New Province Brewing Company- John Lee

Hope you’re thirsty! On this week’s edition of the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas podcast, where we’re talking local BEER... local Beer with owner/operator John Lee of New Province Brewing Company, but first?!?! FOOD NEWS!!! Chef Rafael Rios has a grand re-opening at Yeyo’s at the 8th Street Market. We’ll hear from him. Akira Sushi and Hibachi opens in east Fayetteville. Owner Andreas Tan tells us what it was like leading up to getting the doors open. BBQ King in Bentonville has closed. The Honey Bean Ice Cream Company food trailer has moved! It’s all about honey, bees and beer Sunday at Orthodox Brewery. Café Lavande is officially open in Fayetteville. A new Poke Bowl and Sushi place will be opening in west Fayetteville. USip is setting up near UA, and a former NFL quarterback is one of the owners. New Province Brewery opened in Rogers in 2016 and was founded by Derek and Megan McEnroe. In 2022, the brewery was acquired by John Lee and a few partners. Before New Province, Lee owned and operated Rebel Kettle Brewing Company in Little Rock and built it from the ground up. He took a shining to brewing at a young age thanks to his first taste of a craft beer, and it’s one that helped start the movement nationally- we’ll tell you which one. How did he learn to brew beer? He didn’t intern anywhere. He didn’t work at any breweries before opening his own. He’ll tell you how he learned. And the lead up to opening that brewery? He tells us what he DIDN’T know and what his first day was like opening Rebel Kettle. After 4 years, he got out of the beer business and went back to his professional roots, which benefitted him greatly. You’ll hear the story. Finally, John bought New Province in 2022 and quickly looked to see what he had with an eye on expansion. He’ll get specific on some of their beers and some that are coming down the pike. It’s John Lee of New Province, next, right here on the Flavors of Northwest Arkansas!