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KQ Morning Show Bev–Craft Beer Break on Beer’s Medicinal Value and More
Bev Craft’s Earth Rider Brewery Receives State Grant, Launches Construction
Lieutenant Governor Kleefisch: “Superior deserves its own brewery”
SUPERIOR, WI || Congratulations to our client, Earth Rider Brewery, who officially launched its construction phase while receiving a $109,877 Wis. Economic Development Corporation grant. The event was held in the future brewery space in the former Leamon Mercantile building in Superior, Wis.
“Superior doesn’t need its own brewery,” said Wis. Lt Governor Rebecca Kleefisch to begin her speech, “but Superior deserves its own brewery.
https://sites/bev-craft.com/files.brewbound.com/news/earth-rider-brewery-receives-100000-grant-begins-construction
Bev Craft Beer Break features local hop growers Harbor Hops
Bev-Craft CEO Tim Nelson and Bev-Craft Brewer Frank Kaszuba bring along Lori Melton of Harbor Hops to discuss hop farming in the Lake Superior region. Harbor Hops is located in Two Harbors, Minn., just 25 miles north of Duluth. They distribute their hops to area breweries, home brewers, and also sell rhizomes. The Bev-Craft Beer Break is a bi-monthly radio spot on KQDS radio in Duluth, Minn. that draws on the expertise of Bev-Craft to explore independent craft brewing at the head of Lake Superior.
Brew with Lake Superior water at Earth Rider Brewing
The new Earth Rider Brewery in Superior, WI is now seeking brewers with previous hot-side and cold-side experience to staff two full-time positions starting July 15 and August 1. Job experience in pub or production brewing preferred, with applicants having done both being favored. Passion for and a familiarity with brewing a variety of styles is a plus.
The brewhouse is a new 20-bbl Sprinkman Mfg three-vessel system with some automation. The facility space is adequate for growth, with plans laid for expanding the tank farm beyond the opening phase 2×20-bbl and 2×40-bbl fermentors with a brite tank.
Earth Rider’s founder has spent 23 years in the craft beer industry and fronts the brewery consultancy Bev-Craft, staffed with master brewers, beer marketers, and beer salespeople.
Adding to the flourishing Twin Ports beer scene, Earth Rider will be Superior’s first packaging brewery since 1967 when the regional Northern Brewing Co shuttered. The “Cedar Lounge” tavern was first built as a tied house in 1912 by that brewery and will serve as Earth Rider’s taproom. The location is in the pub district along Superior’s working harbor, next to monolithic grain elevators, operating trains, and Great Lakes freighters.
Earth Rider Beer brewer responsibilities include:
- Scheduling brewing activities to match sales demand
- Milling; lifting 50lb grain bags
- CIP of brewhouse and cellar tanks
- Wort production
- Yeast management
- Tank management
- Transferring and centrifuging
- Cans and kegs packaging
- Inventory/brewery management software
- Mild lab work/QC
- Safety protocols
- Forklift operation
- Driving box truck, no CDL required
- Taproom draft line maintenance
- Attending Beer Festivals when possibleBev-Craft
- Work with the Director of Brewing Operations on processes, procedures, and productionscheduling
- Occasional consulting with other Bev-Craft networked brewery clients
- Occasionally conduct outreach programs for educating brewers
Send inquiries to frank@bev-craft.com, no Phone Calls please.www.earthrider.beer | www.bev-craft.com
KQ Morning Show Bev–Craft Beer Break, South Shore Nut Brown
Bev-Craft takes to the airwaves every other week to taste and discuss regional craft beers pouring at the Cedar Lounge, and other activities of Bev-Craft and our member breweries. Tune in to the KQ Morning Show (95 KQDS) at 9:15 am every other Thursday to hear it live or listen to the recordings afterwards here on our blog.
Thursday, April 20th – Frank Kaszuba, Tim Nelson and Brewmaster Bo Belanger from South Shore Brewery talk about the South Shore Nut Brown, always available at the Cedar Lounge in Superior.
Bev Craft client, Hoops Brewing, prepares to open doors
Hoops Brewing will open its doors in May, marking the launch of a Bev-Craft client. After a recent delivery of brewing tanks, veteran Duluth brewer Dave Hoops is getting closer to his goal of opening Hoops Brewing, a taproom-model brewery in Canal Park, this summer.
The brewery will feature a beer hall that offers a diverse selection of up to 30 tap beers at a time. Beer will run the gamut, from quaffable session brews to those with intense character. Customers will be able to order take-in food options from neighboring eateries as well as take beer home in crowlers.
Dave is also a consultant on the Bev-Craft team. We’re excited to see him establishing his own brand and can’t wait to enjoy the result!
Steady Growth for Small and Independent Brewers
Amidst all the speculation of the craft beer boom being ready to bust, there’s some good news this week. The Brewers Association released some preliminary figures showing small and independent breweries continued to experience steady growth in 2016.
Brewers Association Releases 2016 Statistics for Craft Category
Boulder, CO • March 28, 2017—The Brewers Association (BA)—the trade association representing small and independent American craft brewers—today released 2016 data on U.S. craft brewing growth. With over 5,300 breweries operating during the year, small and independent craft brewers represent 12.3 percent market share by volume of the overall beer industry. Read more
KQ Morning Show Bev–Craft Beer Break
Bev-Craft takes to the airwaves every other week to taste and discuss regional craft beers pouring at the Cedar Lounge, and other activities of Bev-Craft and our member breweries. Tune in to the KQ Morning Show (95 KQDS) at 9am every other Thursday to hear it live or listen to the recordings afterwards here on our blog.
Thursday, March 23 – Tim Nelson and Frank Kaszuba talk about Bent Paddle Brewing Company’s beer Valve Jockey #2 Imperial Kvass, currently available at the Cedar Lounge.
Frank Kaszuba joins Bev–Craft
Bev-Craft, a craft brewery consultant group headquartered in Superior, Wis., has tapped Frank Kaszuba as Project Manager and Brewer. In his new role, Kaszuba will orchestrate the development of breweries in planning and help propel their growth as an ongoing operational consultant.
Kaszuba’s beers have won a myriad of awards at national competitions including three medals at the Great American Beer Festival and numerous medals at Chicago’s Festival of Barrel Aged Beer. He was elected by his peers to serve on the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild Board of Directors (2014 and 2015).
After earning a biology degree at Beloit College, the home-brewing Chicago native moved to Duluth to pursue a master’s degree in biology. He simultaneously began an apprenticeship at Lake Superior Brewing Company, launching what would become a 20-years-and-counting career in brewing. A year later, Kaszuba followed his passion for brewing to Anchorage, Alaska where he worked at the Borealis Brewery and later Cusack’s Brewpub. In 1999 Kaszuba moved back to Duluth and began brewing at Fitger’s Brewhouse. During his stint at the iconic brewpub, he held the positions of Shift Brewer, Lead Brewer, and eventually Head Brewer.
Led by veterans of the craft brewing industry, Bev-Craft is incubating and consulting breweries with a four-pronged approach that encompasses development assistance, brewhouse planning, recipe formulation with ingredient selection, brand creation, and sales strategy. The company has seen growth in their first year and welcomes Kaszuba’s knowledge and experience to the team.
Business North covers Bev–Craft’s launch, purpose & potential
Business North is the business journal serving northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. The paper recently stopped by the Bev-Craft office suite to discuss Bev-Craft’s mission and goals with Tim and Brad Nelson. “The 49-year-old entrepreneur is a household name in Minnesota’s brewing scene. … In forming a team for his new consulting firm, Nelson brought in three long time colleagues, all of whom have made a mark in the regional brewing industry.”