Specially recorded for the Craft Brewers Conference (April 20-22nd, 2026), this special episode of The Escarpment Labs Podcast features a conversation with Richard Preiss and John Leingang, Head Brewer of Nine Mile Brewing Co. in Bloomington, MN.

With over a decade in the Minnesota craft beer scene—spanning everything from pouring pints to leading production—John brings a practical, taproom-first perspective on brewing.

We cover:

• The story behind Nine Mile Brewing Co. and its place in the Twin Cities
• John's experience using the newly released WLP079 Suava strain (referenced on the pod as EXP-666!)
• How they’re using LalBrew® House Ale across multiple brands—and repitching it for consistency
• A cross-border collaboration with the Canadian 9 Mile legacy

• The realities and constraints of running a taproom-focused brewery
• Practical advice for brewers balancing creativity, efficiency, and customer expectations

This episode is all about brewing in the real world—where process, people, and pints all have to line up.

Featured in this Episode:

• Learn more about WLP079 Suava™, a experimental Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain developed through a joint effort between Escarpment Labs, Lallemand Brewing, and White Labs to provide brewers with a high-quality solution for modern hop-forward styles. Pre-orders now open!
• Dive into LalBrew House Ale and the true versatility of the strain (Red IPA, anyone?).