Beer Guys Radio | Craft Beer Podcast

Mikerphone Brewing's Mike Pallen is inspired by music Mikerphone Brewing founder and owner Mike Pallen didn't set out to be a brewer.  Although his dad worked at Miller, he didn't want his son to follow in his footsteps and urged him to go to college.  So Pallen did just that.  After getting his degree he began a career in the music industry with the ultimate goal to work at Capitol Records in Los Angeles.  That didn't happen.  However, along the way he found his love for brewing and after working at a couple of Chicago breweries he decided to start his own. Music was still very much in his blood and that inspires every beer made at Mikerphone.  Each beer is named after a song our group.  The artwork reflects the names with some familiar nods as well as some that take a bit of thought.  The artists portrayed on the beers have been mostly supportive.  When Pallen received an email from Eminem's management over his Slim Hazy beer he expected a request to cease and desist.  Instead, the

Whiskey comes in many forms, but bourbon is America's spirit The origins of bourbon are both known and debated.  We know early settlers in Virginia and Kentucky made use of the abundance of corn to distill their whiskey, but there are a variety of stories on who was first to put it in a new, charred oak barrel and to actually call it bourbon.  No matter the exact origins of bourbon we now have a spirit that is all American to enjoy.  Congress declared so in 1964 stating that bourbon is a "distinctive product of the United States."  Score one for America. We're joined this week by Bruce Tierney, all around aficionado and spirit consultant to Dekalb Bottle House.  Tierney shares with us the history of bourbon, let's us know what it takes to call a whiskey bourbon, and offers some suggestions on affordable options to test the waters as well as some of the rarer bourbons to seek out.  We also discuss what flavors to look for when tasting as well as common off flavors, and a quick course o

Crooked Run Brewing is more than just beer When Crooked Run Brewing opened co-founders Jake Endres and Lee Rogan were just 25, making them the youngest brewery owners in Virginia. They've had great growth in the last seven years. The duo has opened a second location, started making wine, and launched their Native Culture sub-brand offering wild and spontaneous ales using Virginia ingredients. Endres joined us on the show this week to talk about the journey. We've got more hot coolship talk this week, a staple of their Native Culture series. They released their first Lambic-style beers in late 2020 and will release a Geuze-style later this year. Coolships, wine, and fruity seltzers In addition to beer they've also began making "low-intervention wine", also called natural wines, that use less or no additives in the process. Crooked Run has also got into the seltzer game, making massively overfruited versions. (How did we get here? Wasn't seltzer supposed to be a lighter, lower ca

Monday Night Brewing's Peter Kiley talks about taking "safe" beers to the next level Monday Night Brewing started as a Bible study group with founders Jonathan Baker, Jeff Heck, and Joel Iverson.  In addition to learning the word the group brewed beer together, on Monday nights.  When popularity among their friends continued to grow they realized they may on to something.  Monday Night Brewing opened their original taproom in Atlanta in 2013. Brewmaster Peter Kiley tells how they brewed "safe" beers in the early days.  Golden ales, a "pseudo Pilsner", a simple IPA.  The beers weren't bad, they just weren't necessarily exciting, and the craft crazies demand excitement.  Kiley and I had a conversation many years ago about ideas he had for beers that would be expensive to make, and he wasn't sure that craft consumers would be on board with that.  In time, consumers demanded bigger, bolder, better beers, and they were willing to pay for them.  One of the early br

Welcome to the Beer Guys Radio Craft Beer Podcast!  We love craft beer and we love sharing with others.  Join hosts Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt every week as we talk with the amazing people of craft beer.We talk new beers and new breweries, brewing science, beer history, homebrewing, beer culture, and much more.  Grab a pint, have a seat, and tune in!PART OF THE PODCAST PARK NETWORKhttps://www.thepodcastpark.com/ ADD BEER GUYS RADIO TO YOUR STATIONThe terrestrial Beer Guys Radio broadcast is available on the XDS satellite platform via GCN distribution. To pick up the feed on your AM/FM station please reach out to GCN Affiliate Relations staff Adam Miller at (877) 996-4327 ext. 148 or Joe Sparra at (727) 867-8286.CONNECT WITH US!Questions, comments, feedback: beerguys@beerguysradio.com.Website | https://beerguysradio.comInstagram | https://www.instagram.com/beerguysradio/Twitter | https://twitter.com/BeerGuysRadioFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/Patreon | https://www.patreon.com/beerguysSee omnystudio.com/l

Six Bridges Brewing celebrates 2nd anniversary as they eye expansion Just ahead of the kickoff for the 2nd Anniversary month Six Bridges Brewing's Clay Gridley joined us the studio for this week's show. Clay is one half of the father and son team behind Six Bridges, dad Charles Gridley makes up the other half.  A Georgia Tech grad, Charles enjoyed homebrewing in his spare time as a chemical engineer and notes his engineer background brings valuable experience to the team.  Clay took some time off to be a professional ski bum in Colorado before becoming a firefighter.  He enjoyed his homebrewing as well and the pair often talked about opening a brewery one day. In 2018 they made it happen with their opening in Johns Creek, GA.  The initial plan was to never brew the same beer twice but after the overwhelming popularity of some of their inaugural beers they decided it's OK to have a few staples.  Medlock IPA and their Pink Guava Sour Continuum are always favorites. We talk with Clay about how th

WeldWerks Brewing has way too many barrels We last talked with WeldWerks Brewing in early 2019 as Jake Goodman and Neil Fisher joined us on the show.  This week, we catch up with them again as CEO Colin Jones and Innovation and Wood Cellar Lead Skip Schwartz join us. We're big fans of WeldWerks and I don't think I've had a beer from them I didn't enjoy.  They're most known for their Juicy Bits IPA but they brew amazing sours and stouts as well.  Just like us, they're fans of that long boil, with some stouts boiling for a day and a half or more.  The flavor and viscosity of these beers is hard to match with weak little 1-2 hour boils. The brewery has kept up its aggressive release schedule, with five new beers debuting this week.  Schwartz helps keep things fresh and exciting with new brews, but also looks at the processes to continuously improve there as well.  The barrel program has grown well beyond their initial intentions and they currently have some pretty amazing barrels (

Work Sucks, Drink Beer Lupulin Brewing sounds like they've got things figured out - Work Sucks, Drink Beer seems appropriate, especially now.  Founder Jeff Zierdt and Matt Schiller focus on making delicious beers for your off-hours.  Although they're known for their hoppy offerings, as their name implies, they offer up many other styles as well.  They've won several awards for their German-style lagers, make some tasty porters and stouts, and have a thriving sour program.  We caught up with Schiller as he passed through Atlanta and sat down to talk shop and share some of his brews. We had to talk hops so we discuss the different methods of hop delivery and what Lupulin prefers to use.   We dive some into experimental hops and the interesting flavors that are coming out today (oak barrel and coconut?), and we dive into lagers some, with talk of their GABF Doppelbock and other German goodies. Visit Lupulin Brewing Lupulin has two tasting rooms for you to enjoy: Minnesota | 570 Humboldt Drive, S

Diversity in craft beer is improving, but we still have a lot to do Leaders of the Brew School (LOBS) is an Atlanta-based organization celebrating people of color in craft beer.  The industry has a fairly accurate stereotype of being dominated by bearded white guys, but people of all races and colors love craft beer, and LOBS wants to encourages others to drink, brew, and enjoy. We're ahead of the curve in Atlanta.  There are at least half a dozen black-owned breweries opened or opening in the city.  Speaking with members of LOBS they mention that they have new ideas and new flavors to bring to craft.  Just like we enjoy foods from many cultures, black brewers want to express their culture through beer. Even with the boom of black breweries in Atlanta there are still many challenges ahead.  Business education, funding resources, and other core needs are lacking in the community.  LOBS wants to spread the word on what is needed for true acceptance and growth of black brewers in Atlanta and across the coun

Sixpoint Brewery talks Cicerone certification, crispy lagers, and nuclear submarines Sixpoint Brewery first came to recognition for their bright Resin DIPA.  As the name implies, this isn't a hazy and fruity beer.  Resin packs a punch of pine and citrus to quench your thirst for that West Coast goodness.  Education and Training Manager Max Finnance wants you to enjoy Resin, and all your beers, a bit more and he joins us this week to talk about just how to do that. Before his life in beer Finnance was stationed on a nuclear submarine and tells us some of the science background he gained has helped in his brewery life.  He's a certified Advanced Cicerone as well as a BJCP Certified beer judge.  Read, he knows his beer.  He admits that this type of in-depth education isn't for everyone but if you're a passionate beer fan you can still learn a bit more about your beers, and how to drink them.  Sure, we all think we know how to drink, but do we really?  Some of the classes he teaches are design

Steady Hand Beer Co. talks collaborations, charity brews, and the booze hookah We're drinking local this week as Brian Sullivan from Steady Hand Beer Co. joins us in the studio! Steady Hand celebrated their first anniversary just before Covid shut everything down. They used that time to partners with others that were struggling and do some collaboration brews, as well as getting a beehive up and running at the brewery for future honey-brewing. One of the great charities that Steady Hand partnered with is the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance as they weren't able to hold their annual gala fundraiser. This one hits home for me as I lost my mother to cancer in '92. Check out their site for more info and definitely show them support if you're able to.  We chat with Brian more about what's brewing and the plan for more lagers and sours, tiki drinks, culinary influences in brewing, their Liquid Lab, and a lot more. We had a lot of Steady Hand Beer to sip on while we talked and really enjoyed

Burn the Ships and press on, there's no turning back at Able Ebenezer Brewing Co. Able Ebenezer co-founder isn't a New Hampshire native, he's a California boy.  But when Frizzelle and partner Carl Soderberg were looking for a place to call home the Granite State won it.  The brew scene was vibrant but not too crowded, and Frizzelle liked the Live Free or Die motto. They even named their brewery after a local hero, Ebenezer Mudgett, who defied the British crown in 1772 to fight oppressive laws.  Frizzelle shares the story of Ebenezer with us as we talk about his beer and brewery and the stories behind some of the beer names.  Their best seller Burn the Ships (a cherry wood smoked IPA) is a reference to a military tactic where you leave no option to retreat, success is the only choice.  We also sample their Victory Nor Defeat, a tasty DIPA.  Interestingly, both of the IPAs we got from this New England brewery were very clear.  Crazy. We also discuss the booming craft beer scene in New Hampshire,

Bravus Brewing has helped usher in a new wave of non-alcoholic beer It wasn't that long ago that your choices were limited to a few macro brews if you want a beer but didn't want the booze.  O'Doul's and... what are the others?  Today, Bravus Brewing and a handful of other brewers are offering up an increasing variety of non-alcoholic options. There are myriad reasons someone may reach of a non-alcoholic brew.  For me, the doc told me to take it a bit easy on the alcohol - a tough thing for a Beer Guy.  You also have people who need to totally avoid alcohol, pregnant mothers, designated drivers, and calorie conscious folks looking to enjoy a brew. Under doctor's orders I started exploring some of the options available.  I've found a few good alternatives and a lot of not-so-good ones.  The big struggle for NA brewers is that, whether you taste it or not, alcohol does add to the flavor profile of a beer.  This makes it easier to brew alcohol-free options with bolder flavors, and

August Schell Brewing Co. embraces their past as they look ahead to a bright future There aren't many breweries in America that can say they are working through their second global pandemic, but August Schell Brewing Co. has that "honor."  Founded in 1860, the brewery sold candy and other items to survive Prohibition and the sixth generation of the Marti Family is still running the brewery today. VP of Operations Kyle Marti and Brewmaster Jace Marti joined us on the show this week to talk about their breweries history and future.  With gardens, a museum, a mansion, and even a small family of deer and some peacocks, Schell's is a lot more than just a brewery.  In addition to brewing their famous Deer Brand pre-Prohibition style American Lager they also have an impressive mixed fermentation sour beer program. Craft Beer News Molson Coors and Yuengling Have Formed a Joint Venture Boston Beer Company is Getting Into the Non-Alcoholic Beer Game A Man in Vacaville, California Saved His Hom

Tomme Arthur talks state of the industry, beer trends, dextrose farmers The Lost Abbey and Port Brewing are well known to most craft beer fans.  Many of their beers make "White Whale" lists and see fans clamoring for short pours at bottle shares or searching trade forms to land their catch. Founder and Chief Operating Owner Tomme Arthur discovered craft beer while pursuing an English degree.  By the time he he graduating his mind was set on a career in brewing.  Prior to starting The Lost Abbey he earned several accolades at other breweries including Small Brewpub and Small Brewery of the Year at the Great American Beer Festival along with Small Brewpub and Small Brewery Brewer of the Year. Arthur talks with us about brewing in those early days and the styles that were popular, comparing beer to music and where we are as an industry.  We discuss the role and importance of terroir in brewing, and how each beer tells a story.  We also sample offerings of his other brands (The Hop Concept and Tiny Bubb

Oktoberfest brings Festbiers, Märzens, and Mustard Flights Once again it is time for our annual Oktoberfest blind beer tasting!  We look forward to this show every year and its frequently my first dip into Oktoberfest beers after my self-imposed ban from drinking any before September 1st.  It’s my little way of standing up against seasonal creep.  Just say no to Oktoberfests and pumpkin beers in July. To help us with this daunting task we invite some of our friends from the industry to help us out.  This year’s judging panel: Joe McIntyre | Brewmaster at Scofflaw Brewing Co. “Digi-Dude” Nate Hanson | Executive Producer and On-Air Personality at Bailey and Southside on Atlanta’s Rock 100.5 Nathan Schieber | Renaissance Man.  Nathan has worked at a couple of brewers and can frequently be found collaborating with other brewers in the South. Nathan Ellingson (aka “No Mic Nathan”) | Beer Buyer for Vintage Bottle Shop in Acworth, GA and occasional Beer Guys Sound Assistant That’s right, the studio was 50% Nathans

La Fria es la nueva Caribbean Lager de Second Self Beer Co. y es muy sabrosa   Second Self Beer Co.'s co-founder Jason Santamaria joins us on the show this week to talk new beers, new beverages, heading to Puerto Rico, and what beers pair best with classic video games. In their sixth year, Second Self reflects on the past to help brighten their future.  Santamaria tells us there will be some changes to the beer line-up and branding, and plenty of new beverages on the horizon.  There were plans for a big remodel of the tasting room this year to fit a Bladerunner retro theme, complete with some retro games, but Covid but the brakes on that for now.  The brewery recently launched two new beverage brands with Cirrus CBD water and Rudi's Hard Seltzer.  Ready-to-drink canned cocktails are in their future as well. We sample two of the newest offerings from Second Self's beer portfolio as we chat - La Fria Caribbean lager and Game Night DDH IPA.  Santamaria corrected me a couple of times when I likened

Luminous Brewhouse is helping introduce their small town to craft beer Although they weren't the first brewery in town, Luminous Brewhouse is still helping to introduce a lot of non-craft drinkers to craft beer.  It wasn't that long ago that your typical macro lagers were the only game in town, and plenty of folks are just fine with that.  With just 18,000 people Sheridan, Wyoming is home to three breweries.  Impressive. Co-founder Cooley Butler and General Manager Jonny Law (yes, his real name.. well, Jonathan Law) joined is this week to talk about what's popular in their area, utilizing local ingredients, and tell us all about the Chilluminati. Sponsor Spotlight: Southern Recipe Small Batch pork rinds - Beer pairing, discount code! We also had Donn Paul with Southern Recipe Small Batch join us, our super-tasty pork rind show sponsor.  He gives us some fun pork rind facts (so fun) and we talk about pairing their interesting flavors with beers.  Seriously, we love these pork rinds.  You can get

Pipeworks Brewing focuses on controlled expansion and innovative brews to keep things moving forward Since opening in 2012 Pipeworks Brewing has received praise for their brews.  As their became more and more popular the brewery chose to keep their growth controlled, only sending beer to areas where it would be appreciated and move quickly.  Locally, Pipeworks makes sure only their freshest and best beers get to consumers by self-distributing.  In addition to allowing the brewery to keep more of the money from the beer they sale it also allows them to remain hands on with all of their accounts. This week we're joined by Director of Sales Ricky Boehm and Brewers Scott Coffman and Nate Morton.  We talk about the early days of the brewery and the days of killing it on Kickstarter, their Abduction stouts and any new variants that may be in the works, scaling up, and what Pipeworks beer would pair best with an Italian beef... there's some debate on this one. Pipeworks Brewing Co.3912 West McLean Avenue C

Meet brewery owner, punk rocker, and Emmy-winning TV news camera man... Burnt Hickory Brewery's Scott Hedeen Burnt Hickory Brewery's founder and brewmaster Scott Hedeen has been a "friend of the show" since before the show was even a show.  In the early days of Burnt Hickory (when Georgia breweries could only do tastings) we visited for the monthly gathering to enjoy their core beers and sneak a small pour of their rarities like Kolb's Farm stout and Charred Walls of the Damned Quad.  The tastings started with small groups of 30ish people but over time grew to welcome 1,000 or more at their events. Hedeen has never shied away from doing crazy things with beer.  You'll find basic IPAs, Pilsners, and Stouts available but you also might find a beer loaded with coffee and stroboscopes, or blended with Butterfinger bars.  Most of his creations are excellent, although he admits the candy corn IPA was a bad call. With opinions on every subject it's easy to get Hedeen on a roll.  Wh