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:

 

 

Hannah Morris First Female Head Brewer In Greenville, Quest Brewing

Big news! SC now has two women head brewers, one of whom is right here in GVille. Quest Brewing has appointed Hannah Morris as Head Brewer, replacing Sean Lally who headed north to brew at Haw River Farmhouse Ales in NC. Quest just released her latest beer, a Lemon Lavender IPA, today. It's a big bodied, lemon-lavender balanced, dry style, with good structure and lingering finish.

Congrats Hannah! Keep those imaginative beers coming!

#ResilienceIPA Quest Brewing

Eric Boice tasting #ResilienceIPA for the first time at Quest Brewing Company’s early keg release. A very special time for all of us.

Looking on is Kyle Paxton, Jared Tuttle, both among Greenville's top brewers.


Cheers.

#Resilience Brewing in Greenville

#Resillience IPA brewing at Quest Brewing Company with many of Greenville’s best brewers. All to aid the #Campfire Relief Fund and the support organizations that are helping people in need.
Swamp Rabbit Brewery and Taproom Liability Brewing Co. Brewery 85, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant The Eighth State Brewing Company Tetrad Brewing Co. Birds Fly South Ale Project Sierra Nevada Mills River Fireforge Crafted Beer Ponderosa Farm Brewing

Cheers to all and thanks for helping the #Campfire victims.
 

Chili Cook-Off Helps Fend Off Cold Weather

So, if you judge an event's success b y the size of the attending crowd, then yesterday's Quest Chili Cook-Off was an over-the-top success; if you judge Chili Cook-Off's success by the quality of the entries, then judging for a winner gets more and more difficult; and if you show up an hour or more after the event opens, then you don't get any chili. Such was the case for Quest's 4th Annual Chili Cook-Off, yesterday.

(Note to myself: Next year, get there early!!) https://www.facebook.com/events/492337207788225/
Anyway, lots of people got their samples and voted and an overall winner was announced. I''ll just let the pix tell the story:

 Cheers! (please pass the Tums!)

Quest Brewing goes for the Tart

So, Thursday's come around again. What should I do to help celebrate? Oh, wait, there's this:
Note to folks who like tart and hoppy beers, this one could be the standard bearer. Described as a Golden Sour with SC Native Wild Yeasts (South Yeast Labs) and abundant Mosaic hop additions, this citrusy, flavorful brew from Quest Brewing Company finishes with just the right amount of tartness for me. To coin a technical term: Yum!


Find out for yourself this afternoon. Details below.
https://www.facebook.com/events/175221476323859/

 Cheers!

Craft Beer in 2017 - Some Predictions

As many of you know, Upstate Craft Beer had a one year anniversary party last night. Extremely well attended (and I have the photos to prove it) and during the revelry while the band played on, I shot some video interviews, getting folks' predictions for the craft beer scene in 2017. One of those is from my friend, fellow Cicerone Server and well know beer slinger, Harvin Bedenbaugh.

 

And then, there was this guy named Jack (actually Jack Ryan MacDonald's father), who offered this:

 

Next, someone who works at a brewery and has very specific wishes for 2017:

Shelby Durham likes the community, even if it stretches to the next state!

And now, for a musicians take on the brewing scene, and playing for them. George Colyer is one half of My Girl, My Whiskey, and Me. Good pickin, singin and tempos.

Quest Brewing is one of the older breweries in Greenville, opened just after I moved here. Don Richardson, co-owner and brewmaster, has been responsible for some fine beer drinking moments. What happens in 2017? Here's what he had to say:

Just when you thought it was safe, another interview comes along.
So, how do you look at the new year if you've have many hurdles in your path to opening your very own brewery, even tho you've been home brewing for years? Here's someone who remains not only optimistic, but downright fired up! Fireforge Crafted Beer

At Upstate Craft Beer Co.'s First Anniversary party, the occasion for these videos, Jack Ryan McDonald offered his thoughts for 2017; partner/brewer Chris Hardin was busy busing tables! (I mentioned it was very well attended). We'll get him later.

As anyone who has ever had to show an ID to get a wrist band knows, there is a legal component to craft beer and one of the most knowledgeable alcoholic beverage law attorneys in SC is Brook Bristow. Thus, a few comments about 2017 from that perspective:

Ok, I hear you say, "what about beer distributors?"  After all, they can spell the success or failure for a craft brewer, especially one just starting expand. And speaking of starting to expand, have you been following the cider trends? Cynthia thinks it's gonna get bigger:

Will Cooley, from nearby RJ Rockers Brewing in Spartanburg, stopped by to offer his perspective on the upcoming year:

Stay tuned, more to come!

Cheers.

Black Friday For Beer Lovers

Perhaps the best Black Friday idea yet. Support your local brewery!

Quest Brewing's 3rd Anniversary Bash Goes On, Despite Heat!

So, to summarize, despite the near-record setting temps yesterday, fun and frolic was not be be deterred at Quest Brewing Company's 3rd Anniv. bash and so the party went on. Music, dogs, food, kids and dads with hula hoops (Mike Okupinski comes to mind), Painter-Tots and of course, new beers to try. Lucky you if you chose to try the Nitro Pepper Pale cause it was a delight to drink. Hope that stays around. Conveniently posted near the inside bar, a schedule of releases throughout the day meant one had to work hard, doing research of course, to keep up. Alas, schedule obligations kept from staying to the end, but I'm hoping that tomorrow's Yoga class will be rewarded with some of the same beers on tap. Congrats again to Don, Andrew and the entire Quest crew for such a successful (and award winning) three years.
Some pix to document the occasion:

Cheers to all and best wishes for another successful three years!!