BBP 312 - A Handshake Between Cultures
This week the Legendary Brew Crew pull up a chair with Shahin Khojastehzad, founder of Handshake Persian Digestif, for a wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond what’s in the glass. From growing up Iranian in Maine to cutting his teeth in the beer world, Shahin breaks down how flavor, culture, and identity collide in his work, and why bitters and digestifs exist in nearly every culture on the planet, even if we don’t always call them that.
We talk Persian blue salt lagers, ethical sourcing, high ABV beers, non alcoholic options, and why some flavors are meant to support the whole experience rather than steal the spotlight. Shahin shares how Handshake came to life as a literal and figurative meeting point between Iran, Maine, and the many communities that shaped him along the way.
It’s a conversation about beer, yes, but also immigration, representation, foodways, travel, and building something meaningful without cutting corners. Grab a drink, settle in, and tap in for an episode that reminds you why culture matters just as much as what’s in your glass.
What We Drinking:
Persian Lager (ABV 4.9%) - Back Home Beer
Broken Heels Hazy IPA (NA) - New Trail Brewing
Owner
Handshake Digestif Bitters
A Persian digestive bitters marrying 28 botanicals & spices from around the world & Maine. As an Iranian immigrant who grew up in Portland, Maine this is a collage of my memories of both my homes. Persian saffron, tea, sumac & limo ommani (black fermented limes) is the Silk Road in a drop. Maine hops, spruce tips & dark robust maple syrup bring the woods to your glass. Aromas of fresh citrus, a dance of tea & wood on the tongue. Can be drunk straight after a meal to help aid digestion or used in your favorite cocktail for a dash of zest. It’s a handshake of cultures & memories, proving that we are better together.
I’ve been working on this project for 7 years and in 2019 was getting started. Like everyone else 2020 put that on hold & I fought to keep the doors open & do right by my community as Portlander. My passion for the food & beverage industry has brought me around the world & I’ve encountered a lot of regional herbal elixirs for after a big meal. In those travels flavors, memories & sensory experiences have left their imprints. Handshake is picking up where my late mother’s Shahnaz’s Persian Grille left off, adding some Iranian back spice to Portland’s culture. This project is important to me to further POC in Maine’s food & beverage industry. All the ingredients tell a story of growing up with friends from different cultures in Portland (Lemongrass from Cambodia , Hibiscus from Caribbean, Italian digestivos from my wife’s maternal side of the family, etc). I’ve used a lot of …Read More
