The Craft Beer Forum of Oklahoma is an opportunity being led by Oklahoma State University to showcase our industry to a diverse group ranging from college students to industry professionals. The inaugural event will be held Saturday, April 7th at OSU in Stillwater, OK. This student-led forum’s focus is to educate students and the public about the quality, flavor and diversity of craft beer; acknowledge and celebrate the independent and innovative culture of Oklahoma-connected craft brewers; promote the responsible enjoyment of beer; and increase the recognition of the Oklahoma State University School of Hospitality and Tourism Management as a leader in hospitality education.
Why is education so important? Almost everyone who enjoys craft beer has an anecdote about a friend who enthusiastically personally introduced them to a wheat or amber ale and guided them on a journey of beer styles. As an industry, it’s time to take up the task of educating consumers alongside those beer ambassadors. Craft beer has all of the momentum and media attention for the entire beer segment. There has never been a more perfect or critical time to capitalize on that momentum.
The Craft Beer Forum of Oklahoma offers a wide range of seminars geared to provide practical knowledge and experience at Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels. Attendees may choose a seminar during two concurrent session from 2:00 – 3:15 PM and 3:45 – 5:00 PM.
Seminars offered:
2:00 – 3:15 PM
Beginner: Tasting Beer. Intermediate: When Beer Goes Wrong. Intermediate: Cooking with Craft Beer. Advanced: Spontaneous Fermentation
3:45 – 5:00 PM
Beginner: Craft Beer Mixology. Intermediate: Craft Beer History & International Beer Styles. Intermediate: Beer & Food Pairing. Advanced: Hop Talk.
As the Educational Chair for CBF, I am extremely proud of the quality of our panelists and content being offered. Below is a more in-depth view of two of our seminars:
Craft Beer History & International Beer Styles (Intermediate)
Overview: Moderator Ken Brown, Republic National Distributing Co., will present a timeline of the rise of craft beer in America beginning in California in the 1970s. Panelists Luc “Bobo” Van Mechelen, Elliot Nelson and Eric Marshall will discuss the historical development and cultural importance of European beer styles and their influence on American craft beer.
Panelists
Elliot Nelson : McNellie’s Group owner Elliot Nelson had originally planned on going to law school, but after interning with a law firm during a summer break from college, he found that he really didn’t like law, and instead turned his attention to a dream he had long held… to own an Irish pub. That dream became the first restaurant in his portfolio, James E. McNellie’s Public House. The first couple of years were tough for the startup restaurant, but once McNellie’s was on solid footing, Nelson began adding more businesses to his portfolio at a frenetic pace. Today, McNellie’s Group owns and operates a total of ten establishments in Oklahoma and is expanding into Arkansas.
Elliot over the years is single-handedly responsible for educating hundreds of eager to learn beer drinkers through his Beer University offered in the early years of McNellie’s. Further Elliot, has developed a beverage education program for his employees that can be modeled as a best industry practice . Eric Marshall, Founder/Brewmaster – Marshall Brewing Co.: Eric Marshall a fourth generation Tulsan with a degree in International Business and German language from the University of Tulsa. Eric left Tulsa in 2004 to study the art of brewing in Munich, Germany where he was awarded the prestigious International Diploma in Brewing Technology from the World Brewing Academy. He apprenticed in multiple breweries throughout Germany and served as a brewer at the Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown, Pennsylvania.
In 2007, Eric returned to Tulsa to begin laying the groundwork for his own brewery. Marshall Brewing Company, Tulsa’s first production craft microbrewery, which began operations in spring 2008. Marshall Brewing Company focuses on brewing full strength, hand crafted, top quality ales and lagers. Its business is based upon creating fine products with basic inputs – old-world knowledge and experience, high quality raw materials and good old-fashioned hard work. Marshall Brewing Company’s goal is to bring the art, quality, and enjoyment of craft brewing to Oklahoma. Luc “Bobo” Van Mechlen:
President of the US Sector of Manneken-Brussels Imports, Van Mechelen is the face and brand ambassador for Chimay beers. A Belgium native, the energetic Van Mechelen has spearheaded the growth of the Belgian Trappist beer brand in the US. He has also been knighted by Le Chevalerie du Fourquet des Brasseurs for his work in beer.
Spontaneous Fermentation
Overview: Perhaps the oldest style of beers still being brewed today are Lambic beers in Belgium. Rather than the widely accepted process of pitching specific yeast strain into cooled wort for fermentation, spontaneous fermentation relies on Mother Nature to deliver microbes as the cooked wort cools in an open air environment and shallow vessel known as a coolship. In this seminar we will take a look at the process, science and characteristics of Spontaneously Fermented beer.
Attendees will be presented an advanced scientific prospective of Spontaneous Fermentation. A moderated discussion will be led by Tyrrell Conway, Regents Professor and Head of Department – Microbiology and Molecular Gentics, Oklahoma State University. The esteemed panel includes Chase Healey Founder/Brewmater for American Solera, Shawn Savuto QA/QC Technician and Packaging Specialist with Coop Ale Works, Dr. Chris White, President, CEO and Founder – White Labs. Note: Attendees would be best served to have broad knowledge of the fermentation science.
Panelists:
Chase Healey – Founder/Brewmaster American Solera.
Chase Healey has been an institution in Oklahoma craft beer since joining COOP Ale Works as lead brewer in 2009. Chase later went 
on to found Prairie Artisan Ales with an emphasis on experimental styles, barrel-aging and unique ingredients. Chase currently lives in Tulsa and continues his inclination towards innovation at American Solera.
Shawn Savuto – QA/QC Technician & Packaging Specialist – COOP Ale Works.
Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Shawn is a graduate from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Microbiology. As a passionate fan of craft beer he began home brewing during his time at OU and was hooked on the art and science of fermentation. Outside of work Shawn enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and climbing, as well as reading, cooking, listening to his vinyl collection and nerding in general. Visit COOP Ale Works.
Chris White, Ph.D – President, Founder, and CEO White Labs
Chris White lives in San Diego, Calif., USA, where he serves as President and CEO of White Labs Inc. Chris founded White Labs in 1995 to manufacture yeast cultures and provide fermentation services to the brewing, wine, and distilling industries. Chris has a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego and a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of California, Davis. While at Davis, Chris interned at Genentech Inc., the world’s first biotechnology company. White is coauthor of Yeast: The Practical Guide To Beer Fermentation, co-designer of BrewMaster: The Craft Beer Game, and has published numerous articles on yeast, beer, and fermentation.
Chris White was a lecturer in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at U.C. San Diego from 1999-2007, and is currently teaching in the Brewing Certificate Program at U.C. San Diego Extension. Chris was awarded the 2013 Recognition Award from the American Homebrewers Association. If you are interested in learning more about craft beer, I urge to you to attend the value-priced Craft Beer Forum of Oklahoma. Tickets prices begin at $50. Tickets are available now for the Craft Beer Forum: https://craftbeerforumofoklahoma.com/event/buy-tickets/
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