DBTB Episode 103: Brett VanderKamp of New Holland Brewing

New Holland Brewing Co. was founded in 1996 and over the years it has evolved from a small brewpub to one of the country’s largest craft brewers, all on the back of a bourbon barrel imperial stout – a pretty amazing feat.

Brett VanderKamp was a co-founder of the brewery and now sits in the CEO role. He’s learned a lot along the way, some good and some bad, and has tried to use the brewery as a platform for good in the community where New Holland is based and around Michigan. In this wide ranging conversation about business, and passion, mistakes, and successes we start at the beginning and those early days when the brewery started.

This episode is sponsored by:

Briess is the leading supplier of specialty malt to craft brewers They offer the broadest product line in the industry, including a wide range of roasted malts that add flavor, color, and character to beer. Their experienced operators handcraft every batch of roasted malt to ensure the product you get is consistent. Check out BrewingwithBriess.com for beer recipes using roasted malt.

NZ Hops, the co-operative of Master Hop Growers are a passionate collective of farms dedicated to innovation and sustainability. Leading the charge in sustainable farm practices, some NZ Hops farms have over five generations of knowledge that inform their composting program, used by growers to promote healthy regenerative growth of hops year upon year. This creates high quality soil, a critical component of healthy growing conditions. At NZ Hops, they feel that sustainability is not only being a steward for the land, but for our future. We’re in it together.

For the next stop in our Lagers of the World series, we headed to Japan and worked with Numazu’s Baird Brewing Co. to brew a rice lager with yuzu, green tea, and hopped with Sorachi Ace.

About Drink Beer, Think Beer With John Holl

Drink Beer, Think Beer is a weekly podcast gets to the bottom of every pint with brewers, growers, and industry leaders on all aspects of the brewing industry. From ingredients and process, to philosophy and the art in each beer, the podcast is hosted by long-time journalist John Holl and is available on all the major podcast platforms.

Beer Edge releases new episodes of Drink Beer, Think Beer with John Holl every Wednesday.

Help Support Independent
Beer Journalism

Beer Edge provides its readers with unparalleled insights into the business of flavorful beer. Going beyond stale, recycled news articles and press releases, Beer Edge provides its readers with original reportage. We go and talk to the sources and report stories our audience has not heard before. It is a fresh and unfiltered look at the world of beer and provides subscribers with a better understanding of the drink and business they love. Subscribing to the Beer Edge newsletter helps support independent beer journalism.

BEER EDGE