Jamie Bogner

In this edition of Pick Six, Scratch Brewing cofounder Marika Josephson thoughtfully selects a sixer of beers that inspired and informed the creation of their rustic, forage-focused brewery in southern Illinois.

• Scratch Brewing
• Pick 6
• Farmhouse

Ryan Crisp, Alesmith’s director of brewing operations, shares the behind-the-scenes design and technique that make their Speedway imperial coffee stout so iconic.

• Podcast
• Brewing
• Stout

While Chicago’s Maplewood brews their share of hazy IPAs and pastry stouts, it’s their nuanced take on classics such as American pale ale and oatmeal stout that truly set them apart.

• Podcast
• Pale ale
• Stout

Cofounder Kenneth Trease, head brewer Phil Pesheck, and brewer Julia Astrid Davis of Seattle’s Burke-Gilman discuss their calculated approach to hoppy beers, and how they extend their welcome by brewing and embracing diverse styles.

• Podcast
• IPA
• Lager

Last year was a roller coaster for most breweries, but especially for Seattle’s Good Society. COVID slammed their doors shut just weeks after opening. But they persevered—and won a gold medal at GABF, plus Small Brewpub of the Year honors. So, what’s next?

• Podcast

As growers look to meet demand from brewers, here‘s a look at how the most-grown hops in the Pacific Northwest have changed in recent years.

• Infographic
• Hops
• Hop Varieties

Ghostfish Brewing started with an audacious goal: to brew compelling beer with grains that don’t contain gluten. Here, they share some of the core tenets of brewing with non-gluten grains.

• Podcast
• Gluten-free
• Brewing

These Jester King alumni searched for the perfect place to make the beer they envisioned, with wild yeast and ingredients sourced from within a few miles. Now, they guide their fermentations to produce beers that balance flavor and character.

• Podcast
• Wild beer
• Spontaneous

The Seattle brewer discusses the nuanced and thorough way he classifies and evaluates hops, maximizing expression, depth, and longevity in IPAs.

• Podcast
• Hops
• IPA

Years before craft lager became trendy, Washington state’s Chuckanut was the little lager brewery that could. Here, the Kempers discuss the best ways to tightly control lager brewing on a small scale for highest quality.

• Podcast
• Lager

Less is more for Pennsylvania’s Brew Gentlemen, but don’t let that minimalist philosophy fool you—they may have started young, but they’re committed to staying connected to craft beer’s history while playing in the evolving trends of today.

• Podcast
• IPA
• Hazy IPA

Sour beer may be the primary focus for Jay Goodwin, cofounder of The Rare Barrel, but—like most brewers—his taste isn’t limited to a single style. For his Pick 6, Jay pushes out of his brewing comfort zone to focus on a genre he loves: pilsner.

• Pick 6
• Pilsners
• Lager