THE WINNER's CIRCLE BEER
Who We Are
I started my zymurgy journey in 1992 after returning from a life changing scientific research trip to Alaska. A deckhand aboard the ship we were working on stated that he brewed his own beer at home (outside of Fairbanks). That is all this young man, born and raised in NYC, needed to hear. It was time that my German heritage and love of the world's most popular elixir inspired me to brew the beers I had come to love on my frequent travels to Germany and beyond. The mission, to create perfectly balanced and nuanced beers. In the beginning, for about six years, I guided aspiring brewers at the Beer Necessities homebrew shop where I read every how to book and magazine I could get my hands on. As a lab tech, research assistant, mechanic, junior machinist and jack of all trades I was well suited to learn the craft and build my own equipment along the way. Since then I have brewed hundreds of batches of mostly traditional beers and many inspired variations thereof. The end result is brewing all grain batches at the Klaus Brau Haus nano 1bbl consulting brewery since 2012. My journey has transformed into a career as a professional brewer since October of 2016.
-Klaus Kuhland
Brewmaster/ Quality Control
BILL NEWMAN
Founded the Wm. S. Newman Brewing Co in Albany, NY in 1980 recognized as one of the first three microbreweries in the United States and the first east of the Rockies. A true pioneer and visionary far ahead of his time who developed the “cubitainer” which was a precursor to the Growler that resembled today’s boxed wine container. He gave brewing seminars while running the brewery, the alumni of which went on to found the likes of Sam Adams, Bells Brewery and Abita Brewery. Bill is the “Godfather of Craft Beer.”
BREWMASTER
JOEL HOWARD
Joel founded the Silver Queen Restaurant and Bar in Aspen, CO. During his time at the helm of the Silver Queen, Joel noticed that his customers enjoyed the flavor of craft beer but wanted something more approachable that could be drank all night. He began to think about this mythical, perfect beer in 2011 and joked with friends how he would one day make a beer called Winner’s Circle. Joel pursued a series of projects never finding his calling, but a chance meeting in 2016 with Bill Newman at the Daily Grind on Lark St. in Albany, NY connected all the dots. In pursuit of his dream, Joel produced a wonderfully drinkable beer under the tutelage of Bill which is now know as
The Winner's Circle American Session Ale.
FOUNDER/CEO