Interview With Hannah Morris, First Female Head Brewer

International Women's Day! 

 

Which conveniently leads me to today's subject: the first female Head Brewer in Greenville (and only second in the state), Hannah Morris at Quest Brewing Company. She recently took time out from a busy cleaning and canning day to chat about what the position means to her and the path that led to this appointment.

I first met Hannah when she was pouring at Upstate Craft Beer Co. (now Eighth State Brewing) back in 2014. She pointed out that by 2011 she was already exposed to craft beer, pouring at Nose Dive.

By 2013 she had already started as a home brewer, like so many others now working in breweries, brewing with her friend Sean Lally. She confessed that their first effort went right into the drain. Her first all-grain effort was an imperial stout with rum soaked raisins, cinnamon and vanilla. She describes it as "pretty tasty."

Her entry into the real brewing world at Quest began as Production Assistant and Brand Ambassador, using skills fostered at a local distillery where she was the Director of Customer Relations. But her actual first introduction to Quest was as a volunteer, coming in couple days a week to help out with canning. That exposure led to her being hired. Yes, boy and girls, hard work does pay off.

Last October (2018) she was promoted to Assistant Brewer, working with Sean and since then has brewed three original beers; first was a Green Tea IPA, then a Raspberry Porter (which I really liked, dark chocolate and raspberry flavors beautifully balanced) and now her latest creation, a Lemon-Lavender IPA, also well balanced. Fans of the Sun-WuKong, their New England IPA (and there are many, including me and the #GVLBrewCrew) will be very pleased to learn that among next month's releases will be the latest iteration of this IPA, Hannah's first as head brewer. She wants it to do justice to Sean's introductory version which was eagerly accepted by craft beer enthusiasts.

When I asked her about future brewing releases, she revealed her like of Belgian styles which she admit first drew her to Quest. She also likes lagers and hopes to do more funky beers using the barrel-aging facility across the street from the brewery.

Finally I asked her about any advice she might give to anyone trying to break into the craft beer field, male or female, her response was, "don't give up and be willing to take any position... and bring as much as you can to the table,... keep your options open, a jack/jill of all trades."

It certainly worked for her. Brewing creative new beers, keeping the Quest role in the local community a very active one and expanding the future possibilities.

I say, well done, Hannah, well done.

 

A few action shots of her displaying the varied activities that her role involves:

 

 

Good News for List Lovers!

And it's a big one;

https://beerandbrewing.com/4hu9l5fApqygCm6o6u4wGk/article/craft-beer-and-brewing-magazine-best-in-beer-2016-readers-choice-and

Cheers.

Highland Brewing Releases King MacAlpin

Highland Brewing Company has a new Warrior series, which they describe as  having "... bold aromas and flavors, often high gravity, styles will vary widely and will be released a few times per year in limited quantities of kegs and 12-ounce four packs."

This release is called King MacAlpin; named after Scotland's first king.

It's a double dry-hopped IPA with Chinook, Amarillo, Simcoe, and Centennial hops and I understand that some Mosaic may have even been added to the bill. ABV is 10% but the alcohol is so well balanced that it's deceptive. You'll want to tread carefully with this one.

Leah has a lot to smile about, this is an exceptional beer.

CEO Leah Wong Ashburn described it to me as a "lemon hop bomb" and I certainly agree, tho I would also say that, especially in the nose, pineapple notes have taken up residence as well.

In the fermenter is an early version of King MacAlpin.

This is Hollie Stephenson's best beer yet, imho, in her role as Head Brewer.

I was able to sample it a bit earlier in the week (it was released on Friday, July 17th) at a special event, which was a very rewarding experience. Not so rewarding was not being able to take any home since it not yet been released! Still waiting for it to hit the Greenville shops but, you know, it'd be worth driving back up to Asheville to have some more before it's all gone. It's that kind of beer.


Some photos of fellow craft beer lovers at the event:

David Zoll on guitar, adding to the festivities.

Geoff Alexander (from l-r), Mark Conti, Mark Janes.

From left: Emily Trimnal, Ashevilleblog.com; Mark Janes, Appalachian lIquors;  Leah, host.

The smiles say it all. Good beer lovers (from l-r) Molly McQuillan, Hollie, Highland Brewing; Emily Trimnal, Paige Brown, Matt Wunder, Ashevilleblog.com.

Hollie graciously took a moment away from work so I could avoid a selfie.

My thanks to Molly for the invite.

Cheers.

Meet Hollie, Highland Brewing's New Head Brewer

Very enjoyable interview today at Highland Brewing Company with Hollie Stephenson, new Head Brewer, discussing the origins of her special Birthday DIPA brewed for this Saturday's 21st Birthday Party. Still editing comments and photos but will post them on my blog by tomorrow morning. My thanks to Hollie for stepping away from the brewing chores to talk with me.

She's standing beside the fermenter that holds the only existing barrels of a specially-brewed DIPA for Highland's upcoming 21st Birthday party for Scotty, their logo icon.

Had a sip, not carbonated yet, but it was delicious, a true West Coast style IPA, with Chinook hops for bittering and equal amounts of Amarillo, Centennial, and Simcoe hops in the whirlpool. A taste sensation for a hophead like me. Eager to try it when finished.
The first keg will be tapped on April 11 at the big birthday bash. It won't last long is my prediction.

Happy National Beer Day and I hope you had a good one.

Cheers

International Women's Collaboration Brew Day - Local Chapter

Visited Quest Brewing Company this morning, the local site of the first state-wide Pink Boots Society event: International Women's Collaboration Brewing Day. Pink Boots Society (PBS), is an international organization devoted to educating and empowering women in craft beer. The object of today's event is to brew, collaboratively, a designated style of beer, in this case an Irish Red, and release it two weeks or so down the road at an event which will draw attention to the organization and its goals.
The ladies collaborating today are various areas of the craft beer community: brewery employees, bloggers, bartending, retail craft sales and growler refill stations. Some are even home brewers.
Following the sparging, boiling, cooling and fermentation, the ale will be ready for all to taste, evaluate and drink. Very small amount so the tasting will be a special occasion. Harvin at Craftbeerchick.com will be a good source for further info.
So, I caught some of the action in between sips of Melusine Biére de Garde and bites of Fields of Gold Farm Goat Milk Gelato made with Quest's Smoking Mirror Porter. One of my most challenging assignments!

Photos begin here:

L to R: Caitlin Pierson, Swamp Rabbit Brewery and Taproom; Keats Wineland, beer enthusiast; Courtney Pici, Bartender/Homebrewer; Erin Gregory, Quest Brewing Company; Kathy Roberts, Crafted, The Beer Store; and Harvin Bedenbaugh, Blogger/Brewery 85 bartender, aka Craftbeerchick.

Beginning of the sparging process.

Getting ready for the boil.

Now for a two week wait to taste it!!

Cheers.