BeerWise Podcast
The BeerWise Podcast, hosted by Mark DeNote, editor of Florida Beer News, delves into the dynamic world of craft beer, offering listeners a comprehensive look at industry trends, news, and in-depth interviews with key figures shaping the beer landscape.
Each episode explores the past, present, and future of brewing, providing insights into the evolution of beer styles, brewing techniques, and the stories behind renowned breweries. Whether you're a seasoned beer enthusiast or new to the craft beer scene, BeerWise serves as an engaging platform to expand your knowledge and appreciation for the art of brewing and craft beer culture.
BeerWise Podcast
Ep. 38: It's Tampa Bay Beer Week 2025! Talking TBBW with Executive Director Sean Nordquist
Join us as we celebrate the vibrant Tampa Bay Beer Week! This episode explores the fascinating journey of beer enthusiasts as they immerse themselves in a unique week of craft beer events, seminars, and tastings. Host Mark DeNote interviews Sean Nordquist, the Director of the Tampa Bay Brewers Alliance, who emphasizes the exciting changes taking place this year due to a new partnership with Beer Week organizers.
Sean outlines the variety of new events designed to engage attendees and boost the local beer community. Whether you're a seasoned craft beer aficionado or a newcomer, there are plenty of experiences waiting to be discovered, from unique tastings to community-focused activities.
Discover how the Tampa Bay Beer Week celebrates the craftsmanship behind each beer while fostering a sense of togetherness among participants. Sean provides valuable tips on how to make the most of your week, including the importance of hydration and trying new brews. As we dive into the realm of craft beer, we invite listeners to think beyond just drinking—it's about building connections and embracing the joyous culture of beer in all its diversity.
With so many events happening, there’s something for everyone, from art, craft, and education to just plain fun. Be inspired to participate and support your local breweries during this special week, ensuring they thrive and continue to bring you exceptional beers. Don't miss out on this immersive experience—subscribe now and get ready to raise your glass!
Hello and welcome back to the BeerWise podcast. This is the podcast that looks at what's going on in the world beer-wise. Hello and welcome to the BeerWise podcast. I'm your host, mark Denote, and I'm the editor of Florida Beer News. What a lovely day for Florida beer.
Speaker 1:We just published an episode on Orlando Beer Week not too long ago, and now it's time to talk about Tampa Bay Beer Week, one of the seminal events for the state of Florida beer community. Tampa Bay Beer Week spans over a decade now and each year the buzz rises about beer dinners, beer releases, beer festivals and the general beer community. Last year, tampa Bay Beer Week and the Tampa Bay Brewers Alliance came to an agreement and a merger of sorts where executive director Sean Nordquist would have a more direct role in Beer Week in 2025 and beyond, and this year he joins us on the podcast for our annual preview of what to expect and look for during Tampa Bay Beer Week. But first, before we get to the interview, I want to thank our new podcast sponsor, Coppertail Brewing. Coppertail Brewing is located just outside Ybor City, across from Ikea, and has been brewing Florida-inspired beers since 2014.
Speaker 1:Available in distribution all over the Sunshine State, enjoy Freedive IPA, unholy, triple Night Swim Porter and Cloud Dweller, hazy, ipa, wherever you can find them. Now, here's our conversation. Well, thank you for taking the time. I know the schedule is crazy, as it always is.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean today is good and it's just going to get busier and busier as this week goes on.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's the thing about Beer Week being in the first day of March.
Speaker 2:Oh, man, it's killing me.
Speaker 1:Well, it looks like there's such a divide between months where it's like, oh, it's only February because Beer Week is usually later on into March, right? So how are you feeling about Beer Week this year? I started recording and we're going.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we're going, 're going, I'm feeling good. I think we're getting back to the day where everybody's excited about it again, with it being as early as it is this year. I think a lot of people are scrambling with the same thing, like oh wow, it's already here. And then also with the recognition that next year it'll actually be like oh wow, it's already here. And then also with the recognition, the next year it'll actually be like a week later. So actually looking forward to that, basically having an extra week of planning, but I think it's shaping up to be another good one. There's some events that are continuing to grow and build and some that are shifting. I think everybody is sort of figuring out year to year, like what does it look like this year around? What's different from last year? Obviously it's different from pre-COVID, it's different from, you know, the immediate post-COVID type stuff. But also during that time, you know the landscape has changed. You know the industry has changed. You know there are new breweries around, there are breweries that have closed. That you know the industry's changed, you know there's there are new breweries around, there are breweries that have closed.
Speaker 1:So you know everybody, I think, is trying to figure out where they fit in and what makes the best sense for them. Gotcha, gotcha, what is. Can you talk a little bit, then, because I've never I don't think I've ever interviewed you in this role, in this capacity. How did you get to be involved with Beer Week and what is? And can you talk a little bit about the merger between TBBA and Beer Week?
Speaker 2:Sure, so let's, let's go in our way back machine 13 years to when Beer Week was founded. I was actually part of that group that helped found Beer Week. You know Justin Clark from Cigar City and you know folks like Bob Sylvester and J Paul Pepin, and you know the folks from Dunane Brewery. I mean, just like you know a lot of the. You know we call them the old school folks now and I realize that. You know, I guess technically I'm one of the old school folks now and it was. You know it was was in actually in 2011. Um, 2012 was the first official tampa bay beer week and, uh, it was decided, okay, we're gonna, you know, bookend it between um the kickoff, you know guild festival, which has been going on for 20 somethingsomething years with this newish event that has become a big deal, which was Hunapu's Day, and let's try to mirror in some capacity what Philadelphia does. You know Philly Beer Week, sure, and you know basically saying, hey, anybody who wants to do something, let us know and we will. You know we're not going to put on any events ourselves, but we're going to help push and promote and elevate everything that goes on and we'll try to be a clearinghouse for all that kind of stuff. As the years went on, it got bigger and bigger. As you know, I was on, you know I was on the first board that they elected and eventually became the uh, the chair of of beer week. And so from 2012 to 2017, uh, I was, you know, I was part of uh running beer week and making it, you know, building it up to what it, you know to what it eventually, you know, became um, and then my term ended, you know, because we had you know I was I turned out and it happened to coincide with me taking on the role at the State Guild and you know the reins were picked up by a great group of people who were passionate about it and continued pushing it.
Speaker 2:Obviously, it took a big hit in 2020, 2021 with COVID, considering, everything about Beer Week revolved around people getting together. It was real hard, but they managed to keep it together and rebuild and rearrange and group. Also, around that time know, 2021, ish, 2022 um, the tampa bay brewers alliance was formed, uh and really was designed to be uh, a local slash, regional organization to promote and support uh, the you know the commercial craft, you know beer craft, beer industry, um, and you know not as much of the political side of things, but the like with, with the resources we have available to us here, what can we do to make the, to make the industry better? What can we do to to improve, um, everything from, uh, you know, standard operating procedures to visibility, to, you know, best practices and education, all that kind of stuff. So they had a, they brought on a acting director to help sort of continue moving things along.
Speaker 2:And that's when the relationship between the, the alliance and Beer Week as two separate organizations really started. And so there was a lot of, you know, working side by side with things, with the Alliance having funding able to, you know, to fund the efforts and initiatives of Beer Week. It made sense then to bring the two organizations together under one umbrella. It made sense then to bring the two organizations together under one umbrella, which was one of the things, you know, when I was hired at the beginning of 2024, that was one of my top priorities Make this happen, bring these two things together, which we have now done, have now done, and so we have um sort of the, the umbrella of the Tampa Bay Brewers Alliance, uh, which is mostly the business side of things, uh, working directly with breweries and vendors, um, and uh, you know, working on ways to.
Speaker 2:You know, like we talked about, you know, doing things for the industry and for the, the our partner breweries, and then with Beer Week being much more of a consumer-facing and public-facing side of the equation, so we really complement each other and fill the needs that the others may not be able to fill. And it just, you know, it is really by, it was never by design that I come back around, you know, all the, you know 13 years later and and be back with you know, running, helping run beer week again. But that's sort of how it it has, it has turned out and I've, you know, there's a great group of great team of folks who was specifically dedicated to the beer week activities and you know, and that also includes things like the ale trail, um, you know, and uh, and that's, and that kind of stuff, uh, you know, putting on the halfway there, uh, beer fest, uh, almost their homebrew fest, um, and you know we are going to continue to to grow that and um, additional events throughout the year.
Speaker 1:Awesome, awesome. So then, really, beer week is what the average drinker, the average consumer is going to interact with. And then the Alliance maybe, maybe, maybe not.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean there's also a point where there is going to be some crossover. You know, when we do some educational events that are more consumer-facing, I mean, obviously, if someone wants to come to an educational event about propagating yeast and brewing lagers and that sort of stuff in a commercial environment, I mean they're welcome to come, but it's usually at 10 AM on a Tuesday and is really targeted at the professional brewer. That said, when we, when we do things like you know, how to taste beer and how to pair beer and how to understand, you know, some of the different hop and grain profiles on a, you know. You know, and the kind of stuff that you and I have talked about doing from an education standpoint, you know, that is, I think, has a broader appeal to general public, people who are just interested in you know. I mean, anybody who's a foodie would love these kinds of things because they're really we really talk about flavors, we really talk about, you know, how different flavors and textures and all that kind of stuff work together. You know, in in sort of through the lens of, of of the beer world and I and so you know, but it's also really good for, you know, maybe not brewers themselves, but they're certainly welcome to be there and they probably would learn from it as well. But front of house staff, certainly anybody working in the hospitality industry, where you're, where you're interacting with customers Sure, I think it helps broaden your, your language when talking to people about it. And and the more you understand about these, about these things, that that you know the flavors and the beers themselves and and how they interact with each other, I think, the better you are able to do your job. So it's those kinds of things.
Speaker 2:I think that, and then that's, and then we also have some events that are being put on directly by the Alliance. So we have our bike rides, our poker bike rides that we're doing around the area, which are put on directly by the Tambay Brewers Alliance, and we'll have a couple other events that are Brewers Alliance sort of forward, sort of forward, but with the. You know, at the same time, you know when we do an event in july or august, um, or up, or even october, you know we've. You know beer week is is still quite a ways away, sure, but we still are going to talk about beer week and what beer week is doing at events, um, and and really, as you know, beer week is part of the alliance and you know, and I think there's going to be, it's going to be less and less of sort of differentiating between them as we go forward, just sort of understanding that they are. You know, they are side by side.
Speaker 1:Because basically, the task then was to take a week and make it more community-facing and community-building, where it's not just a week where everybody goes and forgets about it for the other 51.
Speaker 2:Right right, yeah, we used to play around with the beer week year-round, which. We have tried that before. It just doesn't seem to stick for a lot of people. Um, sure, and uh, you know. So, yeah, I mean, they're still going to come out to events, they just, but they don't.
Speaker 2:They have trouble associating and people, there's a lot of people that don't sort of understand what beer week is. Um, people outside the industry. People inside the industry get it, but but for the general consumer, when we're talking about 10 big beer week, they don't necessarily. Well, first of all, they don't understand that a, it's an organization, uh, or b, that it is not the same thing as a florida brewer's guild or best florida beer or, um, you know also, we're not the ones that put on every single event that happens for all nine days. And you know, we actually, a couple of years back, we put together a flyer it was a trifold flyer that had this is what Beer Week does, this is what the Brewers Guild does, this is what Best Fort of Beer does.
Speaker 2:And, yes, we all talk to each other and we all support the same stuff and we're all friends. But but don't call me asking for brewers ball tickets, you know, don't, don't, don't, uh, don't call me asking. Hey, well, you know I, where do I submit my beer to for best Florida beer competition? Um, you know, or, and also you know now, in the role I'm in now, don't don't ask me. Well, what's happening in Tallahassee? That is no longer my job, but the general public is sort of, and they don't need to, it's fine. We all do talk to each other and we pass people off to one another all the time.
Speaker 1:Sure, sure, and I guess that's a good thing, though, because that means that people are interested and engaged in wanting to be involved.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I noticed this year you have you put out a call for volunteers and there was a signup form. That for the first time I don't think I've ever seen that before.
Speaker 2:Yeah it. One of the things that we've noticed is that we sort of played very loosely with you. People want to volunteer great, give us your information and we'll reach out, and slips of paper get lost, or emails get lost, or you know, or we forget to like keep it all in one place, you know. So I think we really thought, like, look, we want to have a solid, you know, repository of available volunteers year round volunteers year round. So when it comes time to do a bike ride or it comes time to do halfway there or whatever it might be, you know we can say hey, you know you 20, 30, 40, a hundred people that have said you're interested here's, here's a thing we're going to be doing. If you could join us, that'd be great, and you know it's. I think it's sort of taking that next step to bringing you know beer week to the, to the next level as an organization.
Speaker 1:Sure, and then having an organizational contact for all of that.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes exactly.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So then, kind of segueing onward into Beer Week proper, which is starting February 28th with Pub. What is new and different this year that that folks can look forward to?
Speaker 2:So one of the great things about the ultimate brew is that it really is. You know, that is where all the brewers hang out together before they have to dive into the madness of what is beer week hang out together before they have to dive into the madness of what is beer week, that it used to be the case, that that was what happened at Brewers Ball, and it is still to a point, except that Brewers Ball is now open to the public and so it's not just brewers all around you and also the brew is not just because general public can buy tickets as well, but the brewers are really just invited to come and be there. And so a couple of different aspects of it. One is it's the official kickoff to beer week and we can sort of have a have a toast together before every everyone goes nuts over the next nine days. We're we're doing it at at a brewery, inside a brewery. Tampa Bay Brewing Company is very graciously hosting us there. They've been a great partner of ours. We're going to have, you know about, six different beers on tap for you know, for attendees as well, as people are going to bring package stuff. A lot of breweries bring package stuff. There's a bonfire out back for hanging out. It's not a set program. As far as there's no metal ceremony, there's no anything like that. I will probably get up and say a few words A couple of the Beer Week folks will get up and say a few things, but it's really about getting together. It's about being that craft beer community.
Speaker 2:The fun thing about it and one of the reasons we call it the Ultimate Brew. Its origins came from an Iron Chef style idea, which was in January. Participating breweries would randomly select some bizarre ingredients and each brewery that participated would have to brew this beer and then bring it to. The ultimate brewer was what it was called then, and it was a blind tasting for the general public and there would be an award for you know, the best one. And it was fun and, as a consumer, they really liked it. Um, it was a pain in the ass for most breweries. Uh, because you're at, you have to, you're, you have to be able to brew a small batch of something. Uh, you have to be okay with it being terrible. Um, and and probably never selling, uh, any of it. Uh, because if you pulled some ingredients that were bad, you know you can, I mean, you know, even the best brewer can only do so much, you know, when they're brewing with onions and anchovies or whatever it might be. And so it was labor intensive, it was costly and you know, and again, it was fun, but it got less and less fun, I think, for people.
Speaker 2:And then we went a different route entirely, and that had a lot to do with COVID and things like that, and just because we didn't do the event. But now the breweries were coming, but now the breweries who are coming, everybody brings a handful of hops and we, you know, we have a base beer and then we dry hop it. Everybody who comes in, we dry hop it with all the hops that everybody's brought, and that becomes our collaborative brew. That becomes, you know, the official beer you know, made for for Tampa, for Tampa Bay beer week. Um and uh, you know again, it's, it's a community, it's a community thing, it's a fun thing.
Speaker 2:Uh, you know there's nothing deep and scientific, or or you know it's, but it's a, it's camaraderie, uh, and so that's, um, you know it's a, it's a way to bring people together, it's a way to, you know, to have fun, and so that that is an event that I really like because it's it has continued to grow.
Speaker 2:If you like hanging around with brewers who are hanging out with each other, it's the place to be. I think two, two years ago we actually got a one-star review on Yelp for the event from somebody saying it's just a bunch of brewers drinking beer together and we're like that's awesome. So we actually used that as a marketing tool. The following year You're not going to taste 100 different beers in little samples all around the park. It's not a festival, but it is a beer event and it is definitely beer centric and it's a lot of fun. It's very casual, very laid back, but it's a lot of fun and I I if you can, if you can be there, I highly recommend being there because it's really absolutely worth the worth the time to be there.
Speaker 1:Okay, and with a, with a busy weekend to follow, because that's when the dam opens and everything let loose, yeah, so what are you seeing in terms of events for this year's beer week? That might be new and maybe kind of off the radar.
Speaker 2:So there are. You know, obviously, every brewery kind of does some of their own, their own things. The one, the one new, new event is we're actually doing, for the first time ever, a golf tournament during the week on Thursday the 6th I think it is, and so this will be at the Eagles golf course in Odessa. We've got a bunch of breweries who have signed up to play breweries who have signed up to play. We have a bunch of vendors and sponsors. We've got an online live online auction going on for various items and things. Some are beer related, some are not, but there will be included in your registration is our breakfast, lunch and beers along the course. It should be, you know, assuming the weather is nice, it should be a beautiful day out. It should be just a lot of fun to go out and play golf. If you're a golfer and you know, again, hanging out with brewers and other people in the industry, you know, just having a having a good time and it's it is a fundraiser for the, for the Alliance, to to push our efforts, for all the initiatives that we have. Okay, then you've got some of the, you know, return events, things like food or for thought, you know, at Green Mench Kaleidoscope at Florida Avenue, at florida avenue uh, that is a really cool event. Uh, you know, they're with artists, um, actually doing their art, you know, at, you know, while there's a beer event going on. It's a really, it's a really cool idea. I love that they're doing that.
Speaker 2:Um, dark embrace, uh, you know, which is being put on by Angry Chair and Ology. That's going to be your big stout event. Also, the Seminary in Safety Harbor is putting on their first craft beer festival, and so that's going to be more, probably more, aimed at general public. So there will be a lot of vendors and all that kind of stuff as well. Then there will be a beer garden section of celebrating craft beer stuff. There are a couple beer dinners going on, and I'll have to pull up the calendar because there's a lot of stuff happening. I, personally, if you can find a beer dinner near you, those are some of my favorite events because they are a little bit more intimate. It's not just drinking beers, it's an experience. Usually it's several courses, with each course paired with a different beer, and you'll get to try some stuff you haven't had before, most likely. So I've always loved those. There will be special releases there will be. Let's see what else is happening during beer week. I know I'm drawing them.
Speaker 1:They'll probably be some surprises too, because brewers tend to submit at the last minute too, I'm sure.
Speaker 2:In our industry no never.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's a joke. It's a joke that keeps being funny.
Speaker 2:Cause it keeps being true. It has been true for as long as I've been in the industry.
Speaker 1:So making beer? Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay, ok, well, where where can we find you? Do you have a calendar so I can tell you?
Speaker 2:for sure you will. You will have. I will be at the Ultimate Brew on Friday. I will be at Brewers Ball on Sunday. It looks like I'm going to be at Troubled Waters Brewing in Safety Harbor on Monday because we'll be releasing a collaboration beer that I did with them. It's a Belgian Red that I'm pretty excited about. I will very likely be making an appearance at Fooder for Thought and at Safety Harbor and then we'll see what the rest of the week entails. I will be around, for sure I get it. Don't want to commit. Yeah, the best thing to do, go to tampabaybeerweekcom or TVBW and look up the calendar and and check it frequently Because, like you said things, I expect to see a lot of stuff get added this week because, like you said it's you know people like, oh, that's right, I was supposed to put that on the calendar, right and so, and so it'll be there.
Speaker 1:Right, and a lot of people I've noticed in the past few years. A lot of folks will post it up to their social or their brewery social and then not add it to and then tag beer week or forget that.
Speaker 2:Oh, it's a lot of people check that and if they don't already follow you on social media they may never know about what it is that you're doing, and we will be posting Fast and Furious about all the different stuff going on from all the different places that we're at.
Speaker 1:So and the the power of beer week. Some of the one of the most powerful pieces of beer week is the community aspect and sharing. I mean your raison d'etre is really to be a voice for the breweries. So I mean it behooves everybody to kind of tag you guys and to make sure that they're using that power that the beer week.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, I mean that's what we're here for. Is is to promote, you know, the, the beer community, um, and and we want to amplify you know, and and and boost the signal of everybody doing cool stuff.
Speaker 1:Awesome, awesome. Any advice for people who this is their first beer week.
Speaker 2:Oh, remember, it's a, it's a marathon, not a sprint. So I mean, these are, these are going to be the. You know this is going to be true, have have always been true and always will be true. Make sure you A know your limits. You know no, you know, yes, there's, there are more beers out there than you will ever be able to drink. So take your time. Make sure you are drinking lots of water. Make sure you're eating food.
Speaker 1:That's probably the number one mistake.
Speaker 2:Yeah, number one mistake people forget. I'm guilty of it myself, because I get caught up and even a lot of these events where I'm not even really drinking but I'm running around running an event, I forget to drink my water, I forget to eat my lunch, and then all it takes is like two beers. I'm like, oh, now I don't feel so good. It all catches up, yeah, yeah. So take, take care of yourself. Hydrate, uh, make sure you uh take sunscreen, even if it looks like it's overcast. Take sunscreen with you everywhere, even if it's a nighttime event. Bring your sunscreen like make, make that part of your. When you're patting yourself down, you're finding your glasses, your wallet, your keys, your phone. Add sunscreen to your list for the entire week, because the sun in March, typically the week is some of the best weather we have all year and you won't feel necessarily like, oh, it's so hot. Sometimes you might, but generally you won't. Plus, the more you start drinking a little bit, you start to forget how hot it is and you will be fried, uh, and then that will make the rest of your week miserable. So, um, plan, you know, make a plan for ride shares or designated drivers or that sort of thing. There's absolutely no reason for anybody to be driving, uh, while drinking this. You know, ever, but particularly this week. It is in this day and age with. You know, with the rideshare programs and taxi cabs, and you know people who don't drink be safe, because we want everybody to be able to come back again next year.
Speaker 2:And then, finally, I will say try stuff you haven't had before. I know it's easy to say, oh, I love that beer and you go and you get that one. If you can get that beer year-round, pick something you haven't had before. Especially at a lot of these events, breweries will be there that you've never seen before and you may not ever get a chance to try again. So go for something that you know. If you want to stick within, you know the styles that you like. That's fine, because I guarantee you there are a bunch of beers in that, in that style, for breweries you've never had before. So try those.
Speaker 2:I will also encourage you to try styles you've never had before. You can open up your world to like, oh, wow, like. If you've never had a Flanders Red before, if you see one available, try it. They're delicious, they're incredible. If you oh, I only drink hazy IPAs, you know. Try a West Coast. Try a traditional English IPA, you know. If you're like, oh, I really like you know these big malt bombs. Try some ESBs. Try some milds just delicious, low alcohol, really easy drinking and great beers. Try all the things, particularly the things that you haven't had before. It'll make the experience a lot more fun for you as well.
Speaker 1:And I think it's also. I love the idea of kind of a safe space where you don't have to buy four or six of them to try, oh, absolutely.
Speaker 2:That's the great thing about most of the festivals You're going to get a small pour and it's okay if you take a sip of it and you don't like it. There are buckets everywhere. That's why we have dump buckets and by and large, everybody understands that, and even if you do like it take a sip.
Speaker 2:You're like you know, that's great. You don't have to drink the whole thing, you know and I know it feels sacrilegious sometimes to do that Like, oh, I don't want to dump it out, I don't want to waste it, it's okay. This is the time to do that. This is the time to experiment and play, and if you don't like something, you know, dump it out and go on to your next one. Yeah, make sure you rinse your glass too very true, very true.
Speaker 1:Um any uh, is there anything else that you want to say about 2025? Beer week before we, before we sign off?
Speaker 2:um, you know, just, you know, get out there and participate, find out, you know, find out what's going on near you. Find out what's going on at the breweries you love. Um, you know, you know, even if you know I know some people, there's been a lot of people sort of cutting back or cutting out altogether on their drinking. Um, you can still participate in a lot of, in a lot of these events there are. There are folks that are having, you know, uh, non, non-alcoholic options, uh, or, um, you know, free entry for people who don't drink. It's still a really great fun time. The general vibe is always, you know, is always welcoming, is always fun. You know, people are out there to have a good time and have fun and it's really it's worth experiencing that. And, you know, get out there and support your local breweries. You know, at at all times.
Speaker 2:You know this 2024 was a really rough year, uh, for just about everybody. Um, you know, in the Tampa Bay area in particular, uh, it was a really rough year through the summer and then October hit and we got back-to-back storms and, uh, they were devastating and people are still have not caught up, uh, to where they where they need to be, and so so the more you can support the breweries um buy from them directly whenever you can. Uh, you know, yes, it's great to see your your favorite beers in. You know the local, you know uh convenience store or or grocery store or whatever. But if you buy directly from the tasting room, um that's a much bigger uh boon to them than than buying it through them, than buying it through a retailer.
Speaker 1:Well remember, and I have to remind too, that January and February are usually the slowest months for beer and breweries, so any support and Beer Week comes at a great time for a lot of them for that extra support, because it seems like in 2025, more than ever, you never know who's on the cusp of.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's absolutely true. That's absolutely true. You don't know who's. You know who's struggling right now. I can tell you most people are.
Speaker 1:And nobody, nobody fakes struggle. Everybody fakes like they're fine. That's right. That's right, yeah, Everybody fakes like they're fine.
Speaker 2:That's right, that's right. Yeah, all right. Well, sean, I will. I usually like to end my podcast with it really depends on on. You know, like on a day like today where it's raining out, I might want something maybe a little darker and maltier. You know, I mean, this isn't a Florida beer, so I feel bad saying but I actually have a bottle of old Rasputin sitting over there. It's looking really although, but it's it's. You know, it's only one, 30 on a Monday, so I may have to hold off on that one, but I like.
Speaker 2:I like a nice, a nice stout or porter. But you know, I'm a, I'm a big lager guy, I'm a big hoppy West coast IPA guy. One of my, you know, one of my favorites recently is Coral Head from Timmy Brewing Company. Love that beer. Oh, I will say I brewed an Oyster Stout with Thirsty Buffalo earlier this year and they have it on tap right now at both their locations. So it's a really good beer. So I recommend, if you can find your way to Odessa or their other location, go get yourself some.
Speaker 1:Okay, if you could only drink one style, what would it be?
Speaker 2:I would be very sad, but it would either be, you know, probably maybe like either like a Hellas, or if I wanted a lager, or if I wanted like I could drink an English mild all day long. So those are probably my go-to, probably my two go-tos, okay.
Speaker 1:Next, what's the last beer you had? That changed your mind?
Speaker 2:Ooh, that changed my mind. That's a good question.
Speaker 1:The example I usually use for me is Duchess de bergogne, because that beer changed my mind about sours, because it was so sour yet so wonderful, and I can't stop drinking it um.
Speaker 2:So I would say probably. I mean, I don't know if it was the, the last, but the one that sticks immediately sticks out in my head um is rottnbach. Uh, I mean there, um, and which one was it? It was actually during Beer Week a number of years ago and there was some representatives from Rodenbach and they were pouring. Maybe it was their cuvee, but it was mind-blowing, and this is for somebody who's been doing this for a really long time. It was one of those now rare experiences like, oh my God, this is something special.
Speaker 1:So Alexander was the one that I had. That was with cherries, that was yes. And then Red Light. Red Light it's the only place I've seen it in. The US has their unfiltered food or beer. From time to time that comes right from the brewery. That again is one of those I never thought I'd have this.
Speaker 2:Brent's such a wonderful human Red Light Red Light he always has such great and he is introduced and actually he's actually the one that first introduced me to the Milker Pour, and so that was actually probably more recently than the Aron Mott. So that was another sort of brain evaporating moment where I was like he poured it. I was like the hell is this? He's like just drink it and I did. I was like it blew my mind. It was so I would say that most recently that's probably the most recent um beer that changed my mind was, and I I couldn't tell you which beer it was, um, but it was delicious, it was incredible.
Speaker 1:So I think I thank brent for that the milker pour is for those who don't know what is a milker pour. For those who are not aware, oh, um, so it's.
Speaker 2:It's a way of pouring the beer through a special tap that when it pours it it actually looks like milk in the glass and it's all foam. But it is. It's not like the foam that you think. You know it's it. And to say it drinks like milk isn't quite accurate. But it has a characteristic to it that is rich, it is silky, it is unlike anything you've ever had before. I mean, you could probably describe the technicality behind it better than I can, but you don't find them very often and I don't know that everybody actually even does them properly. But it was, it's sublime. I highly recommend it Awesome.
Speaker 1:Awesome. Next question when it comes to beer, what do you wish? You really understood?
Speaker 2:What do I wish I really understood about beer? What do I wish I really understood about beer? Um, well, I do like the fact that that, at its very base level, beer is not hard to understand. It's, it's a I mean it and it's it's, you know, just bottom level. It's a very simple process. Um, that that we understand what I wish I understood more.
Speaker 2:I think I wish I understood more about how different I mean and again this is getting super technical and sciencey but I wish I understood more about different strains of yeast and how they produce, the flavors they produce, because I'm blown away particularly getting into some of know, some of the, the strains, like the belgian strains and things like that, where just by changing the yeast it completely changes the flavor of the beer absolutely.
Speaker 2:And you know whereas, like with, and maybe it's because you know you can't look at the yeast or smell the yeast or whatever beforehand and know, like I know, what this is going to taste or smell, like you can with with hops and grain, you can like you can taste those and smell those You're like. Ok, I know, I understand these characteristics with yeast, you know you, just because it doesn't smell like that when it's just a slurry. You know a great story. So I think and I'm okay not knowing, but it'd be great if I knew and understood sort of how, on a molecular level, these little critters vary so much in so many different ways and some create higher alcohol and some create lower alcohol and some create completely different flavors across the spectrum. I find it very fascinating and I don't understand it at all.
Speaker 1:So well said Okay, what's one thing you wish everyone knew about? Let's say beer week. Usually I say your brewery, but in this case let's say beer week.
Speaker 2:I would say you know that it that it is a celebration of, of of all things beer in Tampa, in the Tampa area. It's not, is a celebration of all things beer in the Tampa Bay area. It's not just a celebration of Tampa Bay beer or even just Florida beer, it is a celebration of all things beer. So we do have events like at the Independent, where they've got a night of Belgian beers. If you haven't been to the Independent, first of all, shame on you. You should go there. But also, you know, veronica has curated an incredible selection of beers from around the world and this is one of those times where she really highlights it. She knows, you know, she's forgotten more about beer than most people will ever know, and it's just. It's such a great space anyway.
Speaker 2:But you know, celebrating all things beer and the craftsmanship and community that is the brewing community, I think, is what really what Beer Week is about. It's not about drinking as many beers as you can or going out and getting hammered, you know, for not for nine days in a row, or going out and getting hammered for nine days in a row. It's about the community. It's about coming together, particularly now in a time where everything is so divided. One thing we can mostly agree on is that beer is really awesome and having beers with people is a really great way to sit down and actually have conversations. So that's what I wish people would know and understand and sort of take home about the whole Beer Week event Beer Week happening.
Speaker 1:Well said. Finally, what's the greatest lesson you've learned in beer?
Speaker 2:I mean, I'd say the greatest lesson I've learned is that, at the end of the day, it is just beer. It's not something that I mean. Yes, you know, for a lot of us, you know it is our livelihood, it is. You know, it can help define. You know, particularly as a brewer, it can certainly define who you are for, good or bad as a brewer, it can certainly define who you are for, good or bad, but it's also like so many other things.
Speaker 2:There could be a level of tribalism that goes into it, whether it's regional, whether it's style-wise. It can even be like oh a fan of this brewery, so I. So I automatically don't like this other brewery. You know, I think there's there's no need for that sort of thing. You know, at the end of the day, it's just beer.
Speaker 2:You know we're not. You know we're not solving world hunger here. We're not. You know we're not curing cancer. You know we're not ending wars. What we are doing is is making a product that that everybody loves, you know, in some form or fashion, and it should be a thing that brings people together and not and not divides them, so that that would be. You know, that's the thing. I think that the lesson that is, and you know I'm still learning that lesson. I have to remind myself of these things sometimes because I, you know it's easy to get wrapped up in in, you know, whatever I'm supposed to be upset about, but but remembering that it is, at the end of the day, it is just beer and that there, you know we love it and it's it's, it's not the most important thing in the world.
Speaker 1:Well said, sean. Sean Nordquist, director thing in the world. Well said, sean Nordquist. Director of Tampa Bay Brewers Alliance and Tampa Bay Beer Week. Thank you very much for your time. It's always awesome talking to you. Oh, my pleasure. That was my conversation with Sean Nordquist of the Tampa Bay Brewers Alliance and Tampa Bay Beer Week. My thanks to Sean for carving out the time to speak with me during this very busy time.
Speaker 1:Are there any guests that you'd like to see on the BeerWise podcast? Reach out. I'm mark at floridabeernewscom or on social media at FLBeerNews. Let me know what's going on in your world, beerwise, and let me know who you want to hear me talk to. Thanks again to our new podcast sponsor, copper Tail Brewing, located just outside Ybor City, across from Ikea, brewing Florida-inspired beers since 2014. Available in distribution all over the Sunshine State.
Speaker 1:Remember to grab a Freedive IPA, unholy Triple Night, swim Porter and Cloud Dweller Hazy IPA, wherever you can find them. Please remember to like, subscribe and follow BeerWise on your favorite podcast platform and you won't miss an episode. Also, please remember to review the show on your favorite platform and help us reach new audiences. If you like the show, please tell someone. If you don't like the show. Please tell me, and I'm happy to hear your feedback. Florida Beer News and this podcast are now on Patreon. I've begun fundraising efforts for the website and podcast in hopes of making some updates and changes. Check out patreoncom slash floridabeernews spelled out for information on how you and your business can help fuel our and. If you haven't checked out the Florida Beer News website recently, please give it a look, because I'm really proud of the new changes that have been made in the format First time in over a decade. That's all for now, until next time when I'll be back to talk about what's going on in the world. Beer-wise Cheers, bye.
