Beer Guys Radio | Craft Beer Podcast

Our beer fest tour continues...Last weekend we took our happy selves to Duluth, GA for the Les Bon Beer Festival hosted by our good friends at Good Word Brewing.Good Word always puts on a great event and this highly-curated selection of brewers and oyster farmers was no exception.  We enjoyed a variety of saisons, mixed fermentation brews, and oysters as we chatted with some of the events participants.We always love to learn more about things we don't know about.  Ed Mera of Mera Brothers Oysters joins us to drop some general knowledge on oysters, the impact of hurricanes on oysters, green gills, and merroir.Averie Swanson from Keeping Together tells us about her brewery and the journey from Texas, to Chicago, to New Mexico while educating us all on mixed culture beers.  We get a shot of Underberg to keep our digestion in check, and discuss the wonders of Malort.There are a few people we know well and always have good conversations with.  Orpheus Brewing's Jason Pellett is one of those people.  Jaso

Did you see all the madness going around last week over the rumor that the Biden administration was going to tell Americans they can only have 2 beers a week?  It was crazy and, from what we read, seemed to be an off the cuff comment blown out of proportion, but it made for some good discussion.Larry Horwitz, currently with Crooked Hammock Brewery, but with a long resume, joined us on the show this week.  We learn a bit about his brewery and what they're up to, talk about the changing craft beer industry, and ponder the impact that legal weed has on craft beer.  There's some lager talk, and Larry debunks his nickname of the Light Lager Whisperer, but that doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy them. As part of the Brewers Associations draft beer committee Larry tells us about the challenges facing draft and the "state of the industry" for draft beer.  We also get a great story about (the beer writer) Michael Jackson and peanut butter beer.  Good times.Annnnnnd.... we are now OFFICIALLY ab

Last weekend we hung out with the crew at Terrapin Brewery Atlanta for the Live at the Battery beer fest.  It was an awesome time filled with BBQ, beer, and great conversation.Joining us on the show we had Terrapin co-founder Spike Buckowski and lead brewer Chad Martin.  We covered a lot of ground in our conversation.We discuss the art of whiskey blending.  It's not easy to produce a consistent product, or to put out a new one that's a winner and offers something unique.Spike gives us the scoop on Terrapin's 25th Anniversary beer, BBA Old Snapper Barleywine.  We can't wait to get our hands on some of that one.We open a few Terrapin vintage beers from Brian's cellar and talk about the fortress of wax on Terrapin's early wax-dipped bottles.  Tiramisu Hoo, Cinnamom Roll'd WnB, and a Tart CherryWnB.We reminisce about Belgian beer and how for many of us that was our gateway to the wonderful world of craft.Spike share's info on his travels to Canada and the malty adventures t

Apparently Germany has a raccoon problem.  Drunken ones at that.  The population has exploded in recent years and the furry troublemakers are breaking into homes, tearing stuff, and getting lit.  They sound like they'd be cool to hangout with. We got a new beer style, or do we?  I've been using my skeptical face lately with some of these new beer styles.  Apparently, West Coast Pilsner is a thing.  But it sounds like the flavor isn't what you'd expect from something with "West Coast" in the name.British Brewers battered by Brexit.  In addition to the standard issues facing brewers today it sounds like Brexit is causing grief for some of Britain's brewers.  Many are noting huge losses of export sales due to Brexit, and some are closing.  That'll teach 'em.Billy Busch Wants To Make Bud Light Great Again.  Ol' Billy claimed on a recent interview he'd buy back the brand.  Sounds like just some puffing of the chest for attention, but who even knows these days.

Maui Brewing is leading efforts for wildfire reliefEarlier this week a fire ripped through the town of Lahaina on Maui.  The losses were devastating, a nearly total loss of the entire city.   Maui Brewing is leading the initiative for relief efforts through direct contributions, sharing resources, and starting the Kokua Project for a collaborative brew inspired by Sierra Nevada's Resilience project.  Follow the links below for more info on ways you can support these efforts. TS Restaurants Legacy of Aloha - which will help the affected employees and their familiesMakai Foundation - which will support rebuilding effortsMaui Brewing Fire Fund - which will raise funds to deal with additional needs on the ground. And if you’re a brewery and you would like to sign up to participate in the Kokua Project, you can find out more on the Maui Brewing website.Go to:  MauiBrewingCo.com/kokuaWhat's the price for a case of beer in your state?Beer prices across the country vary greatly.  Taxes, shipping, and other

We had to wing it this week...Unfortunately, our guest had a last minute emergency this week and we'll have to reschedule Larry for another time.  It's cool, we've got this.  We can always talk about beer.Canned Fish and Beer Pairing?One of our latest obsessions is tinned seafood.  Sounds like we're kind of late to the party here but at least we made it to the party.  I've always enjoyed a nice kipper or some tuna salad but there's a whole world out there I had no idea about.  Fish lovers have their own forums, inside jokes, and memes just like beer nerds.  Weirdos.  We offer up some pairing suggestions for those that want to explore this salty world with us.  Grab yourself some deens (that's what the cool kids call sardines) and grab a brew.  If you've got any favorites please let us know.Tilray Buys a Bunch of BreweriesThe big news in beer this week is Tilray's purchase of 8 brands from Anheuser Busch.  There's plenty of debate on whether this is a smart or

Black is Beautiful Vol. 2 is comingMarcus Baskerville of Weathered Souls Brewing didn't intend to start a movement when he created his Black is Beautiful beer.  Intentional or not, the movement happened, with 1,200+ breweries across all 50 states and 22 countries brewery their take on the Imperial Stout.  Vol. 2 is underway, this one will be a NEIPA.National Black Brewers AssociationLess than 1% of the nearly 10,000 craft breweries in the US are black-owned, the National Black Brewers Association (NB2A) aims to change that.  Through raising awareness the organization aims to the number of African Americans in brewing while raising awareness of the African American brewing history, opening more opportunity and resources for black brewers, and much more.  Listen as Marcus shares about the organization and their goals.Seasonal Creep and Pumpkin HateIt's going to happen.  I can't stop it.  But we don't have to like.  Hear our takes on seasonal creep of all things and our exception for a bit of

What do you think of GMO yeast in your beer?They're definitely controversial, but there are some interesting things being done with GMO yeasts like "diacetyl-free" yeast, or yeasts like Sourivisae that produce lactic acid.  Recently, thiolized yeasts have received a lot of press.  American brewers are using these yeasts in beer every day, but due to stringent GMO guidelines they aren't available outside of the US yet.And we've got some interesting hop talk this week, too.  A farmer in Bavaria us growing hops under solar panels.  This setup provides enough electricity for 250 households and the hops benefit from a bit of shade from rising temps, requiring less water.  Reports are the hops are doing well, and may even increase yield.  A scientific analysis of the project will be concluded in October.More brewery drama this week as Leinenkugel's Wisconsin brewers have gone on strike for higher wages, which they say are lagging behind similar businesses.  In one case, a brewer is onl

It's tough to find positive news when looking at beer and brewery stats right now.  New permit applications are down, beer festivals are on the decline, and we've all seen the closures of some of our favorite breweries this year.However, there's a small ray of hope for Anchor Brewing after announcing their closure last week.  A few investors have stepped forward to express their interest in buying the brewery.  Two have said they'll keep things small and focused to start, and one wants to make the relaunch a reality TV show.  Oof.Beer Festival BustSpeaking of beer fests... Some of the biggest festivals in the country are on hiatus, or cancelled.  Folks just don't seem to be as in to them as they used to be.  With that country's largest festival, Great American Beer Fest, coming up soon all eyes are on the turnout there.  We think it may not be beer fests as much of the type of fests, with a preference for smaller, specialized events.  What do you think?On the science front, Omega

It's been a sad week for craft beer lovers.  A story we couldn't skip, Anchor Brewing is closing after 127 years in business.This one hits you right in the nostalgia as a craft beer drinker, but I'll be the first to admit I was part of the problem here.  The last few years I think Christmas Ale is the only Anchor beer I've purchased.  There are just so many great choices today.  Whether I'm at my local brewery or bottle shop, there are tons of amazing beers to be had and some of the old faithfuls don't get the love they once did.Close to home Atlanta Brewing Co. reported their lease was cancelled at Underground Atlanta, where they planned to re-open after closing  last Summer.  Although we thought this was the end of them news came out after the show that they aren't giving up yet.We start off the show with tomato talk.  Right, tomatoes.  In beers, not in beers, and in the glorious BLT.  Tis the season.There's also some fun news with a new champ for the Beer Mile.  Chug

With rising costs for everything would you rather your favorite beer lose a bit of ABV or see the price go up a bit?  According to our Twitter poll, about 75% of you would rather pay a bit more for your pint.  "Drinkflation" is a hot topic in the UK as some brewers are choosing to drop the alcohol content of popular by 0.2% or so, and Brits are not happy about it.If you want to see some hardcore Drinkflation, head out to your nearest cocktail bar.  We enjoyed several Tiki cocktails this weekend and have the receipts to prove it.  Drinking great is not cheap, for sure.Back to beer we look at current trends, and I may have to eat my words for not believe that Bomb Pop beers were having a moment.  I must have seen 4-5 release notices just this week.  Never would have guessed, but I'm not scared to admit when I'm wrong.  Red and Amber Ales are on the uptick as well, they're coming from all angles.What's not on the rise is Sorachi Ace beers.  This hop popped into our heads this week a

It's hot, Y'all.  So hot.  Summer beers are here to save the day.Now you know we're not scared to go dark in the Summer, but we do enjoy the lighter, crispy, refreshing beers that Summer brings.  Kolsch, Pilsner, Pale Ale, and a lot more.  We share some of the most popular styles for the season and an unexpected trend this year with... Rocket Pop beers?Another hot item for Summer - the backyard barbecue.  Maybe you call it a cookout, or just grilling.  Call it what you like as long as the end result is delicious grilled meats.  We've got pairings for some of the most popular grilled/smoked meats - ribs, pulled pork, brisket, and good ol' burgers and dogs.  We also talk about some of the regional barbecue styles across the country and the city that's the most BBQ obsessed, which may be a surprise to many.What's your favorite Summer beer?  What's your favorite kind of barbecue?  We've got ours, but we'll be doing research this year to verify.Summer Beers of the

There's a lot to love about Belgian beers.Once upon a time, many craft drinkers in America turned to Belgian beers for their quality and complexity.  Either for a break from the limited American beers or due to lack of availability in their area.  Golden ales, dubbels and tripels and quads, lambic and geuze, there was a bounty of flavor coming from Belgian breweries.On the heels of his Belgians in the Garden beer festival John Roberts of Bold Monk joins us this week along with fellow brewer Brian Purcell of Three Taverns.  We five into the styles, traditions, trends, terroir, glassware, and ingredients of Belgian beer.A few of the topics covered:Belgians in the Beer Garden RecapBelgians vs. Belgian-styleSt. Bernardus 12 vs. Westy 12Singels, Dubbels, Tripels, & QuadsThe Short History of the QuadrupelLong Lost Belgian Styles Still LostWhat Makes a Pilsner Belgian?Three Taverns Steps Out - A Night On PonceSaisons: The Beer of the People All Beers Were Once RauchbiersGrowing Interest in Tripels & Qua

Huge thanks to our Patreon supporter Coach Rogers for the suggestion for this show.  We appreciate it!Father's Day is a little over a week away.  Are you ready for it?Dads.  We all have them.  Questionable fashion, cheesy jokes, mad love for our idiotic selves.  Dads don't get the credit they deserve, which is probably why they need a beer.We delve into all things dad in this episode.  Discussing what a dad beer is, or maybe what it was and what it is today.  We share stories of beers we had with our dads, our dads' favorite beers, offer some gift ideas for dad, and share a slew of really awful dad jokes.Don't forget Dad next Sunday.  Get him his favorite beer, take him out to his favorite dinner, and make sure to laugh at his jokes.Beers of the WeekHeileman’s Old Style | LagerMickey’s Big Mouth | Malt LiquorMiller High Life | Champagne of BeersAtlanta Brewing  Kentucky Beer Dad | English BarleywineSouthern Pines Malty By Nature | Scottish ExportRJ Rockers Brown Eye Squirrel | Brown AleRiv

We made it through the holiday weekend unscathed and are almost done with this short work week.  Nice.On this week's show we recap Brian and Nate's trips to Florida and the beer they got into on their travels.  Smalls and I stayed here but Smalls threw a party so we had some grilled meats and beers with friends and then I binged the rest of Ted Lasso.I sip on a new Scofflaw brew called Hop Shatter.  Here's what the brewery has to say about the beer.Originally brewed for the 2023 Craft Brewers Conference, this potent IPA showcase CGX Cryogenic Lupulin Pellets, jam-packed with resins and oils for Flavor and Aroma and less environmental impact and production waste. Featuring Motueka CGX, Amarillo CGX, and Cashmere T-90 for notes of zesty citrus, with a touch of floral, white grape, and fresh berries.Interesting. Very tasty beer, too.We discuss Sima, also known as Finnish Spring Mead.  It's a very low alcohol beverage brewed for May Day festival, known as Vappu in Finland.  Brian tried a comme

Ever struggled to adapt in a constantly changing landscape?We discuss the challenges that breweries face and how they must evolve to stay afloat. We delved into the latest updates on the New Jersey Brewery Law while also sharing our recent visit to Six Bridges Brewery in Milton, Georgia. We even touched on the stigma that comes with a struggling brewery..As we sipped on various craft beers, we explored unusual concepts like carbonated pork rinds (a guy can dream) and the ABV limit on beer. We also emphasized the importance of supporting local craft breweries and their ongoing battle to stay alive in a competitive market.But wait, there's more! We ventured into the realm of craft beer cameos and collaborations with movies and TV series, such as the partnership between Athletic Brewing and Netflix for the Witcher series. Plus, we talked about the emerging trend of 19.2-ounce stovepipes in craft beer and why convenience stores are the perfect place to find them.Beers of the WeekBrought you you by The Nest K

Beer cocktails, Cheerwine Ale, World Beer Cup stats, and the magic of mushrooms are all on deck for this week's show.Shout out to friend of the show Billy for hanging with us on a recent trip to Atlanta.  We had a chance to hit some our favorites spots like Brick Store Pub and Three Taverns Brewery and swap some beers.  He hooked us up with NoDa's Cheerwine Ale that we'll dive into.  It's pure madness and we gotta try it.  We also taste some delightful brews from Eighth State Brewing, Three Taverns, and Wild Heaven.Delving into the 2023 World Beer Cup, we analyze beer style trends and the evolving palates of beer drinkers across the country. Georgia beers make their mark with some medal wins, and we highlight a thrilling collaboration between Three Taverns and Pilsner Urquell's experimental brewery Pivovar Proud. Plus, a fascinating study reveals the power of free drink samples for boosting sales and brand awareness – a strategy we can certainly get behind!With grilling season upon us

A couple weeks ago we took our fine selves down to Atlantic Station in beautiful Atlanta, GA for the Georgia Craft Brewers Fest.  The event is sponsored by our friends at the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild and showcases over 60 of our state's awesome breweries.One of the highlights of the festival is the collaboration competition.  Brewers team up with each other, or maybe with a local restaurant or charity, and brew a collaboration beer to be served at the event and judged by a panel of esteemed judges.In that spirit we focused on collaboration chat in this episode and, since one of the collabs was a malt liquor, we decided to chat a bit on that as well.  In the first half of the show we sit down with John Doss and Jay Harris from Southern Brewing Co. who partnered up with Akademia Brewing for Eagle Fang malt liquor.  We talk about why you collab, what you get out of it, and veer a bit into lager talk. (Spoiler: We'll be doing a deep dive lager episode in the future.)Next up we talk with Craig Mycoski

This is it, Folks!  BGR 2.0 is live!  We made some changes to our look and to the show and we hope you enjoy it.  Let us know what you think.In this episode we tackle everything from magically un-soured beers to arrests over beer reviews. We'll fill you in on the Zwanze Day celebration and the Georgia Craft Beer Festival, sharing some of the fantastic brews we enjoyed there.   We also dive deep into the serious topic of Founders Brewing's racial discrimination lawsuit and its impact on the beer industry.We Ask a Robot about Saccharomyces Alkalitolerans and  we'll delve into the fascinating world of homebrewing and the impact of beer packaging artwork on our purchasing decisions.Finally, we'll shed some light on the Thai craft beer review controversy and the changes ahead for Zwanze Day and its importance to the beer community, as well as discussing how the brewery scene has changed over the years.So pull up a seat, grab your favorite brew, and join us for this jam-packed episode.  Cheers!T

Celebrating the love of low ABV beersLast year's Little Beer Fest provided unusually cold temps in Duluth, GA with a bit of "wintery mix," aka rain, snow, and sleet.  Fortunately we didn't see a repeat and this year's event provided plenty of sunshine and temps in the 70s.  Perfect weather for enjoying some low ABV beers.  Huge shoutout to Todd DiMatteo and Good Word Brewing for hosting a great festival. Matty Hargrove - Blackberry Farm BreweryAs we sipped our way through the festival we talked with Matty Hargrove from Blackberry Farm Brewery.  He brought us Bloody Marys so w were off to a good start.  Matty talked about the farm and the brewery and doing things (brewing, food, service) with intention.  We reminisce about the Nuit Belge festival and how much we enjoy their Classic Saison.John Holl - All About Beer & Steal This BeerFresh off his Lager Panel at Little Beer Fest beer journalist John Holl joined us to chat.  When asked if we were in a lager moment John pauses to remin