S.1 E.10 - FREE BEER!

Non-alcoholic beer is certainly having its moment in the U.S. The Dry January and “sober-curious” movements have piqued many people’s curiosity about non-alcoholic beer. Athletic Brewing Company is a leader in this segment of the market. John Walker, the company’s co-founder and head brewer joins us to shed light on the business and non-alcoholic beer generally. We kick off by hearing about his transition from Second Street Brewery to Athletic Brewing and the world of non-alcoholic beers. We find out about his homebrewing adventures and the many batches it took to get a market-ready product. John then talks about Athletic Brewing’s culture and why it needed to go beyond convention branding. From there, we touch on the technical side of non-alcoholic brewing, diving into dry hopping and malts. As the conversation continues, John talks about some of the challenges and opportunities that come with being in the non-alcoholic market, how supply chain disruptions have affected them, and the food safety regulations specific to non-alcoholic beers. We wrap up by looking at the award that has meant the most to John and the people who have helped him along the way.