180: Seventh Son’s Collin Castore and Colin Vent Balance the Normal with the Weird

For Collin Castore and Colin Vent of Seventh Son Brewing in Columbus, Ohio, the focus has always been on quality and constant improvement over hype. Eight years on, the core brands they launched with are still strong performers for the brewery. They haven’t locked in those beers and let them languish over time. Instead, they’re constantly looking for small ways to increase quality, so that they taste as fresh today as when they launched the brewery in 2013. In this episode, they discuss: Using English ale yeast from Day One for IPAs and other ales How their core brands have improved over the years, and what they’ve focused on improving along the way Articulating an idea of “better” for their established beers Making ingredients like candi sugar Avoiding infection from adjunct ingredients Using a dosing vessel for everything from dry hops to coffee and spices Different flavor impacts from ingredients of different origins The importance of environment on beer enjoyment Taking a culinary approach to flavor-forward beers And more. * This episode is brought to you by: * G&D Chillers ( https://gdchillers.com ) : As the brewing industry’s premier choice for glycol chilling, G&D Chillers has set the standard on quality, service, reliability and dedication to their customer’s craft. New this year, Redundancy meets Efficiency! G&D’s Micro-Channel Condensers are built with all aluminum construction which eliminates galvanic corrosion. Using half the refrigerant of conventional condensers with fewer brazed connections, translates to a lower GWP and less opportunity for leaks. Call G&D Chillers today to discuss your project or reach out directly at GDChillers.com . BSG ( https://bsgcraftbrewing.com/ ) Rahr North Star Pils—a new base malt to set your compass by. Rahr North Star Pils is crafted for brewers looking for a domestic pilsner malt with low color and low modification. North Star Pils carries overtones of honey and sweet bread, supported by flavors and aromas of hay and nutty character. Suitable for any beer style, but particularly craft brewed versions of classic lagers. Let Rahr North Star Pils guide your craft by visiting bsgcraftbrewing.com , or contact them at 1.800.374.2739. Old Orchard ( https://www.oldorchard.com/brewer ) : The world of craft beer is a different place now. Margins are more important than ever, so why not lower your ingredient cost? Craft juice concentrates from Old Orchard are the cost-effective solution for your fruit-forward needs. Old Orchard produces high volumes of their retail juice brand, so economies of scale keep prices low for their bulk supply program. A little concentrate goes a long way, and you won't lose some of it through filtering like you would with purees. To start increasing your margins now, head on over to www.oldorchard.com/brewer . Brewery DB® ( https://www.marketmybrewery.com ) : For years, BreweryDB® has been the industry’s only professionally curated source of brewery and beer information. In 2019, over one million brewery visits were made by craft fans searching for breweries on BreweryDB.com! In just a few weeks, BreweryDB® will unveil an all-new experience to help craft lovers get back on the brewery trail! To take full advantage of the enhanced marketing power of BreweryDB® – and increase your tap room traffic, setup your account on MarketMyBrewery.com . That’s MarketMyBrewery.com. It’s easy and it’s free! ABS Commercial ( https://www.abs-commercial.com ) : ABS Commercial is excited to be a part of today’s Podcast! ABS is a full brewery outfitter offering brewhouses, tanks, keg washers and small parts. As a part of ABS Commercials on going give back campaign, they will be giving away an ABS Keg Viking Keg Washer in June, so make sure to periodically check the ABS Commercial Facebook page to find out when the contest opens up and how you can enter to win a Keg Viking! Support Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine Podcast