The Brewer Interview Sequence
We proceed our sequence of brewer interviews with Alex Franko from Shiny Path Brewing Firm. Final interview was with Logyard Brewing Firm’s Sean Gorzynski and you may learn that interview right here: Brewer Interview: Sean Gorzynski (Logyard Brewing).
Let me say thanks to Alex Franko instantly. This interview took a bit of time to arrange and he was affected person sufficient to get this to me. We began every part through the busy time of Christmas – New Years and every part that goes on with the 12 months ending and a brand new 12 months starting. The unique plan was for each Alex Franko and Dillon Smith of Shiny Path Brewing to do the interview, however that didn’t fairly work out.
This interview was imagined to go up just a few days in the past, however my life has been fairly busy as properly. I work 4 days 10 hour days; so it doesn’t at all times go away time to do writing / importing / selling / and so forth. I strive to slot in some writing earlier than going to work and try to get some finished after work, however don’t actually like publishing articles a lot after 9PM because of lack of viewer curiosity. So generally issues get pushed again after which get pushed down the pile when large information tales come out (like Mount Gretna Craft Brewery’s closing, The Englewood’s Re – Opening, and so forth.).
You possibly can learn a small interview that Tyler Budwash did with Alex Franko and a number of other different brewers right here: Brewers and Trade Folks Look In direction of 2023.
So I wish to thank Alex Franko for doing this interview with me, and with none additional adieu, let’s get proper to it!
The Interview
(The interview is carried out in Query – Ask type. Query by “The Beer Thrillers” and reply by “Alex Franko”. After just a few instances of utilizing “The Beer Thrillers” and “Alex Franko” will probably be changed with “TBT” and “AF” for simplicity sake. Thanks for studying.)
The Beer Thrillers: When and the way did Shiny Path Brewing begin?
Alex Franko: We began having preliminary conversations about beginning the brewery again in late 2019 early 2020. We formally began promoting beer on Jan twenty first 2022 and our tasting room opened April twenty third of 2022.
The Beer Thrillers: Who was concerned within the creation of Shiny Path Brewing?
Alex Franko: It was myself and Dillon Smith and each our fathers Man Franko and Todd Smith.
The Beer Thrillers: Why Jim Thorpe Pennsylvania?
Alex Franko: We’re all born and raised in Jim Thorpe. I graduated in 2005 and Dillon in 2010. Our fathers graduated within the 70s and 80s. And I assumed it was wild that there wasn’t any breweries in Jim Thorpe with it being such a giant vacationer vacation spot.
The Beer Thrillers: What’s the dimension of the brewery? (Taproom dimension, brewery dimension, barrel manufacturing, and so forth.)
Alex Franko: The entire constructing is 4000 sq ft. with half of that dedicated to manufacturing and half to the tasting room plus a 20’x20’ chilly field that extends into the tasting room aspect. Our brewhouse is a 2 vessel 10bbl brewhouse and we’ve 2- 10bbl fermenters, 1 – 20bbl fermenters, 1 – 20bbl brite tank and a couple of – 20bbl lagering tanks. Proper now we will push out 900, perhaps 1000 barrels if we run at max capability. However this previous 12 months we did simply over 500 bbls. We now have plans so as to add extra fermenters and lagering tanks and finally we hope to have the ability to do about 2500 bbls at our present location.
The Beer Thrillers: Aspect – pulls and the taproom at Shiny Path is fairly distinctive. What made you guys resolve to go this route?
Alex Franko: We knew we have been going to brew numerous lagers and knew that the Lukr sidepull taps are the perfect round to essentially take pleasure in lager beer. They usually look cool.
TBT: Background on Alex Franko and Dillon Smith?
AF: I attend the Siebel Institute for brewing. I’ve been brewing professionally for over 10 years now. I’ve a university schooling as properly. Dillon has numerous hands- on expertise working at completely different breweries over the past 5 years, he’s additionally a graduate of Lehigh College.
TBT: How did you guys get began in beer and craft beer specifically?
AF: I began consuming craft beer in most likely 2007-2008 whereas I used to be dwelling in Philadelphia. A whole lot of IPAs and stouts, actually flavorful stuff.
TBT: How did you guys get began in brewing? Did you homebrew?
AF: I homebrewed for a bit of however by no means actually did it constantly. I used to be by no means pleased with what I made. I moved to Boston in 2009 then whereas I used to be working in retail I used to be in search of a profession change and I discovered an apprenticeship at Blue Hills Brewery in Canton, Mass (it’s now closed). And after doing that for some time I made a decision to try to do it full time.
TBT: Preliminary favourite beers (while you have been first stepping into craft beer)?
AF: Rouge’s Lifeless Man. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Stone IPA. Yards Brawler. Sam Smith Oatmeal Stout.
TBT: Favourite early breweries (while you have been first stepping into craft beer)?
AF: Sierra Nevada, Stone, Yards, Nodding Head, Dock Sreet.
Some questions for Alex as a shopper
TBT: What kinds and forms of beer do you take pleasure in?
AF: Lagers. I don’t care if they’re macro or micro. I’ll drink a great lager each time.
TBT: What are a few of your favourite breweries?
AF: I nonetheless love sierra nevada. Domestically I actually take pleasure in Human Robotic & Forest and Foremost & the Referend. At any time when I can get something from Notch Brewing in Salem, MA I do.
TBT: Do you wish to journey to breweries or moderately drink at house?
AF: After I’m on journeys I wish to strive completely different native breweries. I don’t actually drink at house, principally at our brewery when we’ve completely different beers.
TBT: As a shopper, what do you search for in a beer, what flavors, or kinds, or elements/hops do you take pleasure in?
AF: Lagers. English Kinds. Something that’s sessionable and never overly hoppy actually. If I’m going to drink one thing hoppy I’ll often strive stuff with Australian or New Zealand hops in it. I simply discover them so distinctive and a change from the “juicy” American hops.
Some questions for Alex as a brewer
TBT: What kinds and forms of beer do you take pleasure in making?
AF: Lagers. Nonetheless ready for the underside to fall out on hazy IPAs however it appears like they’re right here to remain.
TBT: What are a number of the extra inventive methods you wish to brew?
AF: We love conventional kinds so we brew in conventional methods. Most of our lagers use decoction mashing and so long as potential lagering instances.
TBT: What have been a few of your favourite beers or recipes that you’ve brewed?
AF: Our Helles, Keller Pils and Marzen.
TBT: Have any preferences – West Coast vs. New England? Porter vs. Stout?
AF: If I’m going to have an IPA I favor it to be West Coast.
TBT: Ideas on the methods customers now view and deal with breweries and beer? Preferences on issues like pints vs. flights? Bottles vs. cans?
AF: Flights are the bane of my existence. They’re the worst solution to eat and revel in a beer. I don’t assume everybody must order by the liter however I feel a half liter or a pint is an effective dimension, nothing below 8oz if you happen to actually need to expertise a beer. Cans vs bottles depends upon the beer. Coors unique is nice out of a can. I can solely drink Yeungling out of a bottle.
TBT: Issues that you just take pleasure in about being a brewer?
AF: The liberty to make one thing that’s loved world huge and is known as a common language virtually. In case you are someplace and don’t communicate the native tongue theres a great likelihood you possibly can nonetheless discover a good beer and revel in it.
TBT: Issues that annoy you about being a brewer?
AF: Speaking about IPAs and hops and flights.
Alex Franko’s favorites
TBT: What’s your present favourite non-Shiny Path brewery?
AF: Human Robotic, Forest & Foremost, The Referend
TBT: What’s your present favourite non-Shiny Path beer?
AF: That’s robust, it actually depends upon the place I’m at and the setting. I can at all times take pleasure in a Heiniken or Coors Unique. However I’ll at all times go for what’s freshest.
TBT: Favourite / Finest state for beer touring?
AF: North Carolina.
TBT: Favourite/Finest metropolis for beer touring?
AF: Asheville, NC or Portland, ME
TBT: Favourite beer you’ve made?
AF: Helles Lager or Keller Pils
TBT: Favourite beer you’ve finished a collaboration with? Favourite brewery to do a collaboration with?
AF: Haven’t finished too many but.
Alex appears to the longer term…
TBT: The place do you see craft beer sooner or later? Within the subsequent 5 years, the subsequent 10 years? The following 20 years?
AF: Extra balanced not everybody having 8 to 10 IPAs on faucet. As the patron turns into extra educated brewers may have the power to supply up completely different kinds.
TBT: The place do you see Shiny Path Brewing within the subsequent 5 years? 10 years? 20 years?
AF: Distribution by means of the entire japanese a part of PA. A serious vacation spot brewery within the area.
TBT: The place do you see yourselves within the subsequent 5 years? 10 years? 20 years?
AF: Serving to my daughter get by means of college and work out what she needs to do along with her life. Hopefully she’ll need to have a component within the brewery.
TBT: (On the time of the interview) 2023 is true across the nook, what do you assume would be the large development of 2023? The massive developments going ahead in craft beer?
AF: Lager. And nonetheless IPA. I feel we’ll see a small consolidation of breweries. I don’t assume you possibly can simply be a brewery anymore it’s important to make first rate beer. The patron is getting smarter.
TBT: The place do you see extra breweries placing emphasis in 2023? In individual/taprooms, distribution, bottling, canning, and so forth.
AF: In individual / taproom. I feel it’s fairly apparent that breweries are sought out when folks journey so having a great taproom will solely assist develop your enterprise.
TBT: What can be some recommendation you’d give to a beginning house brewer?
AF: Simply come purchase Shiny Path beer. However Severely oxygen is dangerous for beer, Fermentation management will make okay beer excellent beer.
TBT: What can be some recommendation you’d give to a sophisticated house brewer trying to begin his personal brewery?
AF: You must have actual fingers on expertise in both brewing or working a enterprise and which ever one you might be missing in discover somebody to accomplice with that fills that hole. And be ready to work so much. We’ve know from the beginning we’re gonna be work 6-7 days per week for presumably 3-5 years so we will actually set up our enterprise and ensure we rising for these first years.
Wrapping it up
TBT: Is there any new beers you wish to promote?
AF: 10P Czech Lager approaching faucet quickly that’s gonna be nice. Grodziskie is fermenting now and virtually prepared for prolonged lagering.
TBT: Is there any new occasions or happenings on the brewery or beer fests you wish to promote?
AF: We’ll be turning 1 on April twenty third so we’ll have a celebration that weekend. Extra particulars to return.
TBT: Something normally you wish to promote?
AF: Help native as a lot as potential. Native companies assist construct communities.
Thank You Alex
Need to give a giant shout out to Alex Franko with engaged on me for this interview and serving to my interview sequence mission. A giant shout out to Shiny Path Brewing Firm for serving to and getting this finished. I do know its an endeavor, and I recognize on a regular basis and energy taken by all concerned.
Ming, Don, and I have been out at Shiny Path Brewing Firm again in July of final 12 months (2022) and had a beautiful time on the brewery. Completely excellent spot, and can’t advocate it sufficient. Ensure you test it out the subsequent time you might be within the space!
Shiny Path Brewing Firm
For extra data on Shiny Path Brewing Firm, you’ll find them on the next social media platforms:
As per Untappd, Shiny Path Brewing Firm is a micro brewery from Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. They’ve 25 distinctive beers with almost 3,000 scores, and a worldwide common score of three.7 (as of two.19.23).
Our Articles About Shiny Path Brewing Firm
- Shiny Path Brewing Firm Opening in Jim Thorpe PA
- Beer Overview: Helles Lager (Milko Pour) (Shiny Path Brewing)
- Our Journey to The Woods and Jim Thorpe – Shiny Path Brewing Firm and Stoker’s Brewing
Our Interview Sequence
Thank You For Studying
Thanks everybody for studying. And a giant thanks to Alex Franko and Shiny Path Brewing Firm for doing the interview. It actually means so much and helps our Brewer Interview Sequence that we’re doing.
Talking of interviews – I’ve been working within the workplace right here to arrange a podcast / streaming / videoing space and dealing on getting cameras and microphones connected with our pc for future interviews to be finished by way of podcasts, video, and weblog publish. So please keep tuned for all of that.
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I hope everyone seems to be having fun with their Sunday morning. Its a gradual begin up right here at The Beer Thrillers HQ. Yesterday we have been planning a visit all the way down to the Maryland border to take a look at some breweries (Black Locust Hop Farm and Brewery, Gunpowder Falls, and the brand new Railroad location for AleCraft Brewing), however sadly the abdomen bug hit Amy and Scarlet. Hopefully as soon as they awaken at this time they’ll be feeling higher.
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Anyway, thanks all for studying!
Cheers All!
-B. Kline
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