(Portsmouth, NH) – This is actually old news as the interview was broadcast back in January. I got tipped off to it while perusing some old threads in the Beer Advocate beer news forum yesterday. I’ll give credit to Rochefort10nh for posting this little gem, an NPR interview conducted with Tod Mott in which he talks about Portsmouth Kate the Great. It is a short interview but Mott informs us of a few interesting things:

• He’s been honing the recipe for 10-12 years now since its inception at the Back Bay Brewing Company (was once known as the Crazed Cossack Stout?)
• Brown sugar
• A lot of malt, particularly Dingeman’s Special B giving the beer its “figgy, plummy character”
• Infused with portwood
• Beer supply ran out in three weeks though the batch was expected to last 2.5 months
• Perhaps, most importantly, he’s aiming for a summer 08 release

Andy Crouch discusses Mott’s history in his book, The Good Beer Guide to New England. Mott’s number of job changes from brewery to brewery (seven total according to Crouch) might earn him the title of “journeyman.” The term carries a negative connotation in sports but Mott has risen to the top of the beer ratings world with his imperial stout being named the #2 beer in the world by the Alstrom Brothers over at BA. Mott will actually be speaking, perhaps again about the Kate the Great, at Redbones in Somerville, MA on March 24. He will be joined by long-time buddy, Will Meyers (also pictured above planting the big ole kiss), Head Brewer at Cambridge Brewing Co. for over ten years. Meyers was a disciple of Mott’s back in their days at Harpoon Brewery and is deserving of his own post some day. For more info on the event, visit Redbones’ website.