Sanitation and Safety in the Craft Beverage Industry with Anthony Horger

In today's episode, I had the pleasure of catching up with Anthony Horger, a former AB Tech program graduate. We dived into his impressive journey from a local brewery job post-graduation to his various roles in distilleries and breweries, ultimately leading to his current position as an industry trainer for food, beverage, and natural products at North Carolina BioNetwork. Anthony also shared invaluable insights into the often-overlooked aspect of supply chain management and how critical supplier controls are to maintaining a safe and efficient production environment.

Anthony has a rich background in the food and beverage industry. He started his career as a pastry chef and transitioned into brewing and distilling. His path led him from a local craft brewery through innovative and sometimes perilous projects in startup distilleries to working for a large manufacturer owned by Budweiser in San Diego and finally back to Asheville. His varied experiences have uniquely positioned him as an expert in industry training, where he focuses on sanitation, HACCP planning, and supplier controls.

"It feels good to keep people safe. When you can help improve these things, you'll see the light go on in many people's heads." ~Anthony Horger

Today on Consuming the Craft:

• Anthony began his career as a pastry chef before moving into brewing and distilling.

• After graduation, he worked at a local brewery and a startup distillery focused on speed aging technology.

• Anthony then moved to San Diego to work at a Budweiser-owned distillery just as the world started changing due to the pandemic.

• He gained valuable insights into the importance of safety and proper sanitation during his time in San Diego.

• Anthony now works as an industry trainer for North Carolina BioNetwork, focusing on food, beverage, and natural products.

• Supplier controls involve more than just taking a supplier's word; they require audits and sometimes personal visits to ensure compliance with safety standards.

• Certifications like SQF are important for ensuring quality and safety in the supply chain.

• Continuous improvement and corrective actions are vital metrics for evaluating the reliability and safety of a supplier.

Resources Mentioned:

• North Carolina BioNetwork

• McConnell Farms

Contact Anthony:

• LinkedIn: Anthony Horger

• North Carolina BioNetwork Website

This episode is brought to you by…

McConnell Farms - Taste the Way You Remember. Enjoy homemade ciders and ice cream made from only the best produce on the market. Visit the McConnell Farms website to learn more about our seasonal inventory and the delicious creations you can make with our homegrown produce.

Consuming the Craft

Thanks for tuning into this week’s Consuming the Craft Podcast episode, brought to you by AB Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | GooglePlay

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more craft beverage enthusiasts.

To learn more about AB Tech and the Craft Beer Institute of the Southeast, visit our website.