Consuming the Craft

Today on Consuming the Craft, I welcome back Charlie Stanley from Oak and Grist Distilling Company in Black Mountain, North Carolina. We dive deep into the journey of a small craft distillery navigating the challenges of being in a control state, the growth of Oak and Grist's product line, and the evolution of their spirits since Charlie’s last visit. We geek out on the technical and creative aspects of distillation, address the headaches of marketing and distribution in North Carolina’s ABC system, and celebrate unique spirits — like their incredible Genever and the Peachwood-Smoked Single Malt. Along the way, we share a sensory deep-dive with a glass of Armagnac and touch on the resilience it takes to keep a craft beverage business alive, especially in the wake of devastating storms. Charlie Stanley is an alum of AB Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute and serves as lead distiller at Oak and Grist. With almost six years under his belt at the distillery, Charlie brings a wealth of knowledge in production, blending, and creative problem solving. Whether it’s crafting rare spirits like American Genever from scratch or adapting to unpredictable market forces, his experience and dedication are evident in every bottle. Beyond the production floor, Charlie has been an invaluable educator for both staff and the broader beverage community, returning often to AB Tech to share his expertise. "Genever is the whiskey drinker’s gin... there’s so much more grain flavor, a balance of malt sweetness and botanicals." ~Charlie Stanley Today on Consuming the Craft:·     Oak and Grist has expanded their offerings and matured their products significantly in the past six years, focusing on quality and evolution.·     The ABC system in North Carolina requires distilleries to adapt to a unique, fragmented, and sometimes frustrating structure for spirits sales and distribution.·     Education is essential—both for distillers and retail staff—to help consumers understand and appreciate local spirits.·     Oak and Grist produces a rare, authentic American Genever that’s 100% single malt and distilled entirely in-house without sourcing.·     The distillery uses only full-size 53-gallon barrels for aging, favoring balance and complexity over rapid wood extraction from small barrels.·     Their Smoke Series features whiskeys made from North Carolina craft malt smoked with fruit woods like peach, resulting in nuanced and balanced spirits.·     Surviving Hurricane Helene was a challenge, but it ultimately broadened Oak and Grist’s statewide presence and reaffirmed their resilience.·     Continuing education, community connections, and creative blending are all core to Oak and Grist’s ongoing success. Contact for Charlie Stanley and Oak and Grist: Oak and Grist Distilling Company – https://oakandgrist.com/ (https://oakandgrist.com/) Visit them in Black Mountain, NC More on Charlie and the team: https://oakandgrist.com/about-us (https://oakandgrist.com/about-us) Resources Mentioned: AB Tech Craft Beverage Institute: https://abtech.edu/academic-programs/craft-beverage-institute (https://abtech.edu/academic-programs/craft-beverage-institute) Riverbend Malt House – Suppliers of local craft malt: https://riverbendmalt.com/ (https://riverbendmalt.com/) This episode is brought to you by… McConnell Farms - Taste the Way You Remember. Enjoy homemade ciders and ice cream made from only the best produce on the market.

 Today on Consuming the Craft, I sat down with Jesse Phillips from Port City Brewing Company in Alexandria, Virginia. We took a deep dive into Port City's current lineup, including their much-lauded Oktoberfest, their adventurous lager series, and their limited-run Brewer's Cut releases. Jesse also shared his perspective on seasonal beer trends, local collaborations—especially with coffee roasters—and the importance of creative small batches in keeping both staff and customers excited. Throughout, Jesse brought a selection of impressive beers and joined me for a tasting of an exceptional bourbon, Eagle Rare, sparking conversations about pairing, palate development, and the joy of connecting over a shared craft. Jesse Phillips is the warehouse manager at Port City Brewing, where he oversees beer movements from production to the tasting room and helps track consumer preferences through his keen observations. Having started his brewing career at Port City, Jesse is passionate about expanding his palate through lagers and experimental releases. He has a talent for fostering local collaborations, especially with coffee roasters around the DMV, and is an advocate for seasonal and small-batch beers that surprise and delight customers. Jesse's energy and insider perspective brought unique insights into Port City's brewing philosophy and community-driven approach. "Something that I love about working at Port City...it's really opened up my palette to all these different lagers that I would never normally try." ~Jesse Phillips This Week on Consuming the Craft: ·     Port City Brewing has a robust seasonal and specialty beer program, including a lager series, Oktoberfest, and experimental styles like Doppelbock, Baltic Porter, and Schwarzbier. ·     Small-batch innovations are supported by the Brewer's Cut series, enabling creative combinations and limited releases. ·     The West Coast IPA is a recent standout, selling rapidly and reflecting a surge in customer demand for hop-forward beers. ·     Collaborations with local coffee roasters enhance Port City's porter offerings and foster strong community ties. ·     The brewery is expanding its sour lineup with balanced fruit blends, notably a watermelon gose and the upcoming Gobblestone, cranberry gose, for Thanksgiving. ·     Port City’s Christmas Tidings beer is a Belgian strong ale brewed with Virginia honey, earning its reputation as a "makeout beer" for festive occasions. ·     Local connections, like food trucks and coffee roasters, are integral to Port City's identity and customer experience. ·     The brewery encourages responsible enjoyment and pairing of its products, supporting a culture of hospitality and craft appreciation.Contact for Jesse Phillips: Port City Brewing Company, 3950 Wheeler Ave, Alexandria, VA Port City Brewing Website (http://www.portcitybrewing.com/)Resources Mentioned: ·     Port City Brewing Company (lager series, Oktoberfest, Brewer's Cut releases) ·     Swings Coffee, Hypergoat Coffee, Continuum Coffee (collaborating roasters) ·     Eagle Rare Kentucky Bourbon (Buffalo Trace) ·     Riverbend Malt Company • Oak and Grist Distillery (Asheville, NC) ·     Zillicoah Beer Company, Alluvium, Diatribe (Asheville locations) ·     La Tangaria Food Truck (on-site at Port City, top-rated tacos) This episode is brought to you by… McConnell Farms - Taste the Way You Remember. Enjoy homemade ciders and ice cream made from only the best produce on the market.

 Today on Consuming the Craft, I sat down with Brian Simpson, CEO of Riverbend Malt House, to explore the fascinating evolution of craft malt in the southeast. We covered Riverbend’s journey from a modest basement setup in 2010 t...

 Today on Consuming the Craft, I welcomed Chris Reedy, Senior Director of Food, Beverage, and Natural Products Industry Training at the Natural Products Laboratory and Test Kitchen of NC BioNetwork. We dove deep into the rapidly evolving food safety landscape, particularly focusing on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) 204 and its sweeping impact on food and beverage traceability. Our conversation ranged from the intricate logistics of tracking every ingredient in a sandwich to the challenges faced by beverage producers, natural product makers, and those entering the world of CBD and THC-infused products. We didn’t shy away from discussing the regulatory Wild West these days, the importance of good manufacturing practices, and what’s coming down the pike for craft producers as federal scrutiny ramps up. Chris Reedy brings decades of expertise in the intersection of food, beverage, natural products, and industry training. As the mind behind NC BioNetwork’s laboratory and test kitchen, he has helped countless producers, from breweries to natural supplement startups, navigate regulations, quality control, and product development. His insights stem from both a scientific and a practical industry perspective, ensuring that companies strike a balance between innovation and safety and compliance. Chris is a passionate advocate for proactive quality management and is intimately familiar with both the promise and pitfalls of rapidly expanding product categories, such as CBD, THC, and functional foods. “I hope these companies that are making these products are going to start acting  like food and beverage companies.” ~Chris Reedy Today on Consuming the Craft: ·     FSMA 204 requirements will soon compel all food supply chain businesses to maintain thorough traceability records for every ingredient, ingredient source, and lot, greatly improving speed and accuracy in foodborne illness recalls.·     Transportation and logistics—especially temperature and sanitation in refrigerated trucking, remain a huge compliance challenge and could become a pain point as regulations tighten.·     Even small producers, like sandwich makers and brewers, must adopt lot coding and traceability, associating each output with precise ingredient origins.·     THC and CBD-infused foods, beverages, and supplements are currently in regulatory limbo, with the FDA focusing initial enforcement mainly on products that pose a risk to children or appear as copycats of popular snacks.·     Many CBD and THC product makers fail basic quality assurance: lack of testing, unclear dosing on packaging, and no third-party certification, all of which can cause dangerous dosing errors.·     Field-to-shelf testing for compounds like THC in hemp products requires a DEA-registered lab, making comprehensive quality assurance both expensive and complex for startups.·     State and federal agencies lack the manpower to inspect and enforce these new standards fully, so proactive internal quality systems and involving health officials early are recommended.·     Training, workforce development, and support from entities like NC BioNetwork can help companies establish robust quality management systems and prepare for both current and coming inspections. Contact Chris Reedy: NC BioNetwork – https://ncbionetwork.org/ (https://ncbionetwork.org/) Resources Mentioned: NC BioNetwork Laboratory & Industry Training: Food, beverage, and natural products services, COA assistance, and product testing information.FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) 204 – details on new federal traceability requirements.

Today on Consuming the Craft, I welcomed Charlie Frisch from the American Red Cross to dive into the often-misunderstood world of blood donation. We got into what the Red Cross really does—going beyond blood drives to offe...