Beer Guys Radio | Craft Beer Podcast

New people, new beers, and an old name for Atlanta Brewing Company  Opened in 1993, Atlanta Brewing Company is the oldest production brewery in Georgia.  They started with that name but changed to Red Brick Brewing Co. in 2010, named after their most popular beer.  It’s surprising that our oldest brewery is only 25, but with that little Prohibition thing in America and Georgia’s historically awful brewery laws, that’s quite a feat.  Others have come and gone, some moved on to open other breweries, but Atlanta Brewing Co. has stood strong, even when they shouldn’t have. Director of Brewing Operations Gavin McKenna joined Atlanta Brewing Co. in June 2017 after four years at the popular Wrecking Bar Brewpub.  Although there’s renewed popularity of the beer since McKenna came on board, he’s quick to admit there were many others that helped build the brewery well before he stepped foot inside.  A visit to the taproom offers up 20 varied and unique beers from popular hazy IPAs to classic English ales and even a “La

Monks Meadery says there's a story in every drop Monks Meadery owner Justin Schoendorf started his business because the brewery scene was already "crowded" in Georgia with four breweries here, and he wanted to offer something different.  He started homebrewing beer in college and eventually migrated to meadmaking.  He enjoyed it, and so did his friends, and Georgia's first meadery was born. Schoendorf tells us exactly what mead is, we talk about the growth in popularity and availability, current mead trends, and Renaissance Festivals - Monks Meadery is the official mead of the Georgia Renaissance Festival, with a festival map on the can. (Pro tip.. he said his mead pairs perfectly with a roasted turkey leg.) Our beers (and meads) of the week... Monks Meadery Monks Mead | Traditional Mead Monks Meadery Peachin' to the Choir | Peach Tea Session Mead Monks Meadery Stigmata | Hibiscus Session Mead with rose, elderflower, and lightly hopped (Preview) Monks Meadery Abstinence in the Abbey

What's luck if you ain't from Kentucky? The founders of Louisville, Kentucky's Against the Grain Brewery got their start because they weren't satisfied with the way beer was being represented in their town.  After a disappointing visit to a local brewpub, whose brewhouse sat unused in a dark and dusty corner, they hunted down the owner and offered to buy the place.  Today, Against the Grain Brewery and Smokehouse is nestled in that spot at Louisville Slugger Field, home to baseball's minor league Louisville Bats. This week, co-owner Sam Cruz joins us to talk about their journey to opening the brewery, how beer names drive recipe creation, and how Japan and Europe are just small steps in their plan for world domination because "Everyone deserves Against the Grain beer." We're also joined by Fish Scales and Skinny Deville of Nappy Roots and Atlantucky Brewing.  If you're a regular listener of Beer Guys Radio you've likely heard us talk beer with the Nappy Roots

Tim and Brian pontificate on the many styles of IPA We had a guest lined up for this week, we were all set up and ready to go, but we weren't able to connect with them.  We're all about making lemonade (or maybe a nice lemon Gose) out of lemons so we fired up the mics and freestyled a short show.  We're sampling some IPAs so we discuss the many styles of IPA and if all IPAs are really IPAs. We also introduce a fairly new team member, Sam Kempe.  Sam's been behind the scenes for a while, he's a man of few words, but as our Audio Engineer, he makes sure all our ramblings get recorded each week.  Brian even sings about beer for a few seconds. There were a few new beers in the rotation this week, like Creature Comforts' Goodie Pils, and Monday Night's Locals Only and Mischief Managed Peach.  Trusty Tritonia was in the mix along with a beer that sounds like a high school athlete, Tre Fontaine.  Founders' Barrel Runner made an appearance and made Brian cry because he still ha

Arcadia Ales are British Inspired, American Brewed Michigan has a thriving craft beer scene and Arcadia Ales has been a part of it for over 20 years.  Originally based in Battle Creek, an expansion brought them to Kalamazoo where their brewery sits on 400' of riverfront allowing visitors to launch their kayaks and canoes, or just relax and have a beer. For most of their history, Arcadia brewed exclusively via a process unique to most American breweries.  All of their beers were fermented in open vessels with a single yeast strain.  In 2016 they added closed fermenters and other yeasts, but a large portion of their portfolio is still brewed with their open fermentation method.  They've also started a sour program and released beers like Battle Kriek, and further experimentation recently brought them to making mead. Arcadia's Director of Sales Steffan Phillippo joined us this week to talk about how the Britsh inspiration is implemented, the challenges of open fermentation, cherry festivals, glitt

Common Bond Brewers is helping revitalize Downtown Montgomery, Alabama Many homebrewers have a dream to open their own brewery.  For Common Bond Brewers co-founder Andrew McNally the dream grabbed him in 2014 after participating in a homebrew competition with Good People Brewing in Birmingham, AL.  As he drove home her pondered life, liberty, and starting his own brewery.   He decided then that he was going to make it happen.  Andrew partnered with his friend Tim Doles and the two set out to build a brewery.  With the help of friends investments and putting their own financial tails on the line they opened in April 2018, the first production brewery in town in Montgomery. McNally and Doles admit that Montgomery isn't a craft beer town, yet.  However, there was overwhelming excitement from the community leading up to the brewery opening and fantastic support since they've opened.  Their core beers (a Blonde, Pale Ale. IPA, and a Rye Amber) offer familiar flavors and a little something different.  Thr

Reformation Brewery prepares to 'Set Beer Free' at their second location Woodstock, GA is a fairly small community about 30 miles north of Atlanta.  It's been my home for 14 years and Reformation Brewery's home for nearly five.  When I moved here the "big" news/controversy in town was the opening of a new Super Wal-Mart.  Many of the city's elder residents didn't think we needed that kind of growth, the old Wal-Mart was just fine (it wasn't).  Now, the Downtown Woodstock area is lined with shops and restaurants, we have an amphitheater, a really nice trail system, and a brewery. As Reformation approaches that 5th anniversary, they're preparing to open their second location.  The 6,00-square-foot space is in the heart of Downtown Woodstock, close to all those fancy amenities I mentioned earlier.  A 5-barrel brewhouse will serve up a variety of small-batch beers to visitors.  The split plan will have various areas to relax and enjoy your brew, with one section s

Two Tides owner James Massey talks about the journey from CPA to IPA Savannah, Georgia's Two Tides Brewing Co. is only four months old but they're already making waves with their IPAs and sour beers.  While getting his accounting degree, Owner and Head Brewer James Massey started homebrewing.  After college, he became a CPA and spent several years shuffling numbers before deciding it was time to start his brewery.  Savannah already had a few breweries but James wanted to build in an area where they weren't allowed.  He worked with business owners in the area and the city to change that.  After a long battle, Two Tides became a reality. We talk with James about hazy IPAs, sour beers, small-batch brewing, the importance of branding and artwork, and serving frozen beer from a gas station slushie machine.  We also get a few pairing suggestions for Two Tides' beers and decide that each day needs a total of four drinking sessions. Craft Beer News In the news this week Brian tells us about more B

The 5th Segment with Hop Soul Brewery Hop Soul founders Justin and Elizabeth Crandall were in Atlanta over the 4th of July holiday and joined us in the studio last week.  Our featured guest was Chris Meadows of Elkmont Exchange, but we wanted to give a bit of info on Hop Soul as well.  I mean, they did take time out to come visit us, it's the least we could do.  After the regular taping we kept chatting and we realized we still had some good info to share so we turned the mics back on and... boom, 5th segment. In this extra episode we find out a bit more about what's going to happen at Hop Soul, why they chose an old Shoney's for their brewery location, the craft beer scene in Georgia's Golden Isles, tasting rooms, the beach, quality vs. quantity, and who Justin considers craft beer's "new Budweiser." Hop Soul is targeting to open in Brunswick, GA by October 1, 2018.  To keep up with their progress visit their website or follow them on Facebook or Instagram. What is "Th

Elkmont Exchange brings craft beer and charcuterie to Knoxville, TN Above Photo: Elkmont Exchange You may be surprised to find out that a brewpub in Tennessee was founded by a team whose first brewing venture was in Saigon (or is that Ho Chi Minh City?) Vietnam.  Alex Violette started his boozy career at Upslope Brewing in Boulder, CO where he met Bethany Lovato, a craft beer industry veteran.  After falling head over heels for each other they had the opportunity to move to Vietnam and open an American craft brewery, Pasteur Street.  Elkmont Exchange's third founder, Ryan Davenport, had grown up in Knoxville with Violette and after honing his culinary skills in Southern restaurants joined the team at Pasteur Street.  The brewery thrived and continues to thrive, but the team was ready for their next challenge.  They returned to Knoxville and Elkmont Exchange was born. The trio selected Chris Meadows as Head Brewer at their new brewpub.  Meadows got his start at Atlanta's SweetWater Brewing where he w

Get ready for the 4th of July with Beer & BBQ pairing tips Just in time for the mid-week (don't you hate that?) holiday, The Beer Sommelier Matt Simpson and Smyrna Beer Market owner Brandon King join us to offer up tips on pairing your backyard BBQ with some tasty brews. Simpson is Siemens/Doemens Bier Sommelier Certified, a Kansas City Barbecue Society certified judge, former instructor of Beer Education at Atlanta's Emory University, and craft beer consultant.  His expertise has been featured on The Today Show, Fox Business News, NPR Radio and through many other TV, radio, and magazine appearances.  More information on his experience and services can be found at TheBeerExpert.com. King is the owner of Smyrna Beer Market by The Stout Bros. and has spent many years in the restaurant industry including co-owning a BBQ restaurant.  He also serves as a consultant to the food-service industry for menu development and beverage programs. On this week's show, we learn the difference in barbecuing

When Travis Fritts and Nate Rykse started Old Nation Brewing Co. they brought 14+ years of brewing education and experience with them.  They'd dedicated their lives to learning the technical aspects of brewing as well as the differences in brewing methods and ingredients across different cultures.  The result is a brewery that blends these different methods and ingredients to produce unique beers. Initially, the beer they offered was "very traditional and technically accurate."  Director of Growth & Strategy Mark Logusz recounts, "The beer was great, but it was not what anybody wanted to drink."  With that realization, Fritts engaged the members of a local beer group to talk about new styles and after some discussion invited a few out to help with a pilot batch.  The result was the first batch of M-43. Logusz sat down with us recently during M-43's Atlanta market launch.  We chat about "testing the waters" in Atlanta at the Day of the Juice festival, trying to keep

New Realm Brewing Co. is booming on the Beltline In early 2018, New Realm Brewing Co. opened on the Beltline in the heart of Atlanta.  Co-founders Carey Falcone, Bob Powers, and Mitch Steele aren't new to the beer business.  Falcone and Powers have worked various roles in the industry for over 25 years.  Steele managed fermentation for three breweries as well as new beer development at Anheuser-Busch, and prior to starting New Realm, he was the Brewmaster for Stone Brewing in California.  Steele helped define the West Coast IPA style and authored a book on the subject, IPA: Brewing Techniques, Recipe, and the Evolution of India Pale Ale.  With a power team and a prime location, New Realm has seen explosive growth in their short six-month existence. With the unfortunate shuttering of Green Flash Brewing in Virginia Beach, New Realm seized an opportunity to grow quickly.  They purchased the brewery assets of the location and later worked a multi-year lease on the building.  Their soon-to-open Virginia brew

Hardywood Park is determined to 'Brew With Purpose' Hardywood Park Craft Brewery's founders Eric McKay and Patrick Murtaugh have known each other most of their lives.  After sampling some homebrew on a farm in Australia the stage was set.  After many years working in the craft beer industry, they were destined to open their own brewery.  McKay became Richmond, Virginia's first Certified Cicerone and while attending brewing school Murtaugh found out his family's brewing history goes back several generations. From the time they opened in 2011, Hardywood Park has strived to 'Brew With Purpose.'  They implement that mantra in their recipes, employee and customer relations, brewing with local ingredients, and minimizing their impact on the environment.  The brewery has grown to include three locations and expanded distribution offering a huge variety of styles and variants.  Their sought-after Gingerbread Stout taught them about dealing with hordes of consumers and is still antic

In the land of hazy IPAs, von Trapp loves their lagers von Trapp brewing in Stowe, Vermont is smack in the middle of NE IPA country, but they're all about lagers. Founder Johannes von Trapp was inspired by the lagers her sampled while visiting the countryside of his ancestral home on Austria.  With a goal to brew an American version of these beers, von Trapp Brewing opened in the lower level of Trapp Family Lodge's DeliBakery.  Today, they're brewing 50,000 gallons of beer each year and distributing to several neighboring states. Brewmaster JP Williams was born in New Jersey and attended college in New Hampshire.  During his college days, he took a trip to Dublin, Ireland and visited the Guinness Brewery, sparking his interest in all things beer.  He later traded in some textbooks to buy homebrew gear and even changed his major to include more chemistry.  His brewing career started at Magic Hat where he worked his way up to Operations Manager however he realized big brewery life wasn't for

What's better than beer and baseball?  On this Memorial Day weekend, we celebrate these two great things. Terrapin's ATL Brew Lab is located in the Battery, home of SunTrust Park and the Atlanta Braves.  We talk to the crew from the Brew Lab about brewing beer for ballparks, creative brewing at a smaller facility vs. a larger production brewery, and the sheer joy of Fox Brothers country fried ribs.  TRUCK AND TAP'S BEERS OF THE WEEK: A bevy of Terrapin ATL Taproom beers, including an English mild, Helles Lager and Dopplebock.    HEADLINES:  The TTB has brought the hammer down on “cannabis derivatives” in beer Schmaltz Brewing Company has sold its Clifton Park, NY Brewery Zundert Trappist 8 Ale is Heading to the US Craft Beer Crowdfunding Organization “The Brewing Investors Guild” Launched in Colorado Sweetwater Plans to Convert their Tasting Room into a Bar and Restaurant Next week, we're talking to Vermont's Von Trapp Brewery. Have a great weekend, and don't forget to DR

When you think about Augusta, you probably think about that big golf tournament.  You likely don't think about craft beer. And up until a couple years ago, you'd be right. Georgia's second largest city had been a beer desert. But some pioneers are starting to change that.  From beer bars like the Hive to breweries like Riverwatch and Savannah River Brewing Company, it's now possible to get some great craft beer in the city.  On this episode, we talk to Savannah River Brewing Company owner Steve Ellison, head brewer Adam Fullmer and taproom manager Ashlie Arsenault about the craft scene, developing a brewery, and the startup process. Plus, Tim tries to pronounce "Phinizy Swamp" with hilarious results.  Truck and Tap's Beers of the Week:  All of the beers from Savannah River Brewing company. And we mean all of them.  Headlines:  A Study Finds Microplastics in Beer Made With Great Lakes Water Corporate Giant Beer Company Lion Is Trying to Trademark “Dank” and “Common” R

Harris Stewart used to procrastinate studying law in college by brewing beer. Until one day, he realized that he should probably brew for a living. TrimTab was born out of that desire. We talk to Harris about the Alabama brewing scene, running a business and managing a family, expansion into Georgia and of course the beer. Plus, with the summer months coming, we'll learn why it's not a great idea to leave your beer in the car. Truck and Tap's Beers of the Week:  Trim Tab Paradise Waits Berliner Weisse Trim Tab IPA TrimTab 006 Hazy IPA Southern Grist Hair of the Wizard Headlines: MillerCoors Chairman, Pete Coors, Writes “Open Letter” to Brewers Association Nikos Ridge President of Ninkasi Brewing Writes Response Big Win For GA: The Governor has Signed the Sunday Brunch Bill Coming up next week, we're taking a trip to Augusta to check out the beer scene. Have a great week, and don't forget to DRINK LOCAL. Cheers!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Thanks for li

It's no secret that Atlanta is a great food town. But it's also becoming a fantastic beer town as well.  So if you're a brewpub, you have to keep up with both.  Wrecking Bar Brewpub has been able to do that. From crafting amazing beers (that are now being canned, thanks to new law changes) to providing fine fare, the Atlanta brewpub has managed to thrive in this busy and competitive market.  We talk to owner and brewer emeritus Bob Sandage about his brewpub, new Georgia laws, and whether or not milkshake IPAs are really a beer.  Truck and Tap's Beers of the Week:  Numerous beers from Wrecking Bar Weihenstephaner/Sierra Nevada Braupakt Headlines:  Update: New Realm to Open Brewery and Tap Room in VA Green Flash Location Molson Coors Reported a Big Drop in Beer Sales Nappy Roots Collaborating on New Beers, Developing Craft Beer/Travel Reality Show A 220 Year-Old Ale From A Shipwreck Has Been Brought Back To Life in Australia AB-InBev is Releasing Beer “Inspired” by a Recipe from Geor

Not long ago, if you wanted an amazing craft beer, you reached for something from Belgium.  Today, American craft beer has made huge strides, and many Americans (and non-Americans) reach for American beers first.  But Belgian beer is still the bomb and should definitely not be missed by any beer fan. On this week's show Kraig Torres (Hop City, Barleygarden) and Jen Price (The Chick's Guide to Beer, Atlanta Beer Boutique) join us to talk about all things Belgian beer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSSFollow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes,