This week’s episode is with one of the country’s best and most-loved
brewers. But unless you follow the industry closely, you probably don’t
know him. He won the Brewers Association’s Russell Schehrer Award for
Innovation in Craft Brewing in 2016 in recognition of his outstanding work
at Allagash as their brewmaster, as well as the many committees and teams
he serves on for the association itself.
So much of what makes the Brewers Association a progressive, impactful part
of our everyday drinking lives isn’t in the marketing campaigns or
politics, but in the incremental analysis, research, goal-setting, and
internal lobbying for quality, technical education, and investments in
agriculture. These are the rails upon which the future of craft brewing in
the U.S. will run. And Jason is working at the heart of so much of it, both
through the association, but also his own brewery in Maine.
Jason was in Chicago for Allagash’s Saison Day in which he brewed a
collaboration beer with John Laffler of Off Color. So we set aside some
time in the morning after their brew day and a night on the town in
Chicago. And to his credit, despite his travel-weariness, not to mention
this being probably the most boring part of his trip, Jason still showed
up. I was delighted. I learned a ton. And I’m happy to share it with you
all. Listen in.
