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“I loved brewing when I first started doing it in my early 20s” – In this episode, we sit down with Michael Lackey—better known as Lackey—a legendary figure at Great Lakes Brewery (GLB) and the brewery’s Brewing Operations Manager. You might recognize him from the very first episode of Between Two Fermenters: The Stories We Could Tell, where he joined Peter Bulut, GLB’s Owner and President, to celebrate 37 years of brewing excellence.
This time, we’re dive deeper into Lackey’s 34-year journey at GLB, exploring his day-to-day responsibilities, his passion for quality and freshness, and the unique brewing philosophy that helped shape GLB’s transformation from a lager-heavy brewery to an industry leader in craft beer. Along the way, Lackey reflects on the golden age of Ontario craft brewing (2010-2019), the inspiration he drew from breweries like Three Floyds, and the incredible influence of a trip to the Czech Republic.
We touch on the state of the beer industry today, the value of collaboration beers, and Lackey’s hopes for 2025 – “The Year of the Octo” – as it’s called internally. It’s a lively chat filled with fun memories, stories about giant sombreros, blankets, some key insights, and lots of laughs.
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About Between Two Fermenters
Ever wondered what life is really like in the craft beer industry? Whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur, a homebrewing enthusiast, into Ontario beer history, or just someone who enjoys some good ol’ breezy beer banter, Between Two Fermenters is your go-to deep dive for all things beer from an insider perspective. So, grab a #FreshGLB, kick back, and join us as we share stories, spill the beans on new releases and brewery updates, and chat with other industry folk about the world of making (and drinking) beer.
