or scaling up production, Five Star Chemicals has the cleaners and sanitizers tailored to your needs. With solutions designed to handle everything from tanks to kegs, Five Star has been the go-to choice for brewers at every level. Learn more at fivestarchemicals.com and see how they can support your brewing success!

Fermentis
Hazy IPA has been an on-trend style for a while now, and you can find it in bars all over the world. So, how can you make yours exceptional? While there may not be a definitive answer, one thing is certain: yeast plays a crucial role in giving your recipe its unique character.  Fermentis has your back with 3 strains to help you always be more creative: SafAle™ S-33, SafAle™ K-97 and SafAle™ S-04. Now available in the 100g format! So, are you ready to brew the most unforgettable Hazy IPA ever? Connect at www.fermentis.com

2024 NanoCon Online
Save the date and save $100. Registration is now open for the 2024 NanoCon Online taking place on Friday, October 25. Don't miss this full day of business and brewing strategies for running or launching a successful small-scale, taproom-focused craft brewery. The seminars will be live and online but you'll also have access to video replays of every session. Register by October 17 for the October 25 event and you'll save $100 at nanocon.beer.

BYO Nano+ Membership
Get access to hundreds of hours of on-demand videos covering small craft brewery strategies with BYO’s new Nano+ Membership. Learn from craft beer experts watching replays of past NanoCon seminars plus a complete library of in-depth workshops. You’ll also have full online access to all of BYO’s digital content and an annual print magazine subscription. Check out byo.com/nanoplus for more details.

BYO Nano Brew Podcast Episode 58
Host: John Holl
Guests: Evan Watson, Trevor Zumpano

Contact: [email protected]
Music: Scott McCampbell