Episodes

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 to different beer styles that would lay the foundations of the Beer City. In this episode that Joh...

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 to different beer styles that would lay the foundations of the Beer City. In this episode that Joh...

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 generation of local brewers. John joins me today to discuss why great welding work is important to craft b...

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 generation of local brewers. John joins me today to discuss why great welding work is important to craft b...

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 generation of local brewers. John joins me today to discuss why great welding work is important to craft b...

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 discuss how Black Swan Cooperage is helping reduce distilleries’ wood consumption through their squa...

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 discuss how Black Swan Cooperage is helping reduce distilleries’ wood consumption through their squa...

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 discuss how Black Swan Cooperage is helping reduce distilleries’ wood consumption through their squa...

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 with several other companies, including Old Yale Brewing in Canada and Mountain Goat Beer in Australi...

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 with several other companies, including Old Yale Brewing in Canada and Mountain Goat Beer in Australi...

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 with several other companies, including Old Yale Brewing in Canada and Mountain Goat Beer in Australi...

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 Research and Brand Development Brewer. Max joins us in this episode to discuss how Inbox Beverage is inn...

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 Research and Brand Development Brewer. Max joins us in this episode to discuss how Inbox Beverage is inn...

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 Research and Brand Development Brewer. Max joins us in this episode to discuss how Inbox Beverage is inn...

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 the industry, you have to have a mind for perfection. In this episode, Kay and I discuss the accura...

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 the industry, you have to have a mind for perfection. In this episode, Kay and I discuss the accura...

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 the industry, you have to have a mind for perfection. In this episode, Kay and I discuss the accura...

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. John joins us today to describe his time at ABTech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. He d...

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. John joins us today to describe his time at ABTech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. He d...

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. John joins us today to describe his time at ABTech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. He d...

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 working with Kite Hill Brewing Co. Mike joins us today to discuss his career journey after graduating ...

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 working with Kite Hill Brewing Co. Mike joins us today to discuss his career journey after graduating ...

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 working with Kite Hill Brewing Co. Mike joins us today to discuss his career journey after graduating ...

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, and labeling for craft breweries. He describes his background and how he got started in printing and ...