Episode 79: KC Sare & Scott Johnson of Solid Ground Brewing and BJCP Judge & Professional Brewer Ellen Sherrill

Host Ben Rice travels to Placerville, CA, to sit down with Solid Ground Brewing's KC and Scott, with BJCP judge and professional brewer Ellen Sherrill in tow, to dig deep into the depths of start-up breweries. Celebrating 13 months in existence, but decades of experience in the beer and wine industry, KC and Scott openly discuss the reasons why they opened in Placerville instead of a metropolitan area, the trials of opening a full production brewery without a focus on IPAs, and exceeding expectations. Listen as we go in-depth on how barrels affect beer, how barrel fermentation differs from standard steel fermenters, and how selecting a beer style and/or beer name can affect sales. We dig deep on their barrel-fermented saison, delve into their decidedly-one-off Pho Gose, and their year-round wine-barrel aged stout. All this and even more tech talk, like self-distribution pros and cons, preventing boil-over, seasonal variance on hops, and how tap handle style can affect carbonation and, therefore, flavor. If you thought you knew beer, prepare for a master class. Enjoy episode 79, of Barley & Me!

Find out more about Solid Ground at www.solidgroundbrewing.com

Ellen Sherrill can be found on social media if you do your do diligence. Or try to locate her on Untappd through her mysterious username. Heck, follow me on Untapped via username BeerDevilsAdvocate because 2008 me was a genius.

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Intro music: "JamRoc" by Breez (@breeztheartist)

Logo by Jessica DiMesio (@alivingclicheart)

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This episode is brought to you by ABV Magazine (@abvmagbayarea) and the California Craft Beer Summit (taking place September 6-8; get your tickets at www.californiacraftbeer.com)!

Thanks for listening!