Brian and I got to know each other working on the collaboration between Carhartt and New Holland Brewing, that resulted in The Carhartt Woodsman and many other projects.  We talk about his roots in marketing, which began with a poorly funded escape to Portland, Oregon from his hometown Chicago, equipped without much more than a set of new tires from his Dad. Brian shares how his early lessons shaped his career, his perspective on branding, writing and storytelling, as well as how it brought him to work with the iconic Carhartt.  This episode is dedicated to the memory of Steve Carter, November 25, 1951 - June 7, 2016 - Cheers, Mr. Carter.

Episode 17 - The Details

The Drinks:  Biercamp Pale Ale, Ann Arbor, MI, Dark and Stormy with  Ron del Barrilito barrel aged rum

The Music:  “Wealthy Street” © and courtesy of Drew Nelson, “Everywhere is Calling” © and courtesy of Cavepeople

Brian Bennett
Creative Director at Carhartt. Chief Assistant to the lady who manages three rascal children. Meat eating American Patriot. Lover of life's rugged corners. Brian's a rough-and-tumble type who grew up on the South-side of Chicago, the son of a cop – just don't be fooled, he now lives surrounded by book nerds and know it all doctors in Ann Arbor, MI. Or Easy Town as his dad likes to call it. Brian balances his lack of current manhood by overcompensating with stories of his college football days and his experience creating work for Nike back when Lance and LeBron were cool. He'll also remind you how relaxed he is after writing ads for Corona for four years, yet his wife will tell you his kids unravel him daily. And don't even mention the current state of the Chicago Bears to him, he might lose his mind. Tough, yet sensitive, that's him (according to him). He claims to like poetry and gardening and shopping for dresses for his two little girls. Yet he's man enough to remind you he'd rather be in his backyard drinking whiskey, throwing axes and working a pork butt over for the 12th hour on his Brinkman Smoke'N Grill. When he's not BBQ'ng, playing legos with his son or watching football or coaching football or throwing a football or playing fantasy football he occasionally gets recognized for his day job. He's won several awards from an Effie to a Clio to a Cannes Lion but every time he tells his dad about them his dad changes the subject to the award he once won for singing Elvis on a Carnival cruise ship. Perspective is everything to Brian. So are chicken wings. In fact, he probably just ate wings so keep that in mind when you shake his extremely manly hand (a hand that his dad will tell you has never fixed a god damn thing).

Melissa is an engaging and colorful writer from London.  Her quick wit and sharp personality is always refreshing and inspiring.  We caught up in Philly during the Craft Brewers Conference and are looking forward to the Great British Beer Festival in a few short weeks.  It's a little longer episode than normal, so you may want to make it a two-parter, but I believe you'll enjoy both segments!

Episode 16 - The Details

The Drinks:  Barrel Knickerbocker Old Fashioned, Zeppelin Bend Whiskey, New Holland’s Dragon’s Milk Bourbon Barrel Stout, The Nola Dragon with New Holland’s Pitchfork Wheat Whiskey

The Music:  “Wealthy Street” © and courtesy of Drew Nelson

Guest Bios

Melissa Cole, an award-winning beer writer and author of Let Me Tell You About Beer Melissa Cole is living the dream. Not only does she write extensively about the world's favourite drink, she also works with chefs to create beer and food extravaganzas in venues as diverse as Michelin-starred restaurants to local pubs, and is invited to judge at beer competitions from London to Brussels and Amsterdam to America. Her reputation for having a fine palate and fun approach to all things brewed, also translates to actually making beer, and some of her collaborative beers have gone on to become huge successes for the breweries Melissa made them with, never profiting herself. Melissa is also a Certified Cicerone & was also identified as one of the Most Powerful Women in the Drinks Industry by Channel4 Food and won the acclaim of her industry peers when named Educator of the Year by Imbibe magazine in 2013.

Fred Bueltmann, aka “The Beervangelist,” is an owner of New Holland Brewing Company, where he serves as Vice President of Brand and Lifestyle.  He is a nationally recognized expert on pairing beer and food, and a Certified Cicerone®. Bueltmann is past president of the Michigan Brewers Guild and recipient of their prestigious “Tom Burns Award” recognizing the pioneering spirit of the “Great Beer State.” Fred serves as a judge for the Brewer’s Association’s Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup.  His first book, “Beervangelist’s Guide to the Galaxy” is a seasonal tome on pairing, cooking and hosting with craft beer, and was recognized as an Indie Book Award finalist.  Fred hosts and produces New Holland’s “Stop & Taste Conversations” podcast, and speaks to audiences large and small around the country, which has included serving as 2013 Keynote Speaker for the Michigan Restaurant Association and TedX Macatawa in 2015.

I met Ryan at a Craft Brewer’s Conference, many years ago.  We had a knack at running into each other over the years, perhaps because we ran in similar circles, or ended up at the same bars.  Even though we were no where near selling to California at the time, Ryan always expressed this genuine enthusiasm for what we were doing and encouraging interest that if we ever got that way, he’d love to be involved.  Meeting away from either of our home towns can feel out of context, but it never clouded Ryan’s infectious energy and passion.   On my recent visit to California for the Craft Beverage Expo, I was able to sneak to LA for a quick trip to say hi to Ryan at The Surly Goat, one of their group’s many craft-centric bars that have helped shape the craft beer culture in the Los Angeles area.   

The Drinks: Sierra Nevada, Torpedo Pils, Coedo, Shikkoku - Schwarzbier, New Holland’s Dragon’s Milk Bourbon Barrel Stout, Hollister Hippy Kicker

The Music:  “Wealthy Street” © and courtesy of Drew Nelson

Guest Bios

Ryan Sweeney is a native of Palo Alto, California who moved to Los Angeles following his time majoring in Film Studies at Pitzer.  He and his cohorts in the Goat Group have contributed greatly to the development of the LA craft beer scene.   His bar management career began with the Match in North Hollywood before opening Verdugo Bar with partners in 2007. Ryan oversees the formative and delicious craft beer programs of the several signature bars that have followed within The Goat Group including The Surly Goats, Little Bear, The Woodman, Sweeney's Ale House, The Blind Donkey and The Phoenix.

Joel Armato, aka “Dr. Joel,” is native to Pottstown, PA and the larger Philadelphia area. Joining New Holland Brewing Co in 2008 as the Beer Beast From The East, Joel ran a seven state sales territory up and down the East Coast. After taking the position of National Sales Manager several years later, he relocated to the shores of Holland, MI. Spinning tires from years on the road replicate the spinning platters of Joel's turntables as he nears his 20th year as an avid vinyl music collector and DJ. Informing his worldview through a lens of things well-made by people with passion, the cultures of craft beer, music, and food have engulfed Joel and allowed him to surround himself with great people and possibilities. He continues to push New Holland's brand of evolving artistic contributions forward as National Sales Operations Manager and is coming to grips with a slowly building Midwest accent...he still drives like he's from Philly though.