Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

Talking with Geoff and Marcy Larson of Alaskan Brewing Company about the evolution of amber ale, adapting to a changing beer world, the importance of tradition, and smoked beer.

Show Notes

With over 8,000 breweries in the country it can be easy to overlook the early pioneers, regardless of how big they are and how ubiquitous their beers are. So, when a bottle of Alaskan Amber showed up unexpectedly at host John Holl's house recently he wanted to catch up with the brewery's founders.

From talking about the early days of sourcing ingredients for historical recipes to beers that they hoped would take off but did not, Geoff and Marcy Larson talk about their brewery, what brought them to Alaska, and how it has grown over the years.

There has obviously been changes to the way the brewery operates in light of COVID-19 and in the wake of recent social justice movements. Geoff Larson talks about his upbringing, before beer, and how it shaped his company's response.

And finally we get into smoked beers and how they are under appreciated and how difficult it can be to do historical research into the style.

For more Drink Beer, Think Beer or to check out Beer Edge: The Newsletter for Beer Professionals, follow us on Twitter @thebeeredge and subscribe to our beer industry focused newsletter. There is more information, articles, and engaging content at Beer Edge.
  • Host: John Holl
  • Guests: Geoff and Marcy Larson of Alaskan Brewing
  • Tags: Beer, Craft Beer, Alaska, Amber Ale, IPA, Smoked Beer, History

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Creators and Guests

Producer
All About Beer
Est. 1979. Beer news, reviews, podcasts, and features from America’s oldest beer media brand. Ready to party after an unexpectedly long slumber.

What is Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl?

Drink Beer, Think Beer is a weekly conversation with brewers, growers, and other brewing industry professionals that explores the art, culture, and business of craft beer. Hosted by John Holl and recorded on location, this podcast gets to the bottom of every pint and offers insight into the dynamic world of beer.