EP-418 Luke Bauer of Snake River Brewing Company

The definition of “local” can be quite different when the nearest urban
regions are hundreds of miles away. That’s certainly the case in Jackson,
Wyoming, where (quote-unquote) neighboring cities like Boise, Idaho;
Denver, Colorado; and Bozeman, Montana all require a few hours in the car,
if not on a plane, to get there.

But it’s precisely that sense of remote grandeur that attracts millions of
visitors to the Jackson Hole region every year. Where do they go when they
want a good, local, craft brew? To Snake River Brewing Company, of course,
which is the oldest operating brewery in the state and celebrates 30 years
in business in 2024. In this episode, Snake River’s director of sales and
marketing, Luke Bauer, describes what brought him to Wyoming nearly 20
years ago, and what kept him coming back after working in Texas, Alaska,
and Colorado. In addition to his role at Snake River, he’s also on the
board of the Wyoming Craft Brewers Guild, and shares a first-hand account
of how the state’s craft beer industry has grown, changed, and evolved,
especially post-pandemic.

By his account, Wyoming is a unique place, but also one that’s full of
surprises. He believes there’s a lot more experimentation than outsiders
might initially expect from the local beer scene, and explains the big
differences in style from one side of the state to the other. (Hint: one
side sticks more to traditional or maltier beers, while the other embraces
trendier styles like IPAs.) Snake River Brewing has managed to rack up
awards at the World Beer Cup, including their most recent Bronze medal for
Zonker Stout, as well as at the Great American Beer Festival, and many more
over its 30-year tenure. It goes back to their mission statement: “The
world doesn’t need another beer, but a better beer.” Let’s hear about the
beer and beyond.