“Innovation is expensive.” Ant from Epic Brewing said to me after stopping by my table to clean up glasses at the Epic Brewery grand opening. The brewery is calling a new space in the RiNo Neighborhood of Denver home after branching out from their flagship location in Salt Lake City.

Ant’s point echoed with me as I pushed through the crowd to the ladies room. It might have been the beer, but the statement resonated. It still resonates. Now, even more loudly.

Ant’s statement wasn’t a non-sequitur. Each time he came to pick up glasses, I asked him hard questions about yeast, brewing, and the future of the artisan beer industry. He was game for the conversation and had deep thoughts about all these things. So, I kept...       KEEP READING