Episodes
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We've made it through Halloween and and the Holiday beers are already on the shelves. Here is Atlanta we're still seeing temps in the 80s. It's hard to get too excited for a Belgian quad when it's still t-shirt weather. The beers releases through the last few months of the year are some of our favorites. Let's cool it down so we can break them out!
As pseudo-foodies we were excited (mostly me) for the Michelin awards to return to Atlanta this week. We got 4 new 1-star restaurants but overall it was a bit underwhelming. I guess you just can't recreate your first time.
The American Craft Beer Hall of Fame announced their innaguaral group of nominees. So many great people in craft beer that had to be tough to come up with. You can't have everyone in the 1st year, then where do you go? Nevertheless, they've got a solid group to get things started.
Some good beer news
In light of all the closures it was nice to see New Glarus is in the process of a $55 Million expansion. Sounds like they are doing OK. Wisconsin loves their New Glarus.
More this week...Brooklyn Brewery launches Calling All Makers program, the cost of an NBA game (including beer), and a new simulator lets you brew with monks. Neat.
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.
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Sorry, Y'all! I totally spaced out forgot to upload the show! I'll keep it short and sweet.
This week....
GABF recap and changesCoors and Wrangler collab?USA Curling has an official beerElysian brewers plan strikeTilray's plans to take the craft out of craftCustomers don't like it when their favorite breweries sell outCheers! Have a great week!
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 | RSS
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If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more! -
Missing episodes?
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What beer would you sip at a seance?
In preparation for Spooky Season Sam Adams has a seance kit available to help you connect with one of America's true patriots. So far, the problem there has been that it's always sold out. We'll keep trying.
As if regular life isn't spooky enough right now we are coming up on Halloween. We'll take any excuse to have some seasonal beers so we ponder what would be a good beer for Halloween. There are a few that directly target it, but several others seem like they could be appropriate.
In the category of "stupid fun" we have the latest social media trend of "Splitting the G." Grab a pint of Guinness and try it for yourself.
Big Changes at the Great American Beer Festival
Consumer expectations and beer fests have changed a lot over the last few years. Previously, as long as you had a lot of great beer, you had a great fest. That's not going to do it anymore. The Brewers Association took note and this year's GABF will see a shift. Beverages other than beer will be featured and the event and it will be a more "experience" focused fest. Hopefully it all works out for them. If you're a craft beer fan you're sure to have a good time.
In other news we're seeing more brewery mergers and acquisitions, a German company is using the waste from the hop harvest to make building materials, and New Belgium answers my prayers with their new Mini Ripper cans. Praise be.
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.
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We recorded this show on 10/02 and info was current as of that time. As with any developing story additional news could have been shard since then
Asheville and Western NC was devastated as Tropical Storm Helene moved through the area last week. The town was mostly destroyed, along with many breweries, other businesses, and homes.
Updates were difficult as Asheville was cutoff from passage in or out and cell phone and electricity were out. I'm sure that posting updates to social media was not high on the priority list, but we did the best we could to find out what info was availble.
North Carolina needs you
A lot of support will be needed for everyone to recover. Now, and in the future. We curated a list of some charities that are reported as reputable, but we recommend you vet any charity you choose to donate to. If you're in the area and able to volunteer resources are needed there as well.
How you can help:
Drink!Buy and drink North Carolina beer. A simple one that doesn't require much change from your regular drinking schedule. NC Craft Brewers Guild Charity Beer | The guild is asking breweries to dedicate an existing tap to Helene recovery efforts. More info: https://drinkncbeer.org/nc-beer-helene-reliefDonateNorth Carolina Disaster Relief Fund | https://nc.gov/donate Red Cross Hurricane Helene Relief Fund | https://www.redcross.org/donate/dr/hurricane-helene.html/New Origin Brewing GoFundMe | https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-new-origin-brewing-after-hurricane-heleneVolunteerVisit the North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NCVOAD) for info on verified volunteer organizations | https://ncvoad.org/Additonal Resourceshttps://www.bpr.org/bpr-news/2024-09-28/list-ways-to-donate-and-help-flood-victims-in-western-north-carolina-after-hurricane-heleneThanks 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.
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12 beers, 4 guys, and a bunch of sausage and pretzels
It's hard work, but we're up for the challenge. We sat down with 12 beers Oktoberfest beers, Festbier and Marzen, sampled them blind, and picked our favorites. Some Oktoberfest fun and lore thrown in for good measure.
The Rules
We're not beer judges and don't judge like beer judges. The simple criteria here is whether or not we enjoyed the beer and it's appropriate to the style. Our favorite gets 3 points, 2nd gets 2 points, and 3rd gets 1 point then we tally up the cumulative score and pick our Top 3. Boom.
The Beers (In alpabetical order, tasting order is different)
Ayinger | Oktober Fest-Märzen | MärzenEdmund's Oast | House Oktoberfest | MärzenHighland Brewing | Clawhammer Oktoberfest | MärzenPaulaner | Oktoberfest Märzen | MärzenSamuel Adams | Octoberfest | MärzenSierra Nevada / Brauerei Gutmann | Oktoberfest | FestbierSix Bridges | Feierabend | MärzenTerrapin Beer Co. | Oktoberfest | MärzenTucher | Festbier | FestbierWarsteiner | Oktoberfest | MärzenWeihenstephaner | Festbier | FestbierYuengling | Oktoberfest | MärzenHave you tried these this year? Let us know you favorites or what else we should look out for before they get swapped out for Christmas decorations.
Prost!
Tim
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.
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This week on Beer Guys Radio...
Kernza Lager and Kernza NA Golden Brew are out. A collaboration between Deschutes and Patagonia using a pretty interesting grain.
Did you know France is growing hops? They want people to take notice of what they're doing. And French hops may be in some of your favorite beers already.
Stats are in for beer sales during NFL's opening weekend. We're curious whether people drink more when their team is winning or losing. What do you think?
Black Tuesday is turning 15 and throwing a big party. If you're looking for a big and boozy, sweet stout then this one's for you.
Weathered Souls announced the closure of their brewery. Despite gaining fame with their Black is Beautiful collaboration beer, they've obviously faced the same struggle as many others.
As the cold weather starts to creep in it's PSL everything. Are we softening on our disdain for pumpkin beers? Maybe.
NEXT WEEK! We're much later than we wanted to be but it's time for our annual Oktoberfest Blind Beer Tasting. Good times.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.
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Bad news keeps coming for craft beer
A commenter online noted, "I thought they were the good guys," when discussing a recent round of massive layoffs at Tilray-owned breweries. We did too. Good guys or not, when breweries are owned by a huge corporation most (all?) of the emotional attachment is removed from ownership. Where a family-owned brewery may push through tough times and try to keep people working, for better or worse, a large corporation has no interest in such tomfoolery. Plus, when you merge several breweries you're definitely going to have some duplication of duties in the workforce.
And with that said Tilray cleaned house at 10 Barrel, Sweetwater, and Terrapin. No one was safe with Terrapin laying off brewery co-founder Spike Buckowski and President Dustin Watts. The entire Innovation Brewing team at 10 Barrel was let go, and several salespeople across all three breweries. This news always sucks, but this one hit us close to home with many of our friends impacted.
In other news... Anderson Valley Brewing is for sale. President and CEO Kevin McGee joined us in March (Beer Guys Radio Ep. 408) and everything seemed great then. His plan was for the brewery to be a multi-generational venture. Looks like those plans have changed.
The insane costs of attending an NFL game
According to data from bookies.com taking your family of 4 to an NFL game could cost you nearly $2,000 (including beers) if you're going to see the Lions. Their numbers include the cheapest tickets, parking, food, sodas, and beer. If you want a more affordable experience you better be a Jaguars fan. See all the data here.
We can't take much more over here, y'all. We need some good news for beer. Well, at least we have beer.
Cheers!
TimThanks 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.
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It's drinkin' season, Baby!
We made it! September 1st, the self-imposed Oktoberfest beer embargo has been lifted! I celebrated the occasion with a local offering, Feierbend from Six Bridges Brewing. Many more to come.
There are many styles that are traditional Oktoberfest beers but here in the US of A we mostly consider Festbier and Marzen to be seasonally appropriate. As we all know, many have been on the shelves and taps for a while, but more are coming. What's your preference during Oktoberfest? Team Festbier or Team Marzen?
September is Craft Malt Month
There are a lot of great reasons for using local malt in your brews. Supporting local farmers and making less impact on the environment are a couple of great ones. Craft maltsters have grown exponentially over the last decade, and the Craft Maltsters Guild wants to celebrate them. For more info check out this article.
GoFundMe for Rooftop Brewing staff after fire
We don't share GoFundMe's much, almost never, but this seems like a good cause. Rooftop Brewing is raisings funds to support their staff while they rebuild from a fire. You can check it out here.
More on this week's show...
We know they are, but why are craft beer prices rising? We found a few possible causes.Pre Labor Day beer sales predictions.Discussion: Price vs. quality. What's your opinion?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.
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Do you really want to see the calorie count on that barrel aged stout?
The requirement for brewers to list ingredients and nutrition info on beers has been going around for a while. Regulators want it, breweries are fighting it. Listing all the ingredients and nutritional data isn't as simple as printed a label. There's a lot of time and cost involved. If implemented this would have a huge impact on smaller breweries, and ultimately on consumers as well.
BEER SCIENCE!
Courtesy of Hop Queries from Stan Hieronymus we're talking thiols this week. Those are the compounds that bring most of the flavor to beer. Scientists in Germany studied a lot (but not all) hops to give some data on the impact of thiols in various varieties.
Stone Virginia looks to unionize
More union talk, another brewery sold
Stone Virginia employees are moving forward with an effort to unionize. While I'm generally not a fan of unions, there are definitely situations where they are needed. We'l keep an eye on this story as it develops.
Magnolia Brewing has sold again. The brewery has changed hands a few times over the last several years. Much like Anchor Brewing, Magnolia has a long history and the effort to keep it alive is still strong.
More in this week's episode on milk-washed and clarified cocktails, the magic of ginger drink, and BANNED beer ingredients.
Hope you have a great week and drink all the good beers!
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.
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If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more! -
Seasonal creep IS the spooky season!
Yes, we're still ranting about this, dammit. First the Oktoberfests hit the shelves in early July and now the pumpkin beers are out. I even saw one for "Spooky Season." Please. Stop. We still have a full month of Summer left and we want to enjoy it.
However.... Brian did propose a compromise. It's not a bad idea and it gives every beer the season and love it deserves. More info in the show.
Some cool news from NB2A (National Black Brewers Association) as two breweries received equipment grants from established breweries. A 20 bbl brewhouse and a canning line and heading to new homes. Always great to see how craft breweries help each other.
Not so cool news, Cambridge Brewing is closing after 35 years. Close to home, Southern Brewing Co. in Athens, GA announced their closure but said they hope to return one day. That Lazarus move is a tough one for brewery to pull off. Good luck to them.
In other news beer prices are rising faster than inflation, Abu Dhabi gets it's first brewery (the only one in 100,000 sq mi!), and more on brewing in space. Far out, man.
Have a great week and drink something good.
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.
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Tilray to buy 4 breweries from MolsonCoors.
Big beer news this week (or is it Big Beer news?) with weed warrior Tilray buying 4 breweries from MolsonCoors. Included in that sale is our beloved Terrapin Beer Co. If my math is right this will bring 15 breweries under the Tilray brand, plus some distilleries and cideries. Per Brewbound, the move will make them the #4 largest craft brewery on the Brewers Association's ranking. On the flip side of that coin, Monster Beverage is doing terrible. They posted a nearly 32% sales decline YoY. As we've seen with their huge layoffs and changes at Cigar City, they haven't shown much skill in being brewery owners.
Tough news for hop farmers in the Pacific Northwest as they announce a loss of acreage this year due to the declining craft beer market. They took a 12% loss last year as well. The domino effect of craft beer impacts so many more people and businesses than just brewers and breweries.
Some fun news for our friends at Athletic Brewing as they announced a partnership with English football club Arsenal to be their official non-alcoholic beer partner, the first for Arsenal. Good for them.
In the realm of Bro Science we discuss how ABV impacts hydration and what you can do to mitigate the negative effects. We won't stand by what we say though, Bro.
Hope you have a great week and drink some great beers!
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.
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Who would you nominate for the Craft Beer Hall of Fame?
A lot of great people made craft beer what it is today and a group of passionate fans is working to recognize them. Craft beer writer, judge, and educator Marty Nachel kicked things off and selected and amazing group to help put things together. The website is live now with intentions to announce the first inductees this Fall. You can check it out here - American Craft Beer Hall of Fame.
It not-so-great news, World of Beer announced their entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Their locations in Atlanta didn't do well but the chain had a huge, and successful, presence in Florida and other areas. They were one of the last places we remember seeing a beer randall. J Wakefield announced their closing their taproom in Miami's Wynwood neighborhood but they're not going away. Expect more info on that soon.
More news in beer taxes, amazing grains, and we had to talk about tinned fish and our daily cologne. You don't want to miss it!
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.
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No, Summer is not "almost over!"
It always happens around this time of year. Kids start going back to school and all the folks with children think that means Summer is over. They start yapping about it, stores have sales for it. Well, Summer isn't over, and I need you all to shut your mouth with trying to make it over. We got nearly 2 months left and I'm going to enjoy it.
As I enjoy my Summer sun, Summer heat, and (of course) Summer beers I'm gonna be smelling good, too. Our buddy Seth come through town from Houston last week and, after showing him some of the Atlanta beer scene, he gave us a mess of Texas beer. I cracked into a Lone Pint Yellow Rose this week, and Brian was sipping some Spindletap 5% Tint and Martin House The Silk Road. Good seeing ya, Seth. Thanks for the beers.
In the news this week Brooklyn and Carlsberg collab to do a larger release of a beer brewed with fonio. We've talked about this tough grain on past episodes and it's cool to see what they do with it. Diageo is down overall, but Guinness is killing it. Tilray's craft beer bet is paying off. What started with the acquisition of Sweetwater Brewing has grown to a substantial portfolio of breweries. Most recently purchasing a handful from AB InBev a year ago.
Have a great week, enjoy some great beers, and don't forget IT'S STILL SUMMER!
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.
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Would you drink a beer that tasted like a cowboy boot?
Hop Valley Brewing in Oregon has introduced a Pale Ale brewed with Elixir hops that are... “a robust and complex hop that offers unique aromas of cognac, leather, and tobacco…” I mean, OK? I'd try it out of curiosity but that does not sound like a flavor I'd be keen on.
Brian got to party last weekend with Atlanta United and Sweetwater Brewing. Their new collab, Rowdy Peach IPA, made it's debut and Sweetwater through one heck of a tailgate party to celebrate. Brian said the beer is tasty, and very peachy.
More beer stats this week as we talk about the countries producing the most beer. Any guesses who has the top spot? Japan is trying to get drinkers to slow down so one brewery they created a slow beer glass.
Goose Island announced the lineup for this year's Bourbon County Brand Stout release. We've still got a few months to wait for the release but it's never too early to start planning for drinking season!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.
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If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more! -
Sometimes you're cursed, but just a little bit.
This week was... an adventure. Our streaming service didn't want to work and I found out they don't have live tech support. What kind of crap is that? We eventually got things going and then I immediately dumped ice water on myself. Brian said it was a Weak Witch curse. You know what we mean, something that happens to you but is just a minor inconvenience, we've all been there. This drink sounds like a Weak Witch curse. Evil Malort. A bartender decided to take Malort and make it worse. That's quite a mission.
The Brewers Association released some stats on drinking habits and it seems folks in general are drinking less craft beer. The drop is small, but it is a drop. Seems pretty consistent with other reports we've seen. The cause of the drop in consumption could be many things - younger generations drinking less in general, an aversion to carbonation, or maybe people are getting their buzz on with the advancing legalization of weed.
A couple big bits of news in the retirement of Bob Pease, CEO of the Brewers Association. He's been there for over 30 years and has led some major changes. Thanks for your service, Bob. Good Beer Hunting announced they're going on hiatus, potentially permanently. It's a big loss for true craft beer journalism.
And what's this about Pretzel Printers? A genius idea, that's what!
Thanks again for hanging with us. Hope you have a great week filled with great beers. Cheers!
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.
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Dan Kopman knows a thing or two about beer.
Some of you may recognize the name Daniel Kopman. If you don't know his name, you undoubtedly know some of his work.
Currently, Kopman is a Professor and Lecturer at American University's Kogod School of Business and, likely more notable to us beer nerds, a Senior Policy Advisor for the World Brewing Alliance. Previously he was the co-founder and CEO of Schlafly Beer in St. Louis, CEO of Heavy Seas, voting member of the Beer Institute, and board member of the Brewers Association.
What is the World Brewing Alliance? In short, they're the trade association for trade associations. Over 70% of the world's beer production is represented by the WBA from small brewers to multinational conglomerates. Their mission is to corporate social responsibility, sustainability, responsible marketing practices, and invocation in the brewing sector. On the other side of things, they represent brewers to organizations like the UN and the World Health Organization. Bringing the two together their goal is for brewers to be responsible with their brewing and for health organizations to realize and support the cultural and economic benefits that brewers bring.
Low alcohol, no alcohol, and changing trends in drinking
We've talked about NA beer a good bit on the show and I think most of us know that lower alcohol beers are gaining popularity. Studies show younger generations are being more responsible in their consumption and aren't looking for a 15% stout. As the NA sector continues to grow, there are still plenty of people that will still want to grab a beer with some booze in it.
Despite the growth we've seen in NA beer in America, our market is still way behind many other countries. Through technological and scientific advances more brewers are now offering high quality low and no alcohol beer. We've still got plenty of room to grow in this sector.
Brewing around the world
Craft beer is booming in many places you may not think of. There's a growing scene in South Africa and you've probably enjoyed some South African hops in your hazy IPA. The scene in India is up and coming as well. Much like out locally sourced grains, hops, and fruits there's plenty of unique ingredients in these countries. Expanding the offerings of grains, hops, and other ingredients in local markets around the world is a boost for the environment as well as local economies.
We got deep into some amazing topics this week. We enjoyed it and hope you do, too. Let us know. Cheers!
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.
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It's Episode 420 - Drink 'em if you got 'em.
A momentous occasion as we celebrate our very own 420 day. We don't really get into the cannabis side of things much. We've sampled it and it just doesn't agree with us. I get sick and Brian gets all congested. Beer treats us much better. But, we know lots of people enjoy their THC and CBD, is that an issue for craft beer?
Some research suggests that, in states where legal weed is available, some people are opting to smoke/eat instead of having beer, or another beer. Will we see more of this as more states legalize? Beer Twitter even gave cannabis beverages a slight lead when asked if we were more likely to see more NA beer or THC-infused beverages on tap in 10 years.
The research was self-reported, and it's important to remember respondents were either high or drunk. If even they weren't, people tend to a very poor job of assessing themselves when asked, and some just lie.
Move over THC, Coca beer is here
As we fight to get cannabis legalized across the US, Colombia is coming out full force with coca-infused beer. You know, coca leaves, as in cocaine. Coca leaves are sometimes chewed or made into a tea for a bit of a stimulant bump. According to some Googling, a cup of coca tea prepared from one gram of coca leaves (the typical contents of a tea bag) contains approximately 4.2 mg of organic coca alkaloid. In comparison, a typical dose (a "line") of cocaine contains between 20 and 30 milligrams. So it's just a lil' bit of cocaine. Drink up!
More chatter or what would be on our Mt. Rushmore of beer, crazy Patagonian hybrid lager yeast, and why beer on the beach can give you a (worse) sunburn.
PS - My AI image generator wouldn't allow me to create a cover with two guys standing in a field of cannabis. What a prude.
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.
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In a sea of closures Jekyll Brewing continues to grow
It's not a story you hear often these days. Not only has Jekyll Brewing weathered the storm of the last few years, they're thriving. Founder and CEO Michael Lundmark joins us this week to chat about beer, taking care of yourself, and what's been key to his growth.
Jekyll opened in the Dark(er) Ages of Georgia beer. Breweries weren't allowed to serve food and couldn't even sell beer direct to consumers. It was a land of tours and tastings and anyone around in these days may have some tickets or tokens stashed back.
In addition to expanding his locations, he's also expanded his offerings. Alongside a variety of beer you'll find spirts, seltzer, and wine. As the laws changed Jekyll took advantage of the new rules. They opened a restaurant brewery in city center of Alpharetta, GA. Woodstock and Gainesville, GA would follow, and Jacksonville Beach, FL. Jekyll's not done yet, Mike has his sites of a few more Florida locations in the near future.
Take Care of Yourself
Mike and his wife were always active and healthy people. His wife was very fit and never had any health issues, so she rarely visited the doctor. Unfortunately, after feeling unwell, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. Mike reminds us to make sure to get checked regularly, no matter how we feel. Mike also supports cancer research with annual brew and fundraiser at Jekyll Brewing.
Brewery Closures and Bottle Shares
Some bummer news this week as we hear of Cascade Brewing's closure. They were a favorite in the fruited sour game, we'll miss them for sure.
We also reminisce on he bottle shares of yesterday. They don't seem to happy like they used to, and it's nice to get any excuse to dust off something from the cellar.
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.
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Would you pay more for sustainably brewed beer?
We made it through another week and we have definitely earned a beer or five. It's hawt in Georgia. We're supposed to top 100° heat index this weekend. Say a prayer for us.
A survey suggests 50% of beer drinkers would pay 30% more for a beer that was sustainably brewed. I'm skeptical of those results, but that's what the survey says. Sustainably seems to be a goal of nearly every brewer now so I kind of expect my brewery is trying to be sustainable. How about you?
No more "best by" dates! We have to take a stand, y'all. Breweries have to start putting canning dates on cans. None of this best by stuff that you have to decipher. What do they consider best by? 3 months, 4 months, 6 months? Just tell me when you put that juice in the can and I'll make my own decision, thank you very much.
Following up on our discussion of adding a bit of saline solution to cocktails, Brian experimented with adding some distilled water to whisk(e)y. He says a bit of water really does open them up and can take a really good rye or bourbon to great. I'll have to play around some more. Based on previous tests I haven't found one I like more once it's been diluted a bit. Maybe I wasn't doing it right.
More news on Anchor Brewing as the deal with Chobani's founder moves along, a brew fest in Chicago that's been delayed for 4 years with no word from the organizer (and no refunds), and some chatter on the delicious contraband that is Cuban rum and cigars.
Next week we'll talk with Michael Lundmark of Jekyll Brewing. One of our local joints. Despite many others closing up shop, Jekyll is expanding. We'll find out what he's secret is.
Cheers! Make sure you drink something good this weekend!
Beers of the Week
Smith & Lentz - Quackenbruck Pilsner (German Pils w/Sapphir)Good Word - Ron's Dinner AleCreated with the British beer writer Ron Pattinson. A historical AK Bitter made with marris otter and invert sugar.Hop Butcher - Super Megabite (NE TIPA, Citra & Amarillo)SweetWater 420 Citrus Haze Pale AleTopo Chico with Lime and Salt (Nate's Dry Junuary pick)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 | RSS
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If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more! -
New to tinned fish? We got you covered.
This was bound to happen. With our recently found love of tinned fish we had an expert join us to talk about the benefits of tinned fish and offer up some beer pairing suggestions.
We know cans of sardines and oysters aren't for everyone. But these delicious fishes get a bit of a bad wrap, especially here in the States. Season Brand marketing manager Sara Kelly hung out with this to share some of the pros of tinned seafood, info on their offerings, and even throw out some beer pairing suggestions.
Tinned fish is trendy now. I don't know how or why, but it is. TikTok influencers are throwing up videos of their favorite tins and recipes. It's crazy. BUT... sardines and other tinned fish do have a lot of benefits - not only are they convenient but they're packed with nutrients (get all those Omega-3s) and protein. Just watch that salt intake since they're usually pretty high on that as well.
If you're not down with skarfing whole little fishies there are boneless and skinless sardines or you can opt for salmon, trout, oysters, mussels, calamari, and octopus. Go all Pokemon on the tins and catch them all.
Don't worry, we've got some actual beer content as well!
Anchor Brewing has been purchased! This is the big one this week. The founder of Chobani (yes, the yogurt folks) has purchased Anchor Brewing. It sounds like he intends to honor it's legacy in his plans. We're very hopeful and we'll keep an eye on progress here.
Sam Adams sale rumors. Buzz around the internet this week said Sam Adams was in talks to sell to Suntory. Suntory said that's BS, Sam Adams said they don't comment on rumors. Is it possible this billion-dollar-brewery is up for grabs?
Shout out to Native Brew Works. I recently visited the old stomping grounds of Arkansas and was pleased to find Native Brew Works in Jonesboro. They're in a dry county and, as beer laws go, they are required to sell food to serve beer. But they CAN sell beer... even though it's a dry county. I tried their Kolsch and Dunkel and both were very solid. And the queso was banging, too.
Beers of the Week
Sweetwater American LagerAnchor Steam beerFairhope Brewing Willie Mays Haze (Hazy IPA)Q Mixers - Ginger Beer (Dry June for Nate so he'll offer up some NA suggestions)Brasserie de Blaugies / Hill Farmstead La Vermontoise SaisonThanks 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 | RSS
Follow 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, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more! - Show more
