#50 - Lakefront Brewery w/ Russ Klisch & Mike Stodola

#50 - Lakefront Brewery w/ Russ Klisch & Mike Stodola

Author: Allan Cogan December 7, 2024 Duration: 52:09

In this episode, I traveled to my hometown and beer capital of the world: Milwaukee, Wisconsin! I had the unique privilege of sitting down with Owner Russ Klisch and Brand Manager Michael Stodola to hear their individual stories of getting into craft beer and the story of Lakefront itself. This episode was recorded at the end of July and unfortunately Michael passed suddenly in October. With blessings from both Lakefront and the Stodola family, this episode is being released completely unedited as a tribute to Mike and his love of Lakefront and the art of brewing and branding. I am beyond grateful for his hospitality and private tour while visiting and really appreciate Russ' time and generosity. For more information: Be sure to follow: @lakefrontbrewery Visit: ⁠https://lakefrontbrewery.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really appreciate a follow and share on social media, subscribe to our YouTube, and be sure to give us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform! Everything you see and hear is out of pocket for us, including travel. If you support our mission of showcasing the amazing stories behind these small businesses, do me a favor and head over to buymeacoffee.com/craftedconvos Buy Me a Coffee is an awesome way to help creators like me with simple one-time donations OR a monthly contribution. Every dime goes into giving these breweries, distilleries and more some much deserved limelight.

Visit us online at www.craftedconvos.com Follow us on social media: ⁠@craftedconvospod⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube at ⁠   / ⁠@craftedconvospod  ⁠ ⁠ Full video is exclusively on YouTube and Spotify! If you every have any questions or concerns – please reach out: coganconvo@gmail.com All music is provided by ⁠Artlist.io⁠ and copyright information can be provided upon request. Cheers! ⁠⁠#smallbusiness⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#craftdistilleries⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#craftbreweries⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#craftedconvos⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#w⁠⁠isco ⁠⁠#wisconsin⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#cheers⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#craftspirits⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#distillery⁠#brewery⁠#lakefront #craftedconvos⁠ #milwaukee


There's a story in every bottle, a history in every glass, and a person behind every label. Crafted Conversations is a journey into the world of whiskey that goes far beyond tasting notes. Host Allan Cogan travels from historic Scottish distilleries to innovative urban bars, sitting down with the individuals whose lives are intertwined with this craft. You'll hear directly from Master Distillers about the alchemy of aging, from distillery owners about the risks and rewards of a family legacy, and from mixologists who treat whiskey as a living ingredient. This podcast digs into the personal journals of its guests, uncovering the passion, tradition, and sometimes sheer stubbornness that defines their work. It’s less about the technical specs and more about the human spirit-the late nights, the failed experiments, and the moments of triumph. Each episode feels like pulling up a stool for a deep, meandering talk with someone who has dedicated their life to their art. Through these genuine dialogues, the culture and society surrounding whiskey come into sharp focus, revealing how a simple spirit can connect people across continents. Tune in for a series of intimate portraits that just happen to be set against a backdrop of oak barrels and copper stills.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 77

Crafted Conversations
Podcast Episodes
#35 - Static Line Brewing Co. w/ Steve Khoo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:59
In this episode I had the honor of sitting down with Steven Khoo - owner and operator of Static Line Brewing Co. in Sanford, North Carolina! Steven, alongside his wife Michelle, have only recently opened but already have…
#34 - Old Line Spirits w/ Mark McLaughlin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:43
In this episode I had the pleasure of sitting down with Mark McLaughlin to discuss his journey from Navy to Distillery and everything in-between at Old Line Spirits in Baltimore, Maryland! visit www.oldlinespirits.com Fo…
#33 - Blackhat Distillery w/ Kim Immel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:58
In this episode I traveled to Colorado Springs, CO on the heels of the 2024 American Craft Spirits Association Convention in Denver! I've admired Blackhat from afar and am so grateful for the opportunity to stop by and t…
#32 - The Bar Book w/ Mike Waskewich & Dolly Gray [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:40
In our first video episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mike and Dolly - founders of The Bar Book! They've created something special with a brand new app that helps you discover flavor profiles in products that f…
#31 - Sang•Froid Distilling w/ Jeff Harner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:16
Our last audio only episode is here!I had an absolute blast talking to owner and operator, Jeff Harner, about his quaint and unique distillery in Hyattsville, Maryland. Sang•Froid Distilling is one of the smallest yet mo…
#30 - McClintock Distilling w/ Braeden Bumpers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:30
In this episode, I again traveled to Frederick, Maryland to visit McClintock Distilling and speak with owner and operator Braeden Bumpers! Braeden graciously welcomed me into the distillery and gave a wonderfully detaile…
#29 - Puerto Rico Distillery w/ Angel Rivera [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:54
In this episode I traveled to Frederick, Maryland to visit Puerto Rico Distillery and speak with owner and operator Angel Rivera. Originally from Puerto Rico, Agnel prides himself on sharing a slice of his culture with t…
#28 - Broadslab Distillery w/ Jeremy Norris [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:55
In this episode I traveled to Benson, North Carolina to visit Broadslab Distillery and speak with the man behind it all, Jeremy Norris. Broadslab is just a short drive away from where I frequently visit in North Carolina…
#27 - Shmidt Spirits w/ Brian Roan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:14
In this episode I traveled to Beltsville, Maryland to visit Shmidt Spirits and talk with master distiller, Brian Roan. The small distillery is owned and operated by Arthur Shmidt – an engineer from the College Park, Mary…
#26 - Keir Family Distillery w/ Sam Keir [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:52
In this episode I traveled to Northern Pennsylvania to visit the Keir Family Distillery located in the small town of Warren Center. The distillery sits on a farm just 5 miles south of the New York/Pennsylvania state bord…