ZACH’S PERSPECTIVE: MY FIRST BEER IN CROATIA
Meet Zach, Brlog’s new head brewer. Zach came to Zadar in December 2023, just in time to finish the collaboration beer with Maraska. It turned out to be a silver medal winner at CEBC 2024 in Budapest.
He moved here after dreaming of living in Europe for a while, but it wasn’t until he saw Brlog’s open call for brewer that he decided to apply and make a big decision.
For his first special release he chose to make a spring lager, style know as California common or “steam beer”.
Find out why he prefers this kind of beer and how it became his favorite.
Beer for new beginnings
I chose to make this the first brand new recipe I made at Brlog as a way to honor the people that got me here. It is my dedication to Robert Neal, Kelly Harris, Steve Quarella, Dan Wade, and Pade Smith.
Robert Neal is one of my best friends in the world and he is also the entire reason I discovered Craft Beer and Homebrewing. He absolutely refused to buy me “shit beer” before I was old enough to purchase it myself, so I was one of the only teenagers drinking Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Moosedrool Brown Ale, and Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA. We brewed our first batch of homebrew together and immediately started talking about opening our own brewery. We still might do that one day, but we’ve learned enough since then to know we’re not ready for that commitment yet. One day, the time will be right.
I didn’t go to college to learn how to brew. I worked at Homebrew Headquarter in Richardson, TX for 2 years. The lessons I learned from Kelly, Steve, Dan, and Pade shaped me into the brewer I am today. Steve and I would spend hours talking about the flavor profiles of beer and what foods they would pair best with. Dan taught me about Draught Systems and the process side of production. Pade, along with her husband Lance, taught me how to find the balance necessary to keep the passion alive. They all had a hand in shaping my future.
This beer is dedicated to all of them, but it is my mentor Kelly Harris that made this beer possible. I didn’t just learn the math of recipe creation from Kelly, I learned a philosophy. Before I worked for him I made boozy, over complicated recipes that left a lot to be desired. He got me to focus on the basics. It’s because of him that I love Pilsners and English Milds. He taught me about the beauty of simplicity. We never got to brew together while I worked for him, so I invited him to collaborate with me as soon as I became a Head Brewer for the first time. We brewed a simple California Common that was perfect for a spring session. I am happy to bring it to share with the people of Croatia!
This beer is dedicated to new beginnings and all the people that help us along the way.
What to expect of Spring lager
Lightly malty aroma with hop notes of delicate flowers and white grapes, light amber color with a soft mouthfeel, low-med carbonation for drinkability and a refreshing finish. Pairs well with cured meats, salted snacks, most cheeses, and shortbread cookies.5.3%
Steam beer, also known as California common beer, is made by fermenting lager yeast at a warmer than normal temperature. Historically steam beer came from Bavaria, Germany. The style was really made popular during the American Gold Rush that brought people to California. San Francisco and other West Coast brewers pioneered the style with what they had available on the frontier. There are Bavarian brewers that make it, but Anchor Brewing Co was the biggest producer of the style. The style almost died out as temperature control technology became available, but it was Anchor Brewing that kept it alive and even helped it thrive again.
