Fermented Adventure The Podcast

This episode features Stephen, Karen and Steve Zolnay of Invertase Brewing Company.

When Stephen was 14 he bought his dad a homebrew kit for Father's Day.  Their first collaboration as father and son was a terrible pale ale that they made on the kitchen stove.  That beginning experience got them hooked on making beer together.  They graduated into making their own recipes, reading the books and talking shop with fellow homebrew...

This episode features Philip Search and Don Benedetto of Canary Cocktails and Spirits.

Philip has been in the beverage industry for a long time.  He's been involved with the coffee industry, managing bars and restaurants and helping to set up bar programs.  When Covid hit and impacted the bars in the area he was more then ready to roll up his sleeves and dive right in to help.  Don's background as an attorney has helped to ...

This episode features Chris Demars, Randy Litwin and Jenn Litwin of Spring House Spirits.

Sixty years ago Chris's grandmother taught him how to distill spirits, make wine and brew beer.  Chris worked as a nuclear engineer which is kind of like being a distiller.  He longed to come back to the family farm and get back to his distilling roots.  He pays homage to his grandmothers background by bringing several grains together in t...

This episode features Matt Serra of Kenwood Original.

Matt was working for Victory Brewing when the seed for a light beer option was planted.  Looking at the craft beer landscape he believed there was void for a light beer.  The idea for a Philly brand was born.  His experience in sales and marketing is helping to launch a light beer that is packed with flavor.  Kenwood Original is named for the street that Matt lived on for the fi...

This episode features Mead Maker Allen Martin.

About five years ago Allen went to a beer bottle share with his wife.  He met Carver Wilson who Allen considers to be "The Home Mead Making Extraordinaire".  Up until that time Allen had never tried mead.  After twenty minutes of enjoying the mead, Alan proclaimed, "that he was going to start making this stuff".  That began a rabbit hole journey into mead making.  Since...

This episode features Todd Collins and Alan Pfizenmayer of HMK Insurance.

HMK Insurance is located in Bethlehem, PA.  The inception goes all of the way back to 1914.  In the mid 1990's they began to focus their attention on craft beverages.  Tim Kurtz brought on a few local breweries.  Today they have clients spread out across the United States.  As insurance agents they help their clients and potential clients to be well infor...

This episode features Gabe DiSaverio of The Spicy Shark.

Spicy Shark was born in 2018 by Gabe by combining his two favorite things in life... Hot Sauces and Sharks.  Five years ago he left behind the beer business and went pro.  After spending 17 years with the Boston beer company, he decided to follow his passion.  He grew up trying diverse ethnic food.  This included spicy food.  He turned his attention to consuming craft hot sau...

This episode features Corey Fitzsimmons of Method Spirits.

Corey was a bartender in New York City for over a decade.  He had the honor of being the head bartender at the new location for the Union Square Cafe.  He quickly discovered the he was not able to source local vermouth that would work for classic cocktails.  He began working on a vermouth using his own recipes and exploring opportunities.  This took him to going out on his ...

This episode features Luke Goucher and Carson Souza of Obscurity Mead Hall & Cidery.

Obscurity started with friends getting together and having a passion for beer.  Carson had already been in the brewing industry for 10 years as a commercial brewer at a vegan brewery.  Luke and Carson decided to get a little wild and play with mead as well.  A adventure was born in the cornfields of the far west suburbs of Chicago.  Mead was a ...

This episode features Dave Schmier of Proof and Wood Ventures.

Dave co-founded Redemption Rye in 2010.  In 2015 he sold the company and within a short time he started Proof and Wood.  Presently he doesn't distill, however, he does source some incredible whiskey and barrel aged spirits.  A huge part of what they do is blending of whiskey.  The have recently added rum to the mix.  Dave's been developing boutique craft brands ...

This episode features Lauren Patz of Redwood Empire Whiskey.

The story begins not with whiskey but, with wine.  Derek Benham started a wine company over 20 years ago.  He built the brand and sold it in 2013.  He then set his sights on starting a distillery.  White spirits flowed from the still and they began laying down barrels in 2015.  Redwood Empire is located in the heart of Sonoma, California.  Lauren grew up in a wine making ...

In this episode we speak with Michael Juergens of Bhutan Wine Company.

Michael grew up in Southern California.  He was a punk rock skateboard kid.  His origins were not in wine.  His dad came home from a business trip to Italy with a bottle of wine.  He suggested that they drink the wine and smoke cigars.  At his mothers insistence, off to the garage they went.  The first sip flipped a switch.  This led him to being interested and ...

In this episode we speak with Anthony Packwood of Ovo Vodka.

Anthony and John Dunnington are from Liverpool.  Their studies in grad school were around the alcohol industry.  They focused on the branding and marketing.  The more that they saw others creating, they began to get curious on making their own product.  It was important for them to have a cause conscious mission from the start.  Why Vodka?  They like it!  In 2019 they par...

In this episode we speak with Jackie Williams of RX Global about Bar Convent Brooklyn 2022.  

In 2018 BCB was launched.  In 2022 BCB celebrated it's new Brooklyn home at Industry City.  

Bar Convent Brooklyn took place on June 14th and 15th.  Over 3,700 attended the event over a 2 day span.  The event provided an amazing opportunity for the bartending and spirits industry to come together and network, see new products, and disc...

This episode features Barb McDonald and Crystal Barrios of Laws Whiskey House.

Laws is a local distillery in Denver, Colorado.  They began distilling in 2011 and sold their first drop of whiskey in 2014.  Their focus from the beginning was to make, age and sell their own juice.  For Al and Mary Ann Laws, whiskey is the passion and whiskey is the goal.  Since day one... Whiskey Above All!  Today, everything that goes into the bottle...

This episode features Brenden Raulerson  of Glen Moray.

Glen Moray Distillery has been in operation, off and on, since 1897.  The distillery originated out of the Elgin West Brewery in the heart of Speyside. In the early 1900's they were "mellowing" whisky in Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc barrels.  The philosophy of experimenting with cask finishes still exists today.  120 plus years of experience resonates in the amazing...

This episode features Absinthia Vermut of Absinthia.

It all began in 1996 when Absinthia attended a San Francisco Cacophony Society party.  There was a crystal bowl on the table with a green liquid.  At that very moment absinthe was still illegal.  She tried absinthe for the very first time.  To her it was delicious.  She was drawn to it so much that she decided to produce it.  The first night that she served her neon green absinth...

This episode features a brief history about the Whiskey Rebellion.  On July 8th we took part in the Whiskey Walk festivities.  Spirit producers were set up throughout the town of Washington, PA.  We got to sample and speak with them as they introduced their products to the masses.  On July 9th we got to witness the amazing retelling of the rebellion.  The actors that portrayed the key principles were sensational.  There were food t...

This episode features John Sepcoski and Janice Sepcoski of Holy Ghost Distillery.

Janice and John enjoyed visiting distilleries, breweries and wineries.  After visiting a distillery 7 years ago John said, "I can do better then this".  This led them to looking for land and a building to host their vision.  What they've set out to create is a total experience.  Not just buy a bottle or purchase a cocktail, but the experie...