Quality, Quality, Quality Will Lure Customers, Brewers Say

5TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON FOOD, FARMING

Quality, Quality, Quality Will

Lure Customers, Brewers Say

"The absolute best" is what local breweries must shoot for to achieve continued success, declares the Red Shed's David Olson, right. With him are, from left, Ommegang's Phil Leinhart, Hartwick College's Aaron MacLeod and Council Rock's Roger Davidson. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)

By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

Drink beer from a glass "to produce its full aromatic potential," MacLeod tells the audience at the Louis Jones Center.

COOPERSTOWN – Asked today for "key factors to success," four panelists from the local brewing industry spoke as one: Quality, quality, quality and quality.

"It all starts with quality," said Roger Davidson, Council Rock Brewery founder. "It is fun ... (but) I try to do the best I can every single day for consistent quality."

"If quality isn't the top of mind, you shouldn't be a brewer," said Ommegang's Phil Leinhart, who has been cited in international competition as the "best in the world" of brewmasters at mid-size operations.

Aaron MacLeod, director of Hartwick College's Center for Craft Food & Beverage, expanded that to include "the value chain" -- hops, barley, malt, all the products that go into beer making.

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5TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON FOOD, FARMING