Pouring the Perfect Pint

Pouring this beautiful refreshing Grapefruit IPA was fun!

I can't think of a better place than Pint Nine Brewing Company to be able to learn what it takes to be a craft beer server! Tammy Hynek, who is the marketing and events coordinator for Pint Nine, was nice enough to offer to spend a couple of hours to run me through a training session. I am not sure Tammy knew how much of a challenge I would be, but we will get to that later!

I have always been amazed at how much attention to detail goes into a craft beer from coming up with the recipes to getting a pint into the customer's hands. Having the opportunity to talk with Denny Hynek, who is one of the owners and brewers, and his wife Tammy was amazing!

So where  to start ... I wanted to know a little bit more about how this young brewery got started. I spoke with Denny and he described how his partner James (Jim) Watson and him met. Jim was working at Empyrean Brewing in Lincoln and Denny was at Upstream Brewing in Omaha. They became good friends and then ended up brewing together at Upstream. These two very creative guys with a passion for making craft beer soon got the itch to have their own brewery. Four years in the making, Pint Nine opened in the summer of 2017.

What an immaculate space for brewing beer! Great layout with room to expand.

Denny said one of the main challenges was finding the space they needed to be able to grow.  Warehouse and strip mall space in the Omaha market over the last few years has been in high demand. After a long search, they found their home on 104th and Portal Road in Papillion. The location has many benefits including lots of potential customers travelling between Papillion and Omaha, great parking, wonderful neighborhoods all around, and another brewery - Kros Strain who is a next door neighbor. Having the two breweries so close together, makes this even more of a destination when going for a night out with friends to enjoy some craft beer. Overall being part of the Exit 442 community with Kros Strain, Nebraska Brewing, Infusion Brewing, Lucky Bucket, and Patriarch Distillery has been great and the events like the Groundhog Day Barrel Aged beer release really helps to get the word out about Pint Nine.

In walking through the brewery area, you can tell Jim and Denny put a lot of thought into the space they have. The layout has plenty of space to get to the brewing equipment and room for a canning line some day. I hope soon because the Grapefruit IPA would be a great beer on a warm summer's day while I am out fishing! So many great beers being brewed here that I would get the chance to pour.

A tulip glass not only enhances the presentation of the beer but also the aroma for beers like IPAs

A full 16.9 glass works great for this Session Red.

I wanted to understand all the details I could on what it takes to be a good craft beer server. The first thing I asked Tammy about is how do you determine what glassware to use with each beer? Tammy enlightened me on the process of the key elements of choosing glassware. ABV is important because beers that are on the lower end of the scale can go into larger glasses whereas higher alcohol beers typically will go into a smaller glass like a snifter. A snifter also enhances the aroma of the beer with the wider top. I can completely understand that. For stouts, especially the imperial ones, I now understand why I enjoy them out of a snifter. Tammy went on to say that visual appearance is important also in the selection of the glassware. Take for instance how a tulip glass grabs your eye when you have the color like that of the Pint Nine IPA in it. I don't think it is just a guy thing, but I almost tear up see such a gorgeous beer! 

So you have the glassware lineup, so the next question I had to ask is how do you keep the glassware clean and ready to go? Tammy took me through the process of cleaning, rinsing, and sanitizing several glasses. I now know how important it is to make sure that every glass is clean and that the final step of a quick rinse before pouring any beer into the glass is essential in order to remove any remaining residue. 

Keep those kegs coming - it is great to be able to get a Pint Nine beer around town!

I had a few more questions before I could feel comfortable going behind the bar. My next question was about optimal beer temperature. Denny took this question saying that for them, 35 - 37 degrees was best for tap flow and flavor of most of their beers. I remember a couple of summers ago making the mistake of not icing down my kegs early enough for a party. I now know that the beer wasn't cold enough because it was a painful first hour pouring foam!  

Ok, so temperature is important to help eliminate too much foam, what other tips would Tammy have for me? Tammy told me to hold the glass at a 45 degree angle while pouring. That seemed easy enough to remember. 

So when the next order came in, Tammy told be to go ahead and pour this one. This was getting pretty exciting for me! I wanted to see if I could pour a perfect pint on my first try. A swing and a miss! I stopped the pour too soon when the foam started to build up a little. I just hate to see any beer go to waste. Tammy told me to pour until the glass had just about a half inch of head at the top and the rest filled with beer.

Talk about having a saint of an instructor... Tammy had the patience of an elementary teach when dealing with me! After a few more tries, I finally got a great pour. I wanted to get this one to the customer in a hurry, but wait! There is one more step that can't be overlooked. I had to take the squirt bottle and rinse off the side of the glass where some foam ran down. It wouldn't be very professional or nice to hand someone a sticky glass now would it?  

Lot's of nines, but Pint Nine is a 10 in my opinion.

Besides just pouring pints, I got to learn also how to fill a crowler. A crowler is a 32 ounce can and there is an awesome machine that you use in order to seal the top of the can. I really love it when a brewery has crowlers. Many times you might want to take one of your favorites and have it later on like when you are barbecuing on the weekend.

What an experience! I had so much fun. I hope that I get a chance to do this again if Pint Nine would let me. I am slowing working towards becoming a certified Cicerone Beer Server and   still have a lot to learn.  

Make your way out to Portal Road in Papillion and visit Pint Nine Brewing. I know you will enjoy the incredible atmosphere and great beer!  For more information on Pint Nine, check out their website - https://pintninebrewing.com/ or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Pint9Brewery/  

Cheers!

A Friendly Surprise Awaits You in Ohiowa, Nebraska

The other day I was talking with some friends and we started to discuss some of the crazy town names that you might have never heard of in Nebraska. I few of my favorites are "Surprise" named in 1881 by George Miller who built a gristmill on the Big Blue River. He was pleasantly surprised to discover that so much water power was available so close to the river's headwaters, and this led him to name the mill "Surprise".  "Friend" was named for Charles E. Friend, who homesteaded the land and initially named the community Friendville. He operated a dry goods store and post office. In 1873, the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad named its new train station there - Friend.  Last but not least and one of the most unique names of a town in Nebraska - Ohiowa.  A majority of the early settlers being natives of the states of Ohio and Iowa which caused the name to be selected. The name of the village is unusual in that it contains the complete names of two states.  All city name information provided by Wikipedia.

Making a drive out to Ohiowa wasn't by chance. A few weeks back, I had met Jim and Julie Stutzman at a "Meet the Brewer" event at the Local Beer, Patio, and Kitchen in Millard. The event was such a great time! With over 30 craft beer enthusiasts, Jim had a captive audience waiting to hear all about Lazy Horse and the beers we were about to sample. 

Flight of Lazy Horse Brewing Beers from the "Meet the Brewer" event

The beers in the flight included:

1. Pils

2. Blueberry Shandy

3. Rode Hard Pale Ale

4. Rebel Horse IPA

5. Milk Stout

Rebel Horse IPA - Imperial IPA - Super smooth and robust in flavor

Jim took us through each of the beers explaining the the type of beer and asking the everyone for the flavor they were getting out each of the brews.  The Rebel Horse IPA and Milk Stout left quite the impression, so I knew I had to make it out to the brewery and winery to see all of the good things being created there!

My destination on a fine Saturday afternoon wasn't Ohiowa itself, but just a few miles outside of the town. I had my sights set on Lazy Horse Brewing and Winery. From Omaha, the drive was only about an hour and a half. As we got off of the interstate, the highways led us past Ohiowa and onto a country road leading up to the beautiful property. As you drive in you see horses, grapevines, and the tasting room. The country charm is everywhere and a relaxing feeling overcomes you as you pull up the drive and open your car door. The tasting room is amazing! As I opened the door and walked in, there were so many things that caught my eye including the windmill on the wooden wall. For me, I felt like I was at back home when I was growing up in the small town of Manley, NE that is a farming community and also at one time had a very large cattle feedlot. Jim told me that the windmill came from a friend's ranch near Hyannis, NE. A great display of the charm and history of the rural communities of Nebraska. Whether you are a cowboy on a ranch or a banker from the city, you will feel that this is the place for you.

You can tell a lot of thought and hard work went into creating the tasting room. The warmth you feel from the wall where the windmill is hung is from hours of hard work breaking down pallets. The wood from pallets that no longer were being used could easily have been tossed away. That never happened because Jim and Julie have great vision in turning raw materials into great things. That is why you see things like huge wire spools turned into tables.

On the other side of the wall is an incredible patio. The view from the patio is so relaxing as you see the grapevines, prairie, and crops growing across the countryside. One thing I noticed that Saturday, is that the group of people that I was with wasn't the only one taking in the atmosphere of Lazy Horse. Everyone there was having a great time talking, relaxing, and enjoying the wine and craft beer.

Jim is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. Getting to have a conversation with him over some of his wonderful brews was incredible! We talked about how Jim got into the wine and beer making business. Jim started out his career as a rancher. Jim did this for about 16 years before him and Julie decided to try something different. They came up with the idea of growing grapes to sell with the possibility of making wine. Jim then decided to take some fermenter classes in Wamego, KS. As the grape plants matured and Jim finished his classes, the beginnings of a winery started to take shape. One thing you have to appreciate about the wines made at Lazy Horse is that they are made with 100% Nebraska grown grapes! I don't know much about wine, but Lazy Horse has a great selection of white wines including: Brianna (sweet), Sweet Edelweiss (sweet), Trail Buds - (sweet white blend), Summer Girl (semi-sweet white blend), and Stoney's Blend (semi-dry). For red wines, they have a Frontenac which is a semi-dry wine.  

So now I was really curious how the craft beer came into play. Jim said that he noticed when some of the guys would come into the tasting room that they were not sipping the wine but shooting it. This observation led Jim to believe he needed other choices. Adding craft beer would give everyone something they could enjoy when they came out to visit. So Jim started to learn how to brew beer. Patriot Homebrew Supply in Elkhorn, NE helped Jim get started along with some of Nebraska's finest home brewers. The goal for the first year of brewing was just to produce enough to have in the tasting room. Jim was able to produce 35 kegs of beer thinking that would get him through the summer.  Within 3 weeks there were only 5 kegs left.  Wow that is a great testament to the beer Jim is producing! Well that quickly changed the game and got Jim back in brewing more beer to keep up with the demand. News travels quickly and places like the Local Beer, Patio, and Kitchen started the line of places that wanted to be able to provide Lazy Horse beers from their taps.

Jim Stutzman - owner & creator of all wines and craft beers

I completely understand the demand for the Lazy Horse brews. Though being honest, I was surprised that a winery was producing such incredible beer! Beer with so many wonderful flavors - that is one thing I never get tired of with craft beer. Lazy Horse brews are top notch and each one has an outstanding flavor profile. For example, at the "Meet the Brewer" event, I had several people around me say they weren't IPA fans. After tasting all of the beers in the flight, the favorite of many turned out to be the Rebel Horse IPA. This imperial IPA has rich flavor and a smooth finish not a bitter bite which you would expect from an IPA with over 100 IBUs! Each beer I tried that Saturday in the tasting room was amazing! So Jim gave us a sneak peek of the Octoberfest coming out soon pictured below. The beautiful copper color and perfect head grab your attention right away. The malt complex used in this beer is wonderful - so much flavor and just a great beer for the fall. Speaking all great things about the fall like campfires and s'mores. The beauty below pictured next to the Octoberfest will put our taste buds into a frenzy! The combination of graham cracker and vanilla in this Porter is so delicious. I told Jim that this is a beer I could enjoy throughout the fall and winter. Jim, I don't beg often, but please keep making more of this one!

Fall is in the air and this Octoberfest brew proves it...

S'mores Porter full of graham cracker and vanilla notes

One of the other things you will notice when you visit Lazy Horse is how friendly everyone is. From the moment we walked into the tasting room until the time we left, we were treated as though we were the only customers there. When we first arrived, Jim was tending to business, so Kim who as been at Lazy Horse since it had opened gave us a tour of the brewing operation. Kim did a wonderful job answering our questions about the facility, beers being made, etc. She showed us the canning operation and the cool designs of the Lazy Horse labels.

As the afternoon progressed, hunger started to set in a bit. At the tasting room there are several food choices on the menu. I had my youngest son with me who is a little bit of a pizza connoisseur (ok he eats a lot of pizza) and said we had to try one of the them. In the tasting room, the wood fire pizza oven is definitely an attention grabber. While we were there, I would say almost everyone was getting a pizza.  So we got the Chicken Alfredo pizza and it was the best pizza I can remember having in a long time. So pizza and beer, what more could you ask for.... Maybe a couple of cabins so I could stay the whole weekend - just a thought.

With the afternoon winding down, it was time to grab a crowler and a six-pack and head back to Omaha. Always good to plan in advance to have a designated driver if making a road trip.

It was a great day and I recommend that you get out to visit them soon.  It really was no surprise how great their craft beer is and I truly enjoyed the hospitality!  So sometimes it might be a unique name of a town that peaks our interest of checking out an area - but believe me there is a whole lot more just outside Ohiowa, NE.  Don't wait, plan your trip soon so that you too can experience all that Lazy Horse Brewing and Winery has to offer. 

Cheers!

Patiently Brewing Some of the Best Craft Beer in the Midwest

The Brewers of Infusion. From left to right - Tyler Pawelkop, Max Stewart, and Aaron Bush

I got a chance to sit down and chat with Aaron Bush, who is the head brewer at Infusion Brewing Company in Omaha, Nebraska. It was a late Friday afternoon and probably the hottest day so far this summer. Aaron came out from the brewing area, sweat covered, but a big smile one his face. As we shook hands, I knew this was going to be an interesting next hour or so.

My curiosity quickly got the best of me, so I had to ask Aaron how his brewing journey began. Aaron started out home brewing around 17 years ago. The very first beer he selected to brew was a Pilsner. With high expectations, Aaron anxiously awaited opening that first bottle to get a taste of what he had created. "It was terrible" said Aaron, "I remember telling my wife that I had put the rest of the bottles in a garbage bag". I can completely relate to this, because this was exactly my first but only experience brewing beer. Aaron then continued on with the story that he couldn't bring himself to getting rid of the first batch. Then one day his wife told him it was time to either drink the beer or dump it into the garbage. Aaron decided to put a couple of bottles into the fridge and try them out later that day while grilling. "Time" said Aaron. I asked him as to what he meant by that. Aaron continued on, "Time was all the beer needed to finish." Aaron then went on to say how this first experience taught him how important patience is in brewing.  Some of the steps especially during brewing days happen quickly with lots of action on those days.  But the key to a great beer is in the final steps of the process and allowing it the time it needs before pouring into a glass and enjoying that first sip.

Grains that are used to brew the beer

"Was there one specific type of beer that you wanted to focus on?", I asked. Aaron explained that for him, it wasn't about taking one recipe and tweaking it for months, it was more about exploring all kinds of beers. This made complete sense to me especially in your early brewing years when you want to delve into all of the possibilities. Also what better way to learn than to try different things. I followed up that question with "What was your most important thing that you wanted to get out of each batch?" I found the answer to be very intriguing. Aaron discussed how he wanted there to be a specific characteristic that people would taste and remember in the beer. I have to say that is probably the main reason why I like craft beer so much. I can remember having my very first pint of the Dominican Brown Ale from Infusion. There was chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, and coconut notes that make this beer so special to me. A special taste that brings me back for more!

So many questions started coming into my head that I wanted to explore with Aaron. My next one was, "How did you learn to make all of the different styles of beer?" Aaron told me it was a lot of research time. Books were a good starting point. Hours of listening to craft beer podcasts by some of the greats like James Spencer - Basic Brewing Radio helped also. Spending time in the home brew supply stores provide a place to ask questions about different hops, malts, etc. "What about the internet?", I asked. Aaron with a smile on his face said "You can't believe everything you read on the internet".  Aaron then went on to say that the internet did help with finding some places where he could purchase malts, hops, etc. for brewing that he couldn't find locally. But in the end, practice is what makes the most difference. "Just keep brewing" said Aaron.

Dominican Brown Ale bottling

So from home brewer to brewing for Infusion had to be a big step. I was very curious to get Aaron's take on this. Aaron explained that for him, he now knew that every step of the process had to be repeatable. With a lot of great experience from home brewing, it was time to take that knowledge and see what it could be at a larger scale.  Aaron then went on to say that right away he noticed that good beers even got better due to making sure that each step of the process was being done the same way. I started to think that this had to be a part of why Infusion has become so successful. I needed to learn more!

I then asked Aaron if he could take me back in time and walk me through the early days of Infusion. Aaron talked about getting the brewery and taproom up in running in Benson in 2013. For those who haven't been to Infusion in Benson, I highly recommend taking the tour. The brewery is in the building that once was Olsen's Meat Market. Sorry back to the story...  Aaron went on to explain that the goal was to produce enough beer to keep the tap room supplied. For a new brewery that seems like a very reasonable goal. "So what were some of the first beers you offered?", I asked. Aaron listed off several in which these are some of them:

• Maiden Voyage American Stout

• Anything Goes Blonde

• Butcher Block Brown Ale

• Radial IPA

• Second Base Pale Ale

• Pulley Man Pale Ale

• Sand Stone Wheat

• Joel Porter

• Dean's Red Sled

• Bedford Park Black IPA

• Camaraderie Blood Orange IPA

I love the names and the stories behind them such as Joel Porter. This beer was named for the metal craftsman who did everything around the bars including the handrails and taps at the brewery.  He is the wizard of stainless steel!  Joel even created a 5 liter steel keg mail box for the Benson location.

Pulley Man Pale Ale named after Doug Deshazer.  Doug was instrumental in the construction work to turn Olsen's Meat Market into the Infusion Brewery and tap room in Benson. Doug has an amazing collection of barn pulleys.  Doug has captured the history of pulleys in a museum in Crofton, Nebraska.  Check out this great article written by the Omaha World Herald.

Dean's Red Sled was named after Dean Dobmeier who was a brewer from Jobber's Canyon. Dean gave the recipe of the Winter Red Ale to Infusion. Dean has been more than a great friend to Infusion, he has also been an instrumental mentor on how to run a brewery. 

Camaraderie Blood Orange IPA was named after the collaboration with Odell Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado. This IPA is part of an annual trio of IPAs that also includes a Red IPA and the South Pacific Pineapple IPA. Some great names I know I will never forget!

From the Southwest Tap Room

So I remember visiting Infusion in Benson in 2015 for the first time as part of a tour for Omaha Beer Week. There was a lot of buzz about the popularity of the beer. "So Aaron what was the main catalyst for the explosion of Infusion beers in bars and restaurants in Nebraska?"  Aaron said "Believe it or not it was a small batch of Anything Goes Blonde with some Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans in it". This beer is what all of us now have come to know as Vanilla Bean Blonde. I told Aaron I think I understand the attraction of this beer. For many who are use to light beers, Vanilla Bean Blonde gives them a chance to try a craft beer similar in color. Once they enjoy a pint of the wonderful flavor, they can throw out their light beers.  Aaron then went on to say that 12 Infusion tap handles in Omaha quickly grew into 400 over the state of Nebraska. Wow that is insane growth! Quickly Infusion outgrew the brewing capacity of the Benson location and opened a second location in Southwest Omaha. The second location is in a warehouse (as seen in the picture above) with room to build out the needed capacity to try to keep up with the demand for their brews. 

One of my favorite questions to ask a brewer is - "So what are some of the craziest ingredients that you have put into a beer? Being an extremely creative guy, Aaron had a pretty good list that included:

• Skittles in an IPA

• Gummy worms in a Belgium brew

• Slow Pokes

• Other various candy used in darker beers

I really love the fact that Infusion over the years has done several different things to promote new brew ideas. The Ice Box Series was a favorite of mine to get to try some new beers in small batches. Danger Stout came out recently as a small bottled batch that was crazy popular. Last but not least is the Summer Bean Fest where not 1 but 8 different Vanilla Bean beers are available for a day. I told Aaron I thought it was really cool to get to see, hear about, and taste the creations from Infusion.

Time was running short so the last question for Aaron was, "So what has it meant for you to be a part of Infusion from its inception?" Aaron replied, "It meant a lot to be part of something from the very start. It is like being on a construction crew starting at the ground floor and building a skyscraper."  Aaron went on to describe that he gets to use his passion of brewing beer and learning everyday. Aaron then said "Infusion has been a great place to be at because of the people. Everyone works hard to deliver quality beers in a very fast paced time of the craft beer industry. As a group we get to spend time together to come of with new and exciting ideas for that next beer."

I can say that I personally enjoy getting to meet everyone that works at the brewery. I volunteered for the Summer Bean Fest and you get to see first hand how much work and effort goes into an event like that. But this is work that is going on behind the scenes each and everyday that as consumers we don't get to see. I now have a better sense of a day in the life of a brewer. I also now understand even more why the beers at Infusion are top notch!

Aaron, "Is there anything else you would like to add?" Aaron's smiled and said "I am a lucky man most of all because I have a wife who understands."  What a great way to wrap up our conversation! 

Find some time and stop in Infusion at their Benson or Southwest Omaha location. I know you will enjoy the people there as well as a pint or two of some of the best craft beer in the Midwest!

Cheers!

Pint Night

Pint Night

There is nothing like a good pint night at a local tap room.   So, for those who might be new to the concept, a pint night is where you can purchase a decorative beer glass for a price and then typically get refills at a discounted price.  I have been to a few (ok several) over the past few years and to me there are a few things that make a great pint night.

The most obvious is the glass if you are a collector like me.   I know I enjoy seeing the different creative designs that breweries come up with.   Hey graphic artist out there, I bet it is a fun time getting a chance to work with breweries on logo designs!  I remember the very first glass I got which was El Mastodon from Lucky Bucket Brewing Company.  The glass is very cool and I was excited to get it.  The other thing that made my night was getting introduced to a new beer.

Boy was that a treat that night getting to try a barley wine.   Pint nights are a great opportunity to try out a new beer.   Most of the time the pint night themes are around a seasonal beer that the brewery is promoting.   It is a great way for craft beer fans to look forward to a new porter or stout in the winter months and a nice crisp IPA in spring or summer months.   I am always up for trying something new, but there is no shame in filling up your pint glass with one of your favorites from that brewery. 

Last but not least, pint nights offer you the chance to catch up with your friends.   I love the social aspect of the pint night!   Many times I will share out the event on social media hoping to catch up with other friends who enjoy craft beer.   Great conversations usually follow as each person talks about the beer of the evening.  It is fun to see what others think about the pint night beer!

I hope you find a great pint night in your near future.

Cheers!