Daily Inspiration: Meet Nick Manos

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Manos.

Hi Nick, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I began homebrewing in 2014 with one of my best friends. We had a passion for craft beer and had to try our hand in making some at home. I spent months pouring over books, videos, and internet forums in an effort to make the best possible beer we could on our first attempt. Our first beer was enough of a success to give us the drive to keep pursuing this incredibly rewarding hobby.

In 2017 I began working as bartender at Brewdog in Columbus, OH. In 2018 I started the homebrew club there and began homebrewing multiple times a month, getting into a groove and rapidly improving my beers from batch to batch. In 2019 Brewdog allowed me to start my own sub-brand called Nanodog where I would be able to brew creative and experimental beers in small batches for the taproom. Over the next 4 years I was fortunate enough to travel around the world to collaborate with some extremely talented brewers and further sharpen my knowledge and skills.

I made my way down to Cincinnati last spring to brew at the legendary Listermann brewery. When they unfortunately had to close their doors at the end of the summer, I was offered the position of head brewer at Cartridge Brewing, a historic landmark in Maineville, OH. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to brew a wide array of classic, modern and experimental beers while also engaging with the local community with beer education courses.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Whether it be commercially or at home, brewing always accompanies different challenges. Making good beer comes from properly executing a process that requires attention to every detail. Recipe building, water chemistry, PH control, healthy yeast and more all need to be dialed in for the best possible brews. As a commercial brewer I work with much more sophisticated equipment and machinery than I did as a homebrewer. A major challenge for commercial brewers is maintaining and fixing our equipment throughout the year.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I treat brewing beer like an art. It’s a way to express myself and share my work with thousands of people. I have a lot of pride in the traditional styles I brew but I get most excited to brew styles that have room for constant innovation. The IPA for example has seen so many reinventions over the past decade with new techniques and ingredients appearing every year. I’m most proud of any beer that gets someone out of their comfort zone and open to trying new things. Dessert stouts and punchy IPAs always get a good response, but I’ve also put together experimental beers like the salsa inspired lager (hot peppers, cilantro, black garlic, green onions) that were very well received.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me and the connection I get to make with people in the beer community and the guests at our brewery. The sense of camaraderie I’ve always experienced in the craft beer world is what instilled my desire to be involved. I am also driven by the need to constantly grow as a brewer and make things people can get excited about and want to share with their friends and family.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cartridgebrewing.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cartridgebrewing
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cartridgebrewing
• Twitter: https://www.x.com/cartridgebeer