450: Stephen Boardman of 450 North Builds Intense Flavor and Nostalgic Connection With Fruit

From the corner of the family farm in rural Columbus, Indiana, surrounded by corn fields, 450 North has built a worldwide reputation for intensely flavored fruit beers and supersaturated smoothie sours. Stephen Boardman—now sales director as well as recipe creator and ingredient-sourcing whiz—joins the podcast to share the brewery’s unique perspective on these unapologetically assertive fruit beers. In this episode, Boardman discusses: bring a culinary background to the craft-beer space the evolution of line culture and a look back at the brewery’s earlier days managing scarcity with “rare” releases finding inspiration through a variety of creative modes the impact of salt, fat, and acid on flavor and sweetness reverse-engineering food flavors with natural ingredients building compelling base beers for smoothie sours designing beers to hit all the senses building memorable festival experiences And more. This episode is brought to you by: G&D Chillers ( https://gdchillers.com ) : G&D Chiller’s Elite 290 series chiller uses propane as a natural refrigerant with extremely low global warming potential and will help lower your facility’s energy costs and impact on the environment. Visit gdchillers.com to learn more! Berkeley Yeast ( https://berkeleyyeast.com ) . Dry Tropics London delivers the soft, pillowy mouthfeel and juicy character you'd expect from a top-tier London Ale strain, but with a serious upgrade: a burst of thiols that unleash vibrant, layered notes of grapefruit and passionfruit. Order now at berkeleyyeast.com. Old Orchard ( https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer ) can formulate custom blends featuring specialty ingredients. Whether trending flavor additions or nostalgic favorites, the next best thing is around the corner at Old Orchard. More information and free samples are waiting at oldorchard.com/brewer. Indie Hops. ( https://indiehops.com ) Give your customers a pleasant surprise with Audacia in your next IPA. This descendant of Strata brings her own flare of catchy lilac/lavender aroma, and flavors of sweet-tart berries with tangy lychee. Life is short. Let’s make it flavorful! Five Star Chemical ( https://fivestarchemicals.com ) Looking for a powerful, no-rinse sanitizer that gets the job done fast? Meet Saniclean PAA Pro from Five Star Chemicals. This EPA-registered, PAA-based acid sanitizer is tough on beerstone and perfect for everything from kegs to packaging lines. Learn more at fivestarchemicals.com. PakTech ( https://paktech-opi.com ) PakTech’s handles are made from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable, helping breweries close the loop and advance the circular economy. With a minimalist design, durable functionality you can rely on, and custom color matching, PakTech helps brands stand out while staying sustainable. To learn more, visit paktech-opi.com. Hart Print, ( https://hartprint.com ) the original in digital can printing.With three locations across North America, the Hart Print team has your back from concept to can. Get ten percent off your first can order when you mention the Beer & Brewing podcast. Open an account at hartprint.com or email info@hartprint.com for details. Brightly Software ( https://brightlysoftware.com ) is a complete asset management and operations software that enhances organizational sustainability, compliance, and efficiency through data-driven decision making. Streamline maintenance, simplify capital planning, and optimize resources. Learn more at brightlysoftware.com. Visit Flanders ( https://visitflanders.com ) Flanders boasts a brewing heritage dating back to the Middle Ages, yet at the same time, a new wave of innovative craft brewers are embracing the Belgian tradition of brewing for flavor rather than rules. Come to Flanders in 2026 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of UNESCO recognition, and drink in this inspiring Belgian beer culture. Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast