Karl Hartdegen

CRAFT CULTURE has been an ongoing passion project to craft authentic food & beverage experiences. The project is a culmination of journeys throughout life.

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Karl has deep ties to New Orleans’ cultural fabric.  He was born in New Orleans from family lines that immigrated from France and Spain in the mid to late 1700s and from Ireland and Germany in the 1850s.

 

Karl graduated from Louisiana State University with a BS in Biological Sciences with a focus on plant and microbial biology.  He then worked in quality control for the oil & gas industry as a Chemist, Supervisor, and Laboratory Manager.  As time progressed, Karl decided to pursue passions within the food, beverage, and hospitality sector.

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Following this passion, Karl enrolled in graduate school at the University of New Orleans to hewn skills and knowledge.  He graduated as a Master of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Through a graduate school internship and subsequent hire, Karl refined his brewing techniques working as the Brewer for New Orleans’ longest, currently operating and only brewery within the historic French Quarter, Crescent City Brewhouse.

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Filled with excitement and desire for further professional development, Karl began seeking certification through the Cicerone® Certification Program.  These certifications are akin to a sommelier of wine and demonstrates industry cognizance.  It requires a solid understanding and distinctive expertise of beer as well as an excellent ability to detect and describe beer flavors using both consumer and brewer vocabulary.

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Hartdegen transitioned to brewing for a start up and fasting growing beverage producer, Big Easy Bucha, working as the Director of Quality Assurance overseeing quality assurance, upstream beverage production, open fermentation, blending program, compliance, safety, research & development, and innovation efforts.  

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Karl then joined the city's first and most awarded craft brewery, NOLA Brewing Company, as VP of Brewing Operations with oversight of brewing, cellaring, packaging, quality assurance, R&D, procurement, and logistics processes. 

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He has now joined the Charlotte based company ABV as the Quality Assurance Manager of their Bold Rock brand.  Karl and his family live in the beer capital of the South, Asheville, North Carolina.