Luz D’vida Mexican Lager
It is amazing what can happen when passion and a great culture come together. For Ben Stalder, Benson Brewery has become that place! This is a great story about finding your way and understanding what truly makes you happy both professionally and personally. I am excited to tell it, so grab a beer and let’s enjoy it together!
Ben and his son - photo courtesy of Ben
I am always fascinated by that aha moment that makes someone interested in brewing beer. For Ben, it was back in college in 2006. He was part of the Nebraska Wesleyan choir that made a trip to Europe. The trip took him to Austria, Hungary, and Germany. The presence of breweries and the historical significance of the area got Ben interested in the idea of brewing beer.
Music was a big part of the creative side of Ben, but his science background would soon be very beneficial for his future! It was around 2007 when Ben decided it was time to try brewing his own batch of beer. The timing was everything as Ben wanted to make sure his first beer would be ready for his 21st birthday!
To Ben’s mom, he knew just how important it was to do this when he was legal to drink. You raised a fine son!
The first beer that Ben would brew was a Nut Brown Ale. A classic fall style that many of us will forget about but it is incredible! Thinking back to that time, Ben said he remembered Nebraska Brewing Company’s version of this beer and how great it was.
Homebrewing would be a hobby for Ben for about 4 years until he would get his first job as a professional brewer!
At Benson Brewery, there is always a beer for everybody’s preference!
Landing your first professional brewing gig must be exciting! I can’t imagine all the things you get to learn in terms of brewing and the brewery industry. In a competitive market, it can be a little bit stressful growing your brand especially if you are distributing your beer.
Ben learned so much during this period of his career, but something seemed to be missing. The creative side of him kept tugging at his arm telling him it might be time to move on. This is a struggle many of us go through. We like what we are doing, but there is this calling to go try something different. It is never an easy decision, but Ben would move on and find an opportunity to be the head brewer at a brewpub that was focused on serving the in-house customers and not distributing. Benson Brewery would become Ben’s new home!
Meet Tapper - the new face and brand of Benson Brewery
When Ben arrived at Benson Brewery in January of 2019, the priority was to get an idea of the current beer list. There had been a list of staple beers around for some time. This was an opportunity to see what could be done with the recipes to enhance them. A couple of the beers like the No Carrot All -Berliner Weisse stayed the same.
Ben said the owner’s Bill and Joe Carmichael were very supportive of giving him creative control of the recipes and styles of beer to brew. This was an amazing, energizing feeling to oversee a whole line-up of brews! Ben said that he has a tremendous amount of passion when it comes to finding out what people like to drink and providing something for everyone. I would say with 16 taps available and the variety of styles at Benson Brewery that this is a job well done!
It was refreshing to hear also that I am not the only person who still writes in a book for interviews and ideas about stories. Ben said that he has a book, and the cover has Always Learning on it. He keeps with him at all times as names of beers or ideas for recipes pop into his thoughts; they can be captured.
The Three Different Series of Craft Beer at Benson Brewery
I love the creativity behind having the three different series of the Main Stays, Limited Edition, and Test Series. It is great when you know that you have options for many new beers and also that go-to one will be available. Here is my take on a few that I sampled during the visit.
No Carrot All - 4.3% ABV. This Berliner Weisse is tart, not sour. The higher level of carbonation combined with the tartness makes it very refreshing! Often served with fruited syrups; instead, Ben created B Passionate by adding passionate fruit to the Berliner Weisse.
College Water - 4.3% ABV. A Cream Ale that is easy drinking with a touch of sweetness from the corn it is brewed with. This one is a gateway beer for those who are just making their way into the world of craft beer!
Millions of Peaches - 4.3% ABV. A peach ale that’s name is inspired by the song Peaches by The Presidents of the United States. This ale is fairly sweet, and the peach notes are very nice. This one would pair well with almost anything on the food menu!
Luz D’Vida - 4.9% ABV. This is a solid Mexican Lager that has a smooth body and is very flavorful. The name in English translates to Light of Life. Ben named this beer reflecting upon the love for his son.
Intergalactic Monastery - 5.8% ABV. This is a unique Belgian IPA. The slight spiciness of a Saison style and a classic hop bitterness make a great combination!
The 16 oz. Tapper Tin is a great option for taking beer home.
2019 was a good year for Benson Brewery. Ben said they did around 240 barrels of beer, which translates to 59,520 pints, which is impressive for a brewpub!
As we all know, 2020 was a very challenging year with Covid. Everyone scrambled to provide carryout options. The Tapper Tin 16 oz. cans would be the way to sell some beer until people could come back to enjoy the food and beer at the brewery.
Other changes were occurring in Ben’s life, and he would enroll in nursing school. Ben seems like the type of person that cares very much about helping others. I can see him being very happy in the medical profession also.
I asked Ben what his future holds. He told me that his creative side still wants to be brewing beer but as a part-time job. Getting his nursing career going and spending time with his son is very important to him.
Ben said that the owners completely understood, and Fernando Gonzalez was recently hired on to help brew. Both brewers enjoy music and playing guitar. They seem to be a great team and continue to come up with exciting new beers!
Life is short and finding opportunities where a great culture allows you to be personally fulfilled is precious! I know Ben values this as much as I do. It has been great to meet him and to visit Benson Brewery!
I would highly recommend stopping by to check out the beer and also the wonderful food menu.
Cheers!