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 flavor profile. I explore the sensory analysis of the product and how the whiskey would work in mixed d...
Apr 20, 2022•7 min
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 Brewing Company. Currently, she is continuing her booze education at the Heriot-Watt University of Edinb...
Apr 13, 2022•30 min
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 new recipes she is working on and tips for anyone wanting to start a craft brewing company. And in ou...
Apr 06, 2022•29 min
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 interesting history of the spirit and how it is made. Sampling the flavor palate and unusual fragrance of...
Mar 30, 2022•7 min
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 development for the company since its inception in 2018. Chad joins me to share the journey of the Two Trees B...
Mar 23, 2022•24 min
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 spirits and shine a spotlight on a delicious, potato-based liquor called Aquavit. We taste the incredi...
Mar 16, 2022•5 min
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 technologies for the beverage industry. Today, Stephen joins me to discuss all things filtration, including...
Mar 09, 2022•26 min
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 an Owner & Operator, covering everything from choosing an initial bar concept to the day-to-d...
Mar 02, 2022•37 min
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
Oct 31, 2020•36 min
CBI032 - Riding the Cider Wave and Talking Picklebacks with Greg Hill Greg Hill is the head cider maker at Urban Orchard, a first-level sommelier, and graduate of the CBI program. He has a love of p
Oct 31, 2020•23 min
CBI028 - The Battle of the Negroni and Concocting Spirits with the Urban Gastronome, Jeremy Hood Former cocktail hobbyist and self-proclaimed ‘cocktail nerd’, Jeremy Hood, took his passion for spir
Oct 31, 2020•22 min
CBI033 - Drive-Through Booze and Revisiting Classic Beers with Leah Rainis Leah Rainis is the Executive Director and the mind behind the Asheville Brewers Alliance (ABA). Starting her career in the
Oct 31, 2020•29 min
CBI025 - Female Brewing Ambitions & Collecting Recipes from the Women of Craft Beer with Anita Riley Anita Riley is a Board Member of the an organization that supports the progression of women in t
Oct 31, 2020•29 min
CBI037 - Instant-Aging and Rewriting the Brewing Book with Chad Slagle Chad Slagle is one of the co-founders of the Two Trees Distilling Co. based in Fletcher, N.C. A Black Mountain native, Chad lov
Oct 31, 2020•29 min
CBI027 - The Shining and Brewing Lessons with ABTech Alumnus Dan Rowe Dan Rowe is an alumnus of ABTech’s brewing program. After graduating in 2017, Dan worked at Dogfish Head Brewery for two years b
Oct 31, 2020•31 min
CBI031 - How Community College Can Develop Soft Skills with President John Gossett Dr. John Gossett became the President of ABTech Community College in March 2020. He has a 32-year career in higher
Oct 31, 2020•27 min
CBI026 - The Big Little Jumbo in the Room and Running a Cocktail Bar with Chall Gray Chall Gray is an entrepreneur, author, and handsome athlete extraordinaire. His passion for mixology and cocktai
Oct 31, 2020•36 min
CBI030 - The Politics of Yeast and the Art and Science of Winemaking with Shruthi Dhoopati Shruthi Dhoopati, the young winemaker extraordinaire, was once a Political Science student at the Universi
Oct 31, 2020•22 min
CBI024 - The Drinkable Art of Wine Pairing with Certified Wine Specialist and Drinker to the Stars Andy Hale Andy Hale is the Education Director and primary teacher at the Asheville School of Wine i
Oct 31, 2020•29 min
CBI034 - Words of Wisdom and Questions from Students with Fellow CBI Instructor John Lyda John Lyda is the Brewing, Distillation and Fermentation Instructor at the Craft Beverage Institute. A long a
Oct 31, 2020•44 min
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
Oct 31, 2020•20 min
CBI036 - Brown Liquor Love and the Restaurateur Journey with Former Navy Captain Bob Byron Bob Byron is a Naval Academy Graduate and retired Navy Captain that took a different direction from most af
Oct 31, 2020•28 min
CBI035 - The Meandering Path that Leads to Brewing and Being a Female Brewer with Rebecca Murphy Rebecca is a student in the brewing, distillation, and fermentation program at CBI Tech. She grew up
Oct 31, 2020•40 min
CBI001 Consumer Trends, Marijuana Market Share & the Magical Spice of Beer Hops with Beau Evers of Crosby Hops Farm Beau Evers is the Account Manager at . Founded in 1900 by Albert and Mary Crosby,
Mar 05, 2019•26 min
