We don't always perform with our original bands.

It isn't intended as self-aggrandizing. It's just that recent personnel wars at the RRHoF induction ceremony started me thinking about how much I have in common with Bun E. Carlos. Ritchie and Peter -- well, those are different stories altogether.

Rob Caputo will serve as interim executive director of the Brewers of Indiana Guild after Lee Smith steps down.

There never was much of a public explanation as to why my friend Rob Caputo left Flat12 Bierwerks earlier this year, and it's not my objective here to speculate, but when he exited Flat12, he also left the board of the Brewers of Indiana Guild.

Now another friend, Lee Smith, is leaving her position as executive director of the guild, and Rob's filling in on an interim basis, pending the usual hiring process.

And: I'm gradually negotiating the sale of my share of NABC to my partners. When that's finished, I'll resign from the guild's board. Until it is, well, I'm not dead yet.

All the best to Lee headed one direction, and Rob another. Good people all around. At some point, when it's really necessary, I'll allow myself to think about how much I'll miss the many good folks in the brewing business -- and there are many.

Not yet, though. There's too much to do.

A Note from the President

As most of you are aware, the Guild's Executive Director, Lee Smith, will be stepping down at the end of the month.

Lee was this organization’s first Executive Director and helped us position ourselves as one of the nation’s best guilds. We wouldn’t be where we are today without her contribution. We thank her for her years of service and wish her the very best of luck in her future pursuits. Cheers, Lee!

Along that vein, we are proud to announce that Rob Caputo, former board member and Vice President, has accepted the role as Interim Executive Director through the end of the year. We look forward to utilizing Rob’s experience and organizational skills to lead us into the future. Welcome back to the team, Rob!

We will also be forming a hiring committee to begin the interview process for a long term replacement for the position. That process is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

Thanks to all for your support of Brewers of Indiana Guild!

Greg Emig
President
Brewers of Indiana Guild

David Pierce has returned to BBC St. Matthews, and Josh Hill is now head brewer at Bank Street Brewhouse.

The transitions continue at NABC with David Pierce's departure, completing the circle back to Bluegrass Brewing Company in Louisville (St. Matthews). David opened the BBC brewery in 1993.

Josh Hill becomes the brewer of record at Bank Street Brewhouse, while Ben Minton continues to man the mash paddle at the Pizzeria & Public House. They both know what they're doing, having learned from the best.

Roger (that's me) is running for mayor of New Albany and trying to finish his latest Food & Dining column submission for Mr. White. As for these changes of late, baseball aficionados will understand: I'm an Oakland A's fan, and In Beane We Trust. Personnel moves are part of the business.

As for me, I could write a book. Maybe I will. The past two weeks have been crazily cosmic: Kate's and Amy's family business is going back to being just that. Josh has returned to NABC, and David to BBC. Meanwhile, I'm up on the heath with Lear, studying a soaked road map. An election in November will help determine my destiny. Not to mention our former longtime bartender Stephen Powell, who has reinvented street food in downtown New Albany.

The weird thing about it is this: If you don't know me personally, you probably think I'm a pessimist, solely because I'm better at channeling bile than defining affection. But a cynic is a closet optimist, and I think it's all going to turn out well for everyone involved, and for the company itself.

Renewal fever: Catch it!

Brewery badass Josh Hill returns to NABC.

He said so on Facebook.

Reading between lines, it appears Josh will be in sales. I've been on leave of absence to campaign for mayor of New Albany as an independent candidate, and as the good Sgt. Schultz would say, "I know nothing."

(Except that I'm a tremendous fan of Josh Hill, and delighted to see him back on duty.)

Josh Hill departs Floyd County Brewing Company.

Josh Hill is good people. He worked for NABC for a very long time, and fully earned his sobriquet of "Brewery Badass." No one works harder or is more reliable, and when he had the chance to take the head brewer position at the Floyd County Brewing Company start-up just down the street, I hated to lose him -- and was delighted for him.

They all leave the nest sooner or later, I guess.

Yesterday Josh made this announcement at Facebook. It's all I know at this point, so don't ask.

I am officially leaving my position as Head Brewer at Floyd County Brewing Co. I won't go over the details of why I came to this decision, but it has been made. I want to thank everyone for their support and encouragment during this process and I apologize that things didn't turn out as expected. I'm going to take a little time to relax and collect myself and then hit the job market. Cheers!

Strange timing, indeed. FCBC has not even opened. Ironically, I learned of Josh's departure while concluding a wonderful chat with Rob Caputo, whose position at Flat12 these past months is ... shall we say, complicated?

Of course, I'm on leave of absence from NABC, and my position in my own company is ... shall we repeat, complicated?

Forks in the road seem to be numerous, and given the recent rains in Indiana, often flooded, so as everyone consults their maps, permit me to with the very best to Josh and Rob. There are many untested entities in the "craft" beer world, but these two have a great track record.

Me?

I'll settle for being mayor.

Meet Ben Minton.

Seriously, I meant to make this formal announcement two months ago, but I kept forgetting.

So, here goes: Ben Minton is the new Brewer at NABC’s Research & Development Brewery at the Pizzeria & Public House. You can reach him here ... ben(at)newalbanian.net ... but first, Ben's testimonial:

"I fell in love with beer soon after I started washing dishes for NABC in the summer of 2004. As I’ve made my way up from the dish-room to the brewery, I’ve learned an amazing amount about the world of craft beer and gained a respect for brewing as an art form. As NABC’s newest brewer, I have been given an amazing opportunity to help shape the future of this company while creating some unique brews for you all to enjoy. Cheers!"

Here's his web site bio:

Ben Minton was once given the key to the city of New Albany by then-Mayor Doug England for reasons he can’t quite recall. He thinks he might even know where it is, probably in a drawer at his parents’ house. He should look for that sometime.

A faithful employee since 2004.
Doer of science.
Maker of beers.