What Happened When a Tornado Hit Skeleton Key Brewery (Plus: Are All Beers Bitter?)

Hear what saved Skeleton Key Brewery after a tornado destroyed their brewery. Plus: busting a myth about bitter hops. Skeleton Key Brewery Co-Owners Paul Slayton, Emily Slayton, and John Szopa (who is also their head brewer) join Brian Noonan and Katherine Valleau to bust a pervasive beer myth and share an inspiring story that may change the way you look at your local brewery. Stick around until the end of the episode to hear some outrageous tales of bad customer behavior that you probably never thought you’d hear from brewery owners. 01:46 Beer Myth: Are all beers bitter? Brian, Katherine, and their guests tackle the truth about bitterness in beer, the surprising diversity of beer styles, and how to discover a juicy IPA that isn't too bitter. 7:11 Skeleton Key Brewery: Emily, Paul, and John share their harrowing story of arriving at their brewery to find that half of it had been destroyed by a tornado. They discuss the terrible timing of the tornado, which hit them just as quarantine had been issued at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Then they share the inspiring story of how they found help in their time of need and ultimately saved their business. The discussion wraps up with a discussion on beer styles, the importance of having a core lineup of beers at a brewery, and the unique foraging required to brew certain beers. 46:03 This Week in Bad Customer Behavior: Katherine discusses brewery birthday parties that have led to some unbelievable bad customer behavior. The crew from Skeleton Key Brewery also chimes in to talk about birthday parties – and, somehow, they all end up with eerily similar stories about party requests involving no clothing. Grab a pint and stick around for a good laugh! About Skeleton Key Brewery: Established in 2016, Skeleton Key Brewery is a family-owned and -operated microbrewery and taproom located in Woodridge, IL. They believe that craft beer is at its best when it blends a variety of palates and perspectives, and they aim to foster an inclusive environment in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated and respected. Their 8,500 sq ft facility houses a 15bbl steam-fired brewhouse and three taproom seating areas with two separate bars. In addition to beer, they are passionate about education, community, live music, and bad movies. Learn more at https://www.skeletonkeybrewery.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, then please tell at least one friend about the show! And if you’re a brewer or know any brewers who would like to share their story on the podcast, then email [email protected]. We’re always happy to hear from you! Follow Crafty Brewers on Instagram at https://instagram.com/crafty_brewers_pod