FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE BREWMASTER – AUGUST 2023
Interview conducted by Jack Horne
Rich Szydlo – Owner – Brewer
Calliope Beer Works
8801 Oak Street, New Orleans, La.
https://calliopebeerworks.com/home/
1. How did you start brewing?
I was always into craft beer and a friend got me a homebrew kit, that was 15 yrs and a lot of brews ago.
2. How did you get into commercial brewing?
I had a wheat beer with lemongrass that everyone loved, and a local brewery in Chicago allowed me to brew it there on their 15 bbl system and serve it on tap. That response was great so we took that recipe, my IPA, and a dunkelweiss and started contract brewing those and selling them on tap and in local stores in bottles.
3. Which style(s) are you most interested in brewing and why?
I love Belgian Wit, it’s my favorite beer to drink. I think all Belgian styles are really fun to play with. I also like food friendly beers, so something balanced that can pair with certain foods are going to be my wheelhouse, especially with the brewpub model.
4. What is the most challenging aspect of being a commercial brewer?
Balancing the fun of brewing with the commercial reality. I had originally wanted a production brewery, but the thought of brewing the same styles over and over made me reconsider. I think having a smaller system that I can play with and experiment with is more in line with what I want to do. Also, people really love IPAs and Pilsners right now. how do you get them to try your other beers and not cave in and keep brewing those 2 styles.
5. What advice do you have for homebrewers?
Master the basics. Pick a style and brew it as classically as you can. Once you get those basics down and understand that, then start experimenting with it. you’ll learn the traditions and history, and then learn what other manipulations do as you play with it compared to the original.
Crescent City Brew Talk 