Beer Me!

Beer Mysticism: Introspection in the face of the New Year

All About Beer — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 08:22:07 -0500

There is a certain level of magic behind beer, in the fermentation alone. Those little yeasty cells are working hard to convert sugar to alcohol and CO2, but what else? Disco parties?

Courtney Iseman, a Brookyn-based beer journalist, has recently published a zine: "Beer Tarot: Pulling Cards, Pouring Beer, & Discovering Self." She suggests adding a little mysticism, a little magic to the consumption side of beer; through Tarot.

In this episode of Beer Me, she explains that while the practice of Tarot has been around for centuries, it has become more popular in recent years. Tarot has risen since the pandemic, "not as much as sourdough" Iseman jokes. People seek more introspective moments and creative outlets, and tarot answers both needs.

To be clear, tarot is less about predicting the future and more about setting an intention, for example, "getting a vibe for the day", Iseman explains. (like bones or no bones, RIP Noodle).

In her zine, Iseman dives into the history of Tarot and where it's surfacing in beer. For example, EJ Nunns & Max Sherman at Trve Brewing in Denver have designed a custom tarot deck. (it's stunning).

What's in the cards? Maybe they suggest you try a new beer or branch out. Or they might suggest to stick to your favorite. Check out this zine for more details!

Shoutouts: Trve Brewing, Brasserie l'Ermitage, Joanne Love, Noodle and the No Bones Day

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

A Very Friendsgiving 2023 Edition

All About Beer — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 08:25:14 -0500

The mix of wonderful and hilarious people one meets in the beer world is a marvel. There is no better time to celebrate those friends than Thanksgiving, or a few weeks after.

Beer Me welcomes back to the show Carl Crafts, Sam Nellis, and Grant Vaught. We all met working at Birch & Barley/Churchkey in DC and all have gone off into various directions - but still mostly in beverage.

It is a tradition on Beer Me to gather once a year to answer the burning question: "What will you be drinking on Thanksgiving"?

While exploring as many tangents as possible.

While this isn't hard-hitting beer news (is it ever?), or complex topics rooted in education, it IS fun.

Grab a beer, laugh, and enjoy some turkey!

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

10 Years In: Deep questions, no floaties, add rain

All About Beer — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

"What are your hopes and dreams for the American Craft Beer Industry as a whole?" This impossibly hard-to-answer question was asked of three beer industry veterans during a live show, in the rain, during their first hour of the Snallygaster Beer Festival.

Beer Me Radio returned to our "recorded live" roots for one special show during Snallygaster beer festival in Washington, DC, in a podcast tent, in the rain. It was incredibly fun.

Our host, Sarah Jane Curran, had the opportunity to interview Josh Schlesinger (Head of Sales and distribution for Bissell Brothers Brewing Company), Matt Monahan (Founder/CEO of Other Half Brewing Co), and Blake Tyers (Senior Director of Curiosity Creature Comforts). What do these three have in common? All of their respective breweries will be celebrating ten years opened throughout 2024. And with that significant anniversary coming up, why not reflect on the future? In the middle of a beer festival.

All of these breweries have been massive contributors to the industry, in their products, and how they engage with the industry and their communities, and they will continue to grow.

"It's exciting to be rounding out ten years" -Blake shared. At the time of recording (10/14/23) Creature Comforts was a mere two weeks away from opening its newest location in LA

Matt shared the news that Other Half is planning the opening of their 8th location in Chicago

As they all reflected on the collective decade of success Josh added: "I think everyone on this panel has had a pretty sweet ride for the past 10 years"

The conversation ranged from what changes they wanted to see in the industry as a whole (more diversity being the main theme), to what styles would be compelling. There was also a discussion about responding to trends, specifically non-alcoholic beer. Matt explained, "Don't want to ignore growth opportunities, but also (you) need to make sure that what you're doing already is working."

Was this topic overly ambitious for a live recording at a festival? For sure. But was it worth the ask? 100%

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Build a Beer: You get to pick and choose

All About Beer — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 09:07:49 -0400

Successful collaborations are a hallmark of the brewing industry. There are countless examples of collaborations between breweries, brewers with restaurants, and even brewers with bands. The result of these collaborations is the beer, which is formed through many (MANY!) decisions that lead to the desired result (hopefully).

As Beer Me Radio relishes in its "cheese era", the newest episode builds on a few recent episodes surrounding cheese and beer. Megan Vaughan, Founder/Owner of Vaughan Cheese in Chesapeake, MD recently joined the show to share about the process of beer-washed cheese (Listen HERE). She mentioned Vaughan Cheese recently worked with Joe Puttlitz, Founder/Owner of Greenspring Brewing Co. in Calvert County, MD to create a beer specifically for the cheese shop. The goal is to eventually make a beer-washed cheese specifically for the shop using this beer.

Both Joe and Megan joined the show to share the finite details of the collaboration and what decisions Joe made during the brewing process to sculpt the perfect brew.

Megan requested a beer that was low ABV, had little to no bitterness, and flavors that could pair with hundreds of varieties of cheeses. Joe took all of this into consideration and in the first sample, he presented, nailed it. Megan explained "It felt like magic to me...I couldn't think of anything to change"

In a way, it was magic....and science, and art.

Joe explains the malt, yeast, and hop considerations. He talks through the decision process on how to treat the water, and how that would reflect on the final product. This episode allows the listener to take a step into the mind of the brewer.

Another successful brewing collaboration on the books!

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

O'ZAPFT! Tapping into Oktoberfest History

All About Beer — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

"It was just a day of horse racing" explains Andreas Krenmair, Beer Author and Historian and most recent guest on Beer Me, as he describes the first Oktoberfest.

Austrian-based Andreas has done significant research on the Vienna Lager style and Austrian and German beer & brewing history. Most recently he joined the Beer Me podcast to begin to scratch the surface of Oktoberfest history.

He explains how a city-wide celebration of the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig I of Bavaria to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen where the main attraction was a horse race has grown into the massive celebration of Oktoberfest.

This year, the 188th Oktoberfest kicked off in Munich, Germany September 16th and ended on October 3rd. A celebration that draws numbers in the millions with additional celebrations worldwide. (Check out this recent episode to see how Jack's Abby celebrated).

The progression is fascinating to look back on, from the different attractions throughout the year to the actual beer served. Andreas guides the listeners through his studies in the evolution of the world-famous celebration.

A detailed map from 1843 shows the 22 publicans that served beer from Munich and the surrounding towns. These include some well-known producers, including "Hackerbräu, Pschorrbräu, Löwenbräu... Maderbräu, Knorrbräu, Oberkandler, Unterkandler, Singlspielerbräu" explains Andreas.

Andreas also explains how the regulations on which beer can be served shifted throughout the years. Oktoberfestbier has even achieved PGI (Protected Geographic Indication) status in the EU.

With 188 years of celebrations, Andreas was only able to scratch the surface of Oktoberfest history, but a worthy topic to tap into! Prost!

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Oktoberfest: Beer's Moment

All About Beer — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Jack's Abby Craft Lagers opened in 2011 in Framingham, MA by three brothers: Jack, Eric, and Sam Hendler. They set out to only produce lagers, in a world of IPAs, and have stayed true to that vision.

Rob Day, the VP of Marketing for Jack's Abby, described how Jack Hendler studied brewing in Germany and continues his education in German brewing with an annual trip to traditional and modern brewing facilities in Germany, on this week's episode of Beer Me.

Every year, this lager brewhouse celebrates Oktoberfest (the season we are in RIGHT NOW!) with traditions of tapping gravity kegs, stein hoisting, and a keg toss. This year, they have outdone themselves, with the release of a festbier, a collaboration with Weihenstephan called "Fest of Both Worlds".

Rob explains "(Jack's Abby) is only the 3rd brewery in the U.S to do a collaboration" The other two being Sam Adams and Sierra Nevada. In this episode, he describes the collaboration process and what went into the beer.

Oktoberfest is a special time for beer, as Rob describes it "beer's moment", there is no other beverage celebrated during this time. Let's hoist a stein to "one of the world's most affordable luxuries!"

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Quite a Pair: Craft Chocolate and Craft Beer

All About Beer — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

When boiled down (pun intended) beer is an agricultural product, as is chocolate. This is one of the many similarities between the craft beer and chocolate worlds. Chocolate is produced from the seeds of a fruit that grows on a tropical plant. As with beer, chocolate is also a fermented product, and much like beer, there is craft production and mass production.

David Nilsen, beer writer, and educator sat down with Sarah Jane Curran, host of Beer Me! to discuss pairing beer and chocolate, inspired by these parallels.

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Beer-washed cheese: Let's keep this cheese conversation going

All About Beer — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

After our last episode, talking beer and cheese pairings with Anne Becerra, we needed more cheese. As one does. And there are so many parallels between beer and cheese, both in the production and storytelling possibilities.

This week we welcome to the show, Megan Vaughan, cheese expert and owner of Vaughan Cheese in North Beach, Maryland to discuss beer-washed cheese. Megan breaks down the cheese-making and aging process that involves washing cheese with beer and how that impacts the cheese during the aging as well as the final product.

She also answers Sarah Jane's burning cheese questions:

- What is the cheddering process?

- Is there cheese terroir?

- Can you wash goat cheese?

- Should you always eat the cheese rind?

Magan also shares why it is so important to support American Artisan Cheesemakers, for many of the same reasons we support American Craft Brewers.

Shoutouts:

The Culinary Institute of America, Eleven Madison Park, Jasper Hill Farms, Virtue Hard Cider, Chapel's Country Creamery, 16 Mile Brewing Company, Firefly Farm

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

A Classic: Beer & Cheese

All About Beer — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Almost as ubiquitous as a beer and pretzel, there is the classic pairing of beer with cheese. This pairing is also an excellent gateway into the beer world for those just starting on their beer journey, so we decided to do an episode dedicated to beer and cheese.

We welcome Anne Becerra (Cicerone, Speaker, Consultant: annelikesbeer.com) back to the show to talk through her process of pairing beer with cheese. While there are always the classic three C's for pairing beer with food (Compliment, Contrast, Cut), her approach is more organic.

She guides us through her method of dissecting the flavors of a beer and how those flavors could act as additional ingredients to the cheese experience. The process is very approachable and easy to follow.

In June Anne lead a seminar with cheese expert, Laura Werlin at the Aspen Food & Wine Classic, where they paired seven classic European beer styles with some stunning cheese. This was the first time beer was featured as one of the seminar options. Anne explains her thought process for selecting these styles for attendees who are more wine drinkers and the feedback she got from them.

We of course go down a few rabbit holes... drink more Doppelbock! But it wouldn't be Beer Me without at least one or two diversions.

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Brew Confidently in the Direction of your Dreams: "It's a Journey"

All About Beer — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 14:38:48 -0400

Homebrewing has been a topic of discussion many times here on Beer Me, but we haven't had many opportunities to dive into what it looks like to transition from hobbyist to professional. While it is a path that requires tenacity, there are certainly rewarding moments along the way.

This week, we welcome to the show Jason Bell, Founder of Living the Dream Brewing in Littleton, Colorado. He takes us through his path in kitchens, restaurants, beverage sales, and finally opening a brewery.

His brewing path started with homebrew, and he describes how his mindset needed to shift from homebrewer to commercial brewer and what that entailed. He shares the challenges he constantly considers with brewing consistency, distribution, ensuring staff wellbeing, and brewing for the guest.

The road to opening a brewery is often condensed into a quick blurb on a website, "engineer turned brewer", but the story is usually more complicated - and more exciting.

Congratulations to the team at Living the Dream Brewing as they head into their anniversary weekend! Nine years!

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Corn Lagers: Don't call it a comeback, it's been here for years

All About Beer — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Corn has never been given a fair shake.

The evils of high fructose corn syrup have been bellowed from every soapbox, the most commonly grown corn is for animal feed, and is generally, not a much-beloved ingredient.

This has also been the case in beer. Even as recent as 2019, Bud Light ran an ad during the Super Bowl calling out Coors Light and Miller Lite for using corn syrup in their beer. But the trend of lighter, more session-able beers is on the rise, including corn lagers.

Some of the best breweries in the country are using heirloom varietals of corn in their beers- Fonta Flora, Bow & Arrow, and Black Narrows, to name a few.

Josh Chapman, founder of Black Narrows Brewing Company in Chincoteague, VA joins the show to talk all things corn lager. We dive into the specific corn they use for their flagship "How Bout It" corn lager (Bloody Butcher heirloom corn from Bill & Bob Savage). Josh takes us through special brewing considerations needed for brewing with corn and how to keep the integrity of the corn flavor.

The surface has only been scratched with corn lagers here on Beer Me! So we will undoubtedly return to this subject again.

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Beer Judging: Everyone is Welcome

All About Beer — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Over the past few months on Beer Me! we have explored different parts of the Homebrewing world, including competitions. One aspect of competitions we haven't had the opportunity to discuss is beer judging. Thankfully, Jen Blair joins the show this week to dive into that.

Jen Blair is an Advance Cicerone, National BJCP Judge, and co-host of the beer and brewing podcast "False-Bottomed Girls". Last week, she led a virtual breakout session for Crafted for Action, "Turning the Beer Judging Tables: Strategies for an Inclusive Judging Environment" (Watch the sessions: HERE)

On the show, we discuss what that beer judging typically looks like and some of the barriers that exist. Jen takes us through suggestions on how to make the beer judging process more inclusive both from a planning perspective and in the moment. She also has built an extensive resource for those looking to pursue beer judging.

Beer judging can be an incredibly fun, engaging experience. It is endlessly beneficial for palette and brewing development. But it can be intimidating. Hopefully today you are inspired to dive into the world of beer judging.

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Homebrew Collective: Community Brewed Beer

All About Beer — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Homebrewing conversations here on Beer Me often trumpet the same message: “It’s easy to get into! Just get a gallon kit!”. Well, what we don’t talk about is how the hobby is SO fun, SO engaging, next thing you know, you have a mini fridge in your garage with your own yeast strains and a mass of homebrew equipment slowly taking over your living space. Ok, maybe it doesn’t snowball to quite that level, but as someone grows as a homebrewer, so does the collection of equipment.

What can be done to combat that? Say you’re a homebrewer who lives in a smaller space or travels a lot. Enter the “homebrew collective”! Think of this like a maker space of homebrewing. You pay monthly dues to brew in a collective space with other homebrewers. All the fun and community, without all the storage.

About eight years ago, Andy Oetman founded “Fishbowl Collective Brewing” in DC. This is a brewing co-op that does about 6 brew days a year. Members of the collective are encouraged to participate in at least 3 per year. They take a survey to decide the beer style and each person is assigned different jobs.

We go down a few rabbit holes on making beer with stormwater and hop-co-operatives (or rather, a co-HOP-erative), but generally stay on track.

Check out this episode with Andy Oetman, Founder/Head Brewer of Fishbowl Brewing Collective in DC!

Shoutouts: American Homebrew Association, National Arboretum, Witbier, Brewing Water Science

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Ugly Fruit: an effort to combat food waste

All About Beer — Fri, 26 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

A fairly common scene: grocery and food market patrons judiciously select their produce from pristine displays. And what happens to the fruit that isn't selected? The produce with a slight blemish or a unique shape. More often than not, it ends up as food waste in a landfill, which is both harmful to the environment and wasteful.

One effort to combat this? Beer.

Atlas Brew Works of DC has partnered with Food Rescue US-DC to brew a beer using rescued stone fruit from different markets. Daniel Vilarrubi, Director of Brewing Operations joins the show to describe the process. He also talks about partnering with RavenHook Bakehouse to use their leftover bread in brews.

Colleen Gillespie also returns to the show as she is now the Site Coordinator for Food Rescue US-DC. She describes different ways markets, restaurants, hotels, and other food production sites can help combat food waste. An ongoing conversation on this show is how breweries are stewards of the community, and this is a prime example.

Shoutouts: Food Rescue US-DC, Atlas Brew Works (soon-to-be) NEW location at Carlyle Crossing in Alexandria, VA, Andy's Pizza, RavenHook Bakehouse, Silent Neighbor Export Stout winning GOLD at the 2023 World Beer Cup!

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

What’s new in the homebrew world?

All About Beer — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400

With Homebrew Conference right around the corner (June 22-24 in San Diego), we thought we needed another episode focusing on homebrewing.

This week, Julia Herz executive director of the American Homebrewers Association (AHA)—the nation’s largest hobbyist not-for-profit organization for homebrewers and fermented beverages joins the show.

Julia gives us a little history on The Homebrew Conference, and how it’s grown over the years. There are some exciting sessions and topics this year, including a Hot Sauce making session (hey, it’s fermentation).

We also dive into a conversation on new homebrewing technology (you can do an entire brew day from an app on your phone), and new styles that homebrewers are tackling.

It wouldn’t be Beer Me if we didn’t leave you with a little how-to to start your homebrew journey!

Take a look at American Homebrewers Association website, engage with your local clubs (shout out to the DC Homebrewers Club), or simply grab a 1-gallon kit and get brewing!

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Hop History with Jennifer Jordan

All About Beer — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Plenty of regions come to mind when talking about hop-growing regions: the Pacific Northwest, Hallertau, Lubin, etc. But what about regions that have come and gone, the former hop-growing regions?

Jennifer Jordan is in the process of researching her new book and joins the show to share some of the stories she has uncovered. She is a professor of Sociology at The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. She is the author of Edible Memory: The Lure of Heirloom Tomatoes and Other Forgotten Foods (University of Chicago Press, 2015) and Structures of Memory: Understanding Urban Change in Berlin and Beyond (Stanford University Press, 2006).

Her current manuscript is titled Before Craft Beer: Lost Landscape of Forgotten Hops, which explores the boom and bust of hop growing in Wisconsin during the 1800s. She shares stories of the women who harvested the hops, what was involved in the hop bust, and other accounts from old diaries.

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Sustainable Beer: part two with Jeff O'Neil

All About Beer — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 12:13:19 -0400

Jeff O'Neil, founder of Industrial Arts Brewing Company in the Hudson Valley is back for part two of sustainable brewing practices. In our last show "From Grain to Bottle" (air date 3/25/22) Jeff shared how malt production has changed throughout the years in the Hudson Valley and we began to discuss water conservation at Industrial Arts.

For this episode, Jeff explains the sustainable practices they have implemented in their new facility in Beacon, NY based on techniques from their original location. He talks through the finer points of recycling heat from their glycol chiller, using a nitrogen generator, and vapor distilling.

We also dive into hop production in New York and how local products can help with a carbon footprint. There are many hop options now, or as Jeff puts it "tools in their toolbox" that allow brewers to layer flavors. From wet hops, dried flowers, pellets, and even hop extracts, Jeff explain how each can be useful and their impact on the environment.

We are looking forward to a part three episode with Jeff soon!

Shoutouts: Hudson Valley Beer, Finger Lakes Beer, Pederson Farms (Seneca Castle, NY)

Good People for Good Beer: Michele Wonder

All About Beer — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0400

The beer world continues to morph and become a more inclusive space. There are too many people involved in that evolution to name here, but one person doing a lot of good for the beer world is Michele Wonder.

Michele got her start in beer as a homebrewer and quickly got involved in organizations like the Pink Boots Society and The Oregon Brew Crew.

She has contributed to the beer world in many positive ways. She is a co-founder and social media director for the Women's Craft Fermentation Alliance. Also a co-founder of WIBS: a craft fermentation summit (formerly Women's International Beer Summit), and Founder of the Black is Beautiful Homebrew PDX Brewing Project.

She joins the show to share her story and how her work has evolved over the years. We dive into how beer is a community and how much it can be a cultural touchstone. And how we can work together to break down barriers in beer to be a more inclusive space.

Get ready for a real feel-good episode:)

Shoutouts: Oregon Brew Crew, SheBrew, Queen of Beer, Pink Boots Society, Home Brew Competitions

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Coolship: The Coolest Brownie Pan

All About Beer — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500

In homage to the tail end of coolship season (for most of the world), we decided to do a coolship 101 episode. Garrett Crowell joins the show to explain what a coolship is, its history, and how it can be used in brewing. He draws on his experience as the former head brewer of Jester King in Austin, Texas, and founder of Yokefellow in Johnson City, Texas.

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

BFM: The everlasting research in umami

All About Beer — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Our guest this week, Jérôme Rebetez takes us through the journey of founding and growing his brewery Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes in the Jura mountains of Switzerland.

Jérôme studied winemaking, but after winning an entrepreneur tv competition, he opened his artisanal brewery in 1997.

He has made countless styles of beer over the years, but one we dive into is L’Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien and his "everlasting research in umami."

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Let's Start from the Very Beginning

All About Beer — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

To kick off the new season of Beer Me! we spoke with someone who was kicking off their career in beer. Amanda Burke, Assistant Brewer for Ladybird Brewing in Winfield, Kansas joined the show to share how she got her start in the beer world through the Brewers Association Mentorship Program.

She shares what it's been like to be guided into brewing by some excellent mentors, how the culture built by Ladybird Brewing has impacted her journey, and some goals she hopes to achieve. We've had the privilege of sitting down with some impressive industry veterans, but it is refreshing to hear from someone just starting out.

Shoutouts: Brewers Association Mentorship Program, Master Brewers Academy, Ladybird Brewing, White Stouts, Beer Travel

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Welcome to a New Season of Beer Me! Radio

All About Beer — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Welcome to a new season of Beer Me! Radio. Host Sarah Jane Curran shares what is in store for upcoming episodes.

MUSIC CREDIT: The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Funky Intro 31 by TaigaSoundProd
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9552-funky-intro-31
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Eisbock, Always Cool

All About Beer — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 14:00:00 -0500

As the days get cooler in the DC area, we thought it would be fun to highlight the coolest beer (literally) style, Eisbock. While it isn’t trending, it is a style begging for a deep dive. Michael Stein, champion of all lagers, joins the show to explain how the style (possibly) came to be, why it’s so cool, and why it’s so challenging to make.

Holiday Beer Buying Guide

All About Beer — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 14:00:00 -0500

The season of gifting is upon us! Erika Goedrich, owner of the Craft Beer Cellar in DC, joins the show this week. We dive into tips on buying beer in a retail setting, what styles are best for different kinds of beer drinkers, and what are some cool beer releases to look out for on the shelves. Reach out with any beer gifting questions!

A Very Friendsgiving

All About Beer — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 14:00:00 -0500

It's that time of year again! Beer Me celebrates Thanksgiving by inviting some of our friends to the show. We share what beers we would bring to a Thanksgiving feast, beers that pair well with food, and awkward family questions. We go down a few side streets on hard seltzer and gin but eventually find the road back to beer. Kick back with your favorite fall beer.

The Chicago Brewseum

All About Beer — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 14:00:00 -0400

Liz Garibay, a historian that specializes in the history and culture of alcohol, founded the Chicago Brewseum. This is the first museum in the U.S. fully dedicated to beer. Garibay joins the show to talk about her background and how it lead to the opening of the museum, some Chicago beer history, and the upcoming Beer Culture Summit. This summit will be available virtually!

¡Salud! to Mujeres Brew House

All About Beer — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 14:00:00 -0400

What started as an educational brew club for women to get excited about the beer industry led to the start of Mujeres Brew House. Carmen Favela, Founder, Owner, and CEO of Mujeres Brew House in San Diego, joins the show this week to share the story of Mujeres. It just so happens that Friday, Oct 14th (Next week!), the Smithsonian Food History Weekend will conclude with "Last Call", an annual beer event hosted by the American Brewing History Initiative. Carmen is one of the panelists at this year's event, “¡Salud! to American Latinos in Beer,” which will explore the past, present, and future of American Latinos in the brewing industry. We talk about the upcoming panel, how her innovative team creates beers highlighting traditional Mexican flavors, and how Mujeres Brew House grew to what it is today.

Crafting the Digital Space for a Brewery

All About Beer — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 14:00:00 -0400

The online presence of any business is the welcome mat, usually the first interaction the guest has with the brand. For all breweries, this is an opportunity to shine. Aadam Soorma, Head of Marketing and Guest Experience for Trace Brewing in Pittsburgh, PA joins the show to talk about how impactful the digital space can be for a brewery. He covers what goes into content production and engagement, how this can impact the local community, and how Trace has been able to highlight the talents of their staff.

Big shout-outs to Liquid Death (excellent brand voice); Artist and FOH brewery staff member Atiya Jones, who painted the windows of the coolship; AND Pittsburgh in general.

Brewing with a Pacific Northwest Heartbeat

All About Beer — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 14:00:00 -0400

pFreim Family Brewers is nestled in Hood River, Oregon, a quintessential town where pFreim made pilsners a local favorite. Now, pFreim is expanding into new chapters. We talk with head brewer Campbell Morrissy to discuss the recent brewery expansion for pFriem, their new canning line, hop selections (tis the season!), and his research work at the Barley World Lab.

Campbell Morrissy is the Head Brewer for pFreim Family Brewers and Ph.D. Candidate at Oregon State University under Dr. Pat Hayes in the Barley World Lab.

Exploring Sake

All About Beer — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 14:00:00 -0400

If there is one thing to take away from this show, it's that sake is NOT a wine. This week, we begin to scratch the surface of this exciting beverage with John Fischer, a professor of wine, beverage, and hospitality management for The Culinary Institute of America, also, a Certified Sake Professional. We talk about how to buy sake, what to look for in sake service, how it's made, and the hopefully soon-to-be open sake brewery in Hyde Park, New York.

Shout out: John Gauntner, Brooklyn Kura, #floweryeast

Return Visit of Maine Beer Co.

All About Beer — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 14:00:00 -0400

Before the pandemic, we had the opportunity to visit Maine Beer Co. in Freeport, Maine this time, the conversation was just as rich, but sadly, less beer. Anne Marisc, Maine Beer Co.'s Partnership + Communications Manager joins the show to talk about continued innovations (like the Black Barn Program), Quality Control, and the ever-shifting Maine beer scene. Take a listen and hopefully, you will be inspired to plan a beer trip to Maine!

Shoutouts: Blue Ox Malt House, Maine Grain Alliance, #dowhatsright, #drinkitnow, #peeper

Crafting Beer Training

All About Beer — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 14:00:00 -0400

A passion for beer is started and maintained with education for both brewery employees and patrons. This week on the show, Chris Shields, the Director of Education at Rhinegeist Brewery in Cincinnati, Ohio, describes what built his education and training program and how he continues to grow it.

Shout outs: Beer Education, Cicerone, Cider Program

Craft Beverage Research

All About Beer — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 14:00:00 -0400

Throughout the world, people are researching every aspect of beer and brewing. This week, we get nerdy, but I assure you, it's fun! Harmonie Bettenhausen, Director of Hartwick College Center for Craft Food & Beverage, is one of those people meticulously researching craft beverages. She takes us through the research she’s worked on for her Ph.D., specifically how barley contributes to flavor.

Shoutouts: Ommegang, Big Alice, Finger Lakes Breweries/Cideries

Beer Reflections: 10 Years In

All About Beer — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 14:00:00 -0400

Lone Tree Brewing Company in Lone Tree, Colorado celebrated their 10-year anniversary, late in 2021. President and Co-Founder John Winter, our guest this week, shares insights on building brewery longevity, business decisions over the years, and beer trends.

Brewery Labs

All About Beer — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 14:00:00 -0400

The topic of consistency in brewing has come up multiple times here on Beer Me, and one of the best tools for that is implementing some kind of brewing lab to ensure quality control. Our guest, Merritt Waldron, Quality Director of Baxter Brewing Co. and author of "Quality Labs for Small Brewers: Building a Foundation for Great Beer" takes us through some brewing lab basics. He covers why brewing labs are necessary, how labs differ depending on the kind of brewery, and what a beginner brewing lab should include.

Riverbend Malt House Celebrates

All About Beer — Fri, 20 May 2022 14:00:00 -0400

Over the past few weeks, we've had the opportunity to dig into some of the finer points of beer production. We get to continue our journey with Brent Manning, Co-Founder of Riverbend Malt House, which recently celebrated 10 years of operations. We dive into local malt production, sustainable practices, and a little malt production 101.

Shoutouts: Fonta Flora, #Riverbend10 film, New Belgium, Sierra Nevada, Craft Maltsters Guild

Brewing Transitions

All About Beer — Fri, 06 May 2022 14:00:00 -0400

Breaking into a field and climbing the ladder is a challenge no matter what the endeavor. Brewing is no exception. Megan Seastedt, a brewer, consultant, trainer, and podcaster, joins the show this week. She takes us through her brewing transitions, from homebrewer to production manager and everything in between. We talk about the challenges and what she has learned along the way.

Shoutouts: North Country Brewing, Brewers Guild, Pink Boots, OSU Fermentation program, Southern Tier Brewing, Rock Bottom Brewing, BA Education, White Labs

Check out more Beer Me! episodes.

Norwhey, a Nordic Twist on Hard Seltzer

All About Beer — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 14:00:00 -0400

Countless new ready-to-drink beverages, seltzers, and other canned beverages are flooding the market. One of the newest, and currently only available in Western New York, is Norwhey. This is made from fermented yogurt whey, that would otherwise be waste. Co-founder, and Cornell University Professor, Sam Alcaine joins the show to talk about Norwhey and his journey through the world of fermented beverages.

Shoutouts: Miller Coors, NY Dairy Promotional Board, Doc Luces (DENVER), Tepache, Pulque

Some Beer Whimsy

All About Beer — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 14:00:00 -0400

Our Instagram feed has been peppered with delightful, educational beer comics, illustrating beer flavors, styles, or pairings. This week, the creator of these happy posts joins us on the show. Award-winning cartoonist, Em Sauter is our guest this week.

Em founded Pints and Panels to produce cute and visual beer education. Em tells us about the process of developing educational, fun, and often whimsical, beer illustrations. Check out her newest book, "Hooray for Craft Beer!", on pre-order now.

Check out more Beer Me! episodes.

From Grain to Bottle

All About Beer — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 14:00:00 -0400

Beer is a product of agriculture. The grains and hops that are used in a beer recipe are very thoughtfully selected to create vastly different styles. Jeff O'Neil, the founder of Industrial Arts Brewing Company in the Hudson Valley, NY, joins the show. We talk through what goes into sourcing local malt and hops, how the local malt industry has improved in New York, and the shifting hop production in the US. We also dip our toes into water conservation during the brewing process (pun intended).

Check out more Beer Me! episodes.

Celebrating Women in Craft Beverage

All About Beer — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 14:00:00 -0500

Last weekend, the city of Auburn, NY hosted the first annual Brave Brews Fest. This was a three-day event to celebrate women in craft beverages organized by this week's guest, Dawn Schulz, co-founder of Prison City Brewing. We dive into the event, why it was important, how industry events like this help move women forward in beer, and how women can break into traditionally male-dominated roles within the beer world.

Shoutouts & Mentions:

Pink Boots Society, Jacki Hannon (Bells Brewery), Sloop Brewing (their internship!), Celeste Beatty (Harlem Brewing Company), Jackie Dodd Mallory (aka, The Beeroness)

Check out more Beer Me! episodes.

Crafting a Safe Space

All About Beer — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 14:00:00 -0500

Beer Me likes to get nerdy, about cask beer, hops…but this week we are taking a deep dive into safety. The landscape of the beer industry is changing and will continue to evolve to be more inclusive. With this change, spaces that beer inhabits need to be safe (taprooms, breweries, bars). Amie Ward, a hospitality veteran, and Safe Bars trainer joins the show to talk about how to intervene in an unsafe situation and why training, like Safe Bars, is vital in this industry.

Hear more about the beer industry confronting sexual harassment and discrimination:

Listen to the episode #notme with Brienne Allan.

Trigger Warning: we discuss instances of assault and unsafe situations in this episode.

Crafted Hospitality: Settle Down Easy

All About Beer — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 14:00:00 -0500

How many times have you gone into a brewery and instantly liked it? Or enjoyed an afternoon in a taproom so much you forget the exact beers you tried (overindulging aside), you just know you had a great time? Any service-based establishment is striving to create a crafted experience for their guests. Frank Kuhns, co-owner of Settle Down Easy Brewing Co. joins the show to share how he has channeled years of hotel experience into curating a memorable guest experience. We talk about building a brand, storytelling, and how the customer is always first (not always right).

Shout outs: Caboose Brewing, Taco Bell (I share my deep love of it), Grateful Dead,

Check out these episodes:

Connecting with Guests with Colleen Gillespie

Maintaining a Brand: How to Keep True to a Brewery's Story with Neil Callaghan

Beer Storytelling with Dmitri Chekaldin

Brewing with a Sense of Place

All About Beer — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 14:00:00 -0500

Todd Boera, Co-Founder and Creative Director for Fonta Flora Brewery in North Carolina joins the show to discuss American Farmhouse Brewing. We discuss why this kind of brewery is significant and the different local ingredients Fonta Flora has incorporated into their beers, from pawpaws to local wood.

Beer Style 101: Porter

All About Beer — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 14:00:00 -0500

Michael Williams, Lead Beer Educator for Great Lakes Brewing Co. joins the show to talk about all things porters, including the history, production, and food pairings. Great Lakes Brewing Co. in Cleveland, OH produces a benchmark brew as far American Porters are concerned, with their Edmond Fitzgerald (aka. Fitz, Eddie Fitz). Pour a glass of your favorite roasty, toasty, dark brew, and tune in!

Holiday Drinking

All About Beer — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 14:00:00 -0500

Here on Beer Me! we have a little end-of-year tradition to get some friends in the studio to talk about their favorite beers for the holiday season. We are reviving that tradition, little by little.

Today, we welcomed back to the show, Sam Nellis, Bar Director for All-Purpose and Red Hen in DC. We dive into holiday beer, non-alcoholic beers, cocktail traditions, and embracing all beverage preferences. Cheers! and we will see you in the new year!

Let's Celebrate Lagers

All About Beer — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 14:37:09 -0500

December 10th is National Lager Day! (We are embracing made-up holidays, especially when it involves lagers). Lisa Allen, Head Brewer of Heater Allen Brewing in McMinnville, OR joins the show to discuss everything that is lagers! Or course we get off track, but that's part of the charm.

Hard Seltzer 101

All About Beer — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 14:00:00 -0500

Hard seltzers are a rapidly growing market segment that is projected to grow even more in the coming years. Craft brewers are embracing the trend and the selection is never-ending. Thankfully, Eric McCrory, Sr. Manager of Product Education + Culinary at The Boston Beer Company, (and Advanced Cicerone) was willing to join the show this week to give a quick Hard Seltzer 101, specifically how it's made. As usual, the show takes a few detours, but we get there eventually!

Craft Beer Marketing: Well Deserved Recognition

All About Beer — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 14:28:32 -0400

All breweries have stories to tell, but how they tell them has developed drastically over the years. Jim McCune, co-founder of the Craft Beer Marketing Awards joins the show to talk about how beer marketing is constantly reinventing and pushing new boundaries. Beer can art alone is a prime example of that. He also shares insights into often overlooked ways a brewery can share their story.

Craft Beer Evolution, For Everyone

All About Beer — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 14:00:00 -0400

The Brewers Association (BA) faced the #metoo movement in craft beer head-on during September's Craft Brewers Conference. Many of the seminars, training sessions, and speakers focused on the evolution that needs to happen in craft beer. One of those voices, a very strong one, was Virginia Morrison, Esq. She is the co-founder, chief executive officer, and chief legal officer at Second Chance Beer Company, she is also the DEI chair on the BA's Board of Directors and comes from an extensive background in employment law. She joins the show to talk about the importance of building a positive work culture and protecting your staff.

Beer Histories, Now

All About Beer — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 12:00:00 -0400

A filmmaker, professor, journalist, and brewer walk into a bar...or rather, a panel, hosted by Theresa McCulla on October 22nd. This virtual event is in collaboration with the National Museum of American History and will discuss beer in the US, the past and present. Aside from this exciting event, Theresa shares how her work as the curator of the American Brewing History Initiative has morphed over the past year to capture the ongoing evolution of the craft beer community. If you are in the DC area, check out the American Brewing Exhibit at the National Museum of American History!

#notme

All About Beer — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 14:00:00 -0400

This past May, Brienne Allan kicked off a reckoning within the craft beer community in regards to sexual harassment and discrimination. Brienne joins the show along with LeBaron Meyers, President of NotMe Solutions. #Notme is a reporting platform for those who have experienced or witnessed racism, harassment, discrimination and misconduct. “Craft beer is in a liminal phase…an in-between” said Bart Watson of the BA during last week’s Craft Brewers Conference. There has been a call to action, and the industry is certainly responding.

Brewery Ardennes: Opening A Brewery In A Pandemic, It's All In The Details

All About Beer — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:14:25 -0400

Brewery Ardennes: Opening a brewery in a pandemic, it's all in the details

Nestled in the banks of Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York is newly opened, Brewery Ardennes. Derek and Stacy Edinger opened the brewery in May 2021, but have this stunning, Belgium-inspired brewery producing and operating like a veteran brewery. With backgrounds in aerospace engineering and hospitality, Derek and Stacy have a deep understanding of attention to detail, which shines through in the beer and the brewery. Listen in to hear tips for opening a new brewery and the challenges they faced opening during a pandemic.

Homebrewing Chats with Annie Johnson

All About Beer — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 14:00:00 -0400

In 2013, Annie Johnson won the American Homebrewer Associations' Homebrewer of the year award. She is now a brewmaster, a certified beer judge (BJCP), a chapter leader in the Seattle Pink Boots Society Chapter, and a member of the Governing Committee for the American Homebrewers Association. She shares her story and some tips along the way for homebrewers everywhere.

Brewing in Asia

All About Beer — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 14:00:00 -0400

Craft beer continues to grow in popularity throughout Asia. For the 6th year, Seabrew, an annual conference, and trade fair for the brewing community will commence in Taipei this November. Charles Guerrier, Director of Seabrew, takes us through the importance of this conference and what has been the most impactful for brewers who come from all over Asia.

Monstruo de Agua Cerveceria: Tenaciously Sustainable Brewing in Mexico City

All About Beer — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 14:00:00 -0400

Matias Vera Cruz Dutrenit, founder of Monstruo de Agua Cerveceria in Mexico City, joins us on the show to discuss how his brewery (part of the Colectivo Axolote) embraces Mexican terroir and seeks to support sustainable practices in beer production. We dive into the importance of agroecological-regenerative practices and how impactful they can be.

Shipping Solutions: Importer with a Jazz Soul

All About Beer — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 14:00:00 -0400

Jon Lundbom, Division manager from Importer, B.United joins us on the show. We dive into creative shipping solutions and how exciting international breweries are breaking into the U.S. market. Jon is also the jazz guitarist for the band "Big Five Cord"...we recommend sipping your favorite brew while listening to some of their albums.

Radical Candor + Growth with Julia Herz

All About Beer — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 14:00:00 -0400

This week we welcome back to the show Julia Herz, Founder and CEO of HerzMuses Enterprises LLC. As the keynote speaker for The Women's International Beer Summit in April, we dive into proactive ways women can use their voices and how we (collectively) should never shy away from tougher conversations. Julia also shares one of her new projects: Gray for Good - For all Womanhood (I grayed, I saved, I gave). And of course, we get to talk about love for cask ale.

Beer Me is Back!

All About Beer — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 14:00:00 -0400

After a difficult pandemic season, Beer Me is back! Katie Marisic, the Federal Affairs Director for the Brewers Association joins the for this special relaunch. Katie shares how the Brewers Association responded to the major revenue losses their members experienced in the midst of the pandemic. We also dive into the recent @RatMagnet stories that revealed the mistreatment of people in the beer industry and discuss the question: is there actually progress being made in this area? Katie also shares the resources provided by the Brewers Association to address the mentioned issues in this episode.

A Virtual Beer Dinner with Bell's Brewery

Full Service Radio — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 11:41:13 -0400

During this time, we have to get creative, this includes beer dinners. Jacki Hannon from Bell's Brewery organized and executed a top-notch beer dinner - all online! She calls in to chat about how she put it together, and tips for how to do your own. She also catches us up on how Bell's Brewery is coping with our current pandemic. We go a little off-topic with a shot out to The Brewers Association - the Craft Brewers Conference is online folks! In summary: "If you could drink one beer for the rest of your life, why would it be Bell's Two Hearted" - Grant Vought Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

The Pink Boots Society

Full Service Radio — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 11:29:06 -0400

Today Odessa Winter and Lily Schulz from the DC chapter of The Pink Society discuss what they hope for the craft beer industry and what they are doing to make those changes. The Pink Boots Society is a non-profit with members all over the world that: "was created to assist, inspire and encourage women beer industry professionals to advance their careers through education." Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Beer Giving Back

Full Service Radio — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 14:28:49 -0500

Brewers are stewards of the community. To list all the good brewers have done for their neighborhoods - we can't, it would take too long. Today we are highlighting one big thing: A St. Baldrick's Event at Boundary Stone to help conquer childhood cancer. This annual event (this year: March 15th) fueled by donated beer, and many a DC brewer's participation/fundraising. We also manage to talk over some beer news and the new Atlas Brew Works location in Navy Yard. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Crowdsourced Beer

Full Service Radio — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 11:13:23 -0500

Raman Santra (Creator of Nightlife blog Barred in DC), Bobby Bump (Head Brewer at Right Proper Brewing Company), and Michael Stein (President of Lost Lagers and Sr. Staff Writer at DCBeer.com) joined forces to brew a beer that is built through a series of online polls. For example: "What should the appearance of the beer be?". The results are in and the beer will be released late March. We get into beer social media, the restrained palates of the general public, and get some fun beer history tidbits. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Beer Storytelling

Full Service Radio — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 12:21:39 -0500

A topic that comes up a lot here on Beer Me! Is how the craft beer industry has expanded so much over the years, that establishments really need to make an effort to stand out. Breweries, brewpubs, and beer bars need to tell a story and create a brand. Dmitri Chekaldin, the owner of Dacha Beer Garden in the Shaw neighborhood of DC and Dacha Navy Yard, has a story for both of his locations, and very specific ways he tells that story. Today he joins the show to talk about the little details and choices he scrutinized over to make a clear story for Dacha Navy Yard. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

A Sip of Something Else: Tiki Drinks

Full Service Radio — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 10:38:35 -0500

This series of episodes will cover beverages that are near and dear to the beer world. This week: Tiki cocktails. Brewers and beer professionals have a true affinity for tiki. You see the flavors pop up in brews throughout the US - and most beer professionals love tiki bars and cocktails. Who doesn't?! Jeff Faile, spirits specialist for Bacchus Imports is on the show to talk tiki history and cocktails. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Drink Better Beer

Full Service Radio — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 10:34:55 -0500

Josh Bernstein is a beer, spirits, food, and travel journalist. He has written some pretty cool beer books, like "Brewed Awakening" and "Homebrew World." Well, what do we need now? MORE BEER BOOKS! And Bernstein has delivered with his newly \-published "Drink Better Beer: Discover the Secrets of the Brewing Experts." Calling in from his home in Brooklyn, he discusses our burning questions about this new read! Powered and distributed by SImplecast.

Homebrewing VS. Commercial Brewing

Full Service Radio — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 11:24:18 -0500

Pete Jones (Education and Competition Committee Chairman of the DC Homebrewers Club), Jake Grover (Events Committee Chairman of the DC Homebrewers Club) and Ron Fink (Lead Brewer at Jailbreak Brewing Company) join us in studio to discuss how these two brewing worlds differ in ingredients, processes, and mindset. We also manage to cover other homebrewing facts and get nerdy about lagers. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Beer Me 2nd year Anniversary Show!

Full Service Radio — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 18:54:39 -0500

Welcoming back to the studio Katie Marisic (Federal Affairs Manager for the Brewers Association) and Doug Miller (Lecture for Cornell University teaching Fermented Grains, Cider, and Sake classes)! We cover new beer education at Cornell, work that the Brewers Association is doing on Capitol Hill, and some more random topics - like hop farmers and Monks Cafe. Kicking off the new season strong! Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Beer Empire

Full Service Radio — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 12:43:56 -0500

Neighborhood Restaurant Group has recently opened its newest location in NYC's Lower East Side - The Grand Delancy. Greg Engert sits down at Churchkey in DC to talk about the new establishment, beer trend, and a nice little recap on beer for 2019. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Craft Beer in The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Full Service Radio — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 12:45:05 -0500

Yazan Karadsheh attended school in Boulder, Colorado and naturally, got excited about craft beer. After years of training he opened Jordan's first craft brewery - fast forward ten years later and his brewery, Carakale, is still the only craft brewery in the country. On Beer Me, he reflects on the challenges and the benefits of owning and operating his brewery. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Naturally Gluten-Free Beer

Full Service Radio — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 10:53:16 -0500

Beth Vita, Assistant Brewer of B.C. Brewery in Hunt Valley, Maryland is in studio today to talk about the naturally gluten-free beer she brews. She was diagnosed with celiac disease a couple of years ago and decided to become a brewer to make beers she could enjoy. She explains what grains she uses, how this gluten-free beer has been received, and some future styles she hopes to tackle. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

A Very Friendsgiving: Beer Me Edition

Full Service Radio — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 12:21:27 -0500

Familiar guests to Beer Me are gathered for a beer Friendsgiving. Colleen Gillespie, Sam Nellis, Brett Weinrieb, and Grant Vaught each bring a beer that reminds them of Thanksgiving - both for food pairing purposes and sentiment. They also bring a bit of Thanksgiving advice - stuff gets deep, bring floaties. Powered and Distributed by Simplecast

Selling Beer

Full Service Radio — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 18:12:57 -0500

Eric Kintner, Senior Manager and Beer & Spirits Buyer for Wardman Wines in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington DC, is in studio (on his Birthday!) to chat about selling beer as a retailer. As someone who has been a beer buyer for both large establishments (Trader Joes) and now for a smaller establishment, he gives insight to what goes into selecting and selling beer. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Opening a Brewery: The Next Chapter

Full Service Radio — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 12:58:38 -0500

Silver Branch Brewing Company will celebrate it's one year anniversary in March 2020. We have talked to Brett Robison, Co-Founder, General Manager, and COO multiple times - going through the journey of planning and opening a brewery. Today, he is in to share his successes, mistakes, and learnings now that the brewery is opened and fully functional. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

The Bucket List Beer

Full Service Radio — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 13:10:43 -0500

Justin Kennedy author of "Bucket List Beer: 1000 Adventures, Pubs, Breweries, Festivals" calls in to chat about his newly released book. He covers the research process, favorite beer cities, beer festivals, and his own beer bucket list. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

City Brew Tours

Full Service Radio — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 15:00:05 -0400

City Brew Tours, founded in 2008 in Burlington, VT is launching a new Northern Virginia tour! Steve Quartell, city coordinator for DC explains what logistics go into designing a beer tour, Aha beer moments, and stories from tours (the good and the…memorable).

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The Boston Beer Company

Full Service Radio — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 10:06:22 -0400

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Beer Festivals

Full Service Radio — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 19:22:42 -0400

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Champion Barrel Aged Beer

Full Service Radio — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 11:45:01 -0400

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Beer in NYC with Anne Becerra

Full Service Radio — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 11:47:01 -0400

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Back to School: Beer School

Full Service Radio — Sun, 08 Sep 2019 18:30:55 -0400

To kick off the new season, and the new school year our guest this week is Hutch Kugeman. He is the headbrewer and co-instructor of The Art of Science and Brewing class at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. He explains how the curriculum was developed, what is covered in the class, the ever-expanding craft beer scene in the Hudson Valley, and the CIA's upcoming educational beer festival - Brew U.

Beer in Atlanta

Full Service Radio — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 14:11:05 -0400

The Atlanta beer scene is rapidly changing - there are new breweries, markets, bars, and laws. This week on Beer Me on the road, we chat with Bar Manager of Hop City Craft Beer & Wine, Sara Franco, to discuss these changes. We also dive into how selecting beer and training staff is different in Atlanta, some new breweries that are worth the trip, and a few off-topic points.

Craft Beer and Church

Full Service Radio — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 11:25:26 -0400

Throughout the centuries, beer and church have intertwined - however, there have also been decided separations, especially in the US, before, during, and after prohibition. Those worlds are starting to blend more within craft beer: there is a craft brewery in Orlando that is also a church. This week we chat with Aaron Schmalzle, co-founder of Castle Church Brewing Community in Orlando, Florida. Aaron describes how the quest to homebrew a replica of beer favored by Martin Luther lead him to open a brewery church, and how that operates today.

Beer importers and beer trends in New Orleans

Zackary Shelton, Sarah Jane Curran, Alexya Brown — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 14:01:17 -0400

This week we are in New Orleans chatting with Zackary Shelton, General Manager of Cochon Butcher, and a member of the Shelton Brothers Imports family. We talk about beer trends in New Orleans and staff beer education. We also dive into how Shelton Brothers got their start, how they were able to introduce breweries such as Cantillon to the US market, and the role importers play in beer trends.

Maintaining a brand: how to keep true to a brewery's story

Full Service Radio — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 12:24:37 -0400

We chat with Neil Callaghan, Brand Manager of Cigar City Brewing Company. Originally opened in 2009, this brewery has grown significantly. They now distribute throughout the U.S. and to 15 other countries around the world. How does a small brewery stay true to their brand, their story? This question is answered along with a few detours.

Beer Canning and Clarity

Full Service Radio — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 11:11:00 -0400

This episode of "Beer Me on the Road" we go to Fairwinds Brewery in Alexandria, VA. We sit down with Charlie Buettner, Brewmaster + CEO and Chris Banich Sales + Operations Manager of Fairwinds. As more breweries are turning to canned beer over bottled, we talk about the ups and downs of using a contract canner vs. installing your own canning line. We also dive into important considerations for canning beer. Fairwinds Brewery is also known for their particularly clear beer. With hazy being all the rage, we discuss what inspired this choice, and what goes into clarifying a beer.

Let's talk about malt

Full Service Radio — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 14:22:00 -0400

With the rise of hazy IPAs, hops are the main focus for a lot of beer fans. Aromas and flavors of tropical fruit, citrus, pine, herbs, all come from hops. Yes, hops are sexy, but let's talk about malt. Newly elected President of the DC Homebrewers Club, Omar Al-Nidawi and I discuss a malt experiment over a few pints at U street's Saloon. This is our first edition of Beer Me on the road.

Beer Economics

Full Service Radio — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 10:42:00 -0400

Bart Watson, Chief Economist of the Brewers Association comes by to chat about what exactly an economist does for the brewing industry, how he gets his data and some new stats. We dive into Boston Beer Co. and Dogfish Head joining forces, as well as the Brewers Association Annual Hill Climb.

Building a Brewery

Full Service Radio — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 12:54:00 -0400

Red Bear Brewing Company recently opened in the NOMA neighborhood of Washington DC. Brewery owners and operators Simon Bee, Bryan Van Den Oever, and Cameron Raspet come by to chat about the opening process. They discuss different decisions they've made and how those decisions have gone on to mold the guest experience, the employee experience, and their experience. If you have ever dreamed about opening a brewery or any business, this is an episode for you!

Expanding a Brewery

Full Service Radio — Mon, 20 May 2019 11:33:00 -0400

Expanding any business is filled with challenges and decisions, expanding a brewery is no exception. Julie Verratti, co-owner, and chief brand officer of Denizens Brewing Co. is in to explain the process of deciding to expand the brewery, things learned in the process and consistency in their brand & culture.

Beer Mothers

Full Service Radio — Mon, 13 May 2019 10:48:00 -0400

In honor of Mother's Day today we tackle the mother of dragons, sorry no, the mother of beer...yeast! Dr. Matt Humbard, a microbiologist, yeast wrangler, and soon-to-be brewery owner comes by to do a deep dive into the wonderful world of yeast.

Adventures from BrewExpo America

Full Service Radio — Wed, 08 May 2019 13:39:00 -0400

Every year the Brewers Association hosts the Craft Brewers Conference. The conference is filled with educational seminars, events, keynote speakers, demonstrations, and countless networking opportunities. On top of all that, there is BrewExpo America, where hundreds of vendors come, from all over the world, to sell and educate the consumer about their products. This ranges from new canning lines to beer slushie technology. Here are a few interviews from the expo floor.

Homebrew Champion

Full Service Radio — Thu, 02 May 2019 16:03:00 -0400

As we close out the circle of our beer judge episodes, today we talk about a recent homebrew competition - how it was organized and who is champion! The winner gets to scale up their recipe at DC Brau and have their beer sold at every Pizza Paradiso location. Every homebrewer’s dream come true.

Beer in Buffalo New York

Full Service Radio — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 10:51:00 -0400

Recorded at the Craft Brewers Conference in Denver, Colorado, we get to chat with Ethan Cox, president and the main instigator at Community Beer Works in Buffalo, New York. We discuss the flourishing beer scene in western New York, how to get more people drinking craft beer, beer travel, and staying true to your beer brand.

Chicago Beer History + Culture

Full Service Radio — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 15:40:00 -0400

Join us for a special show with Dr. Brian Alberts and Liz Garibay from the Chicago Beer + Culture Project and The Brewseum. They are in DC to talk beer history, and how beer shapes community and culture. Returning to the show we also have Mike Stein, local beer historian to taste the East Indian Porter he brewed with Bluejacket Brewery and historian, Ron Pattinson.

Beer Judge Certification Program

Full Service Radio — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 12:46:00 -0400

The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) was founded in 1985 to "to promote beer literacy and the appreciation of real beer, and to recognize beer tasting and evaluation skills." The approach to gain this certification is very hands on. Ben Hunter, Sales Manager for Denizens Brewing Co. and Certifed Beer Judge explains the process of studying for the certification. We dive into what it's like to judge a beer competition, and how to start judging beer.

A New England IPA level of Hops

Full Service Radio — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 16:44:00 -0400

How do brewers select hops for their brews? What qualities do they look for in the hops and the production/processing? Listen in for the answers. Alex Barth, CEO of John I. Haaz and a seventh-generation hop producer is our guest. We also get into new flavor research, hazy IPAs, and hop extracts.

Beer Lists: How to get people drinking more beer?

Full Service Radio — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 16:34:00 -0400

As craft beer continues to grow, the question is, will the bubble burst? Short answer, no, there are so many people that don't drink beer. Sam Nellis, Beverage Director for All-Purpose and Red Hen in DC comes by to chat about what goes into building his list, and how education is the key to growing craft beer enthusiasts. Of course, we get off topic with beer throwdowns, spritzes, orval day, and eggs.

Barrel Management

Full Service Radio — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 11:41:00 -0400

Adrienne Ballou headed up the barrel and fruit refermination program at Jester King in Austin, TX. Though a classicly trained winemaker, she crossed the bridge into beer making. She has since returned to the wine world in Texas hill country. We get nerdy with her experiences in barrel management. We also stressed the importance of people from both wine and beers worlds to share their knowledge.

Maine Beer

Full Service Radio — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 11:32:00 -0500

For this week Beer Me is recorded in Portland, Maine - specifically at Maine Beer Co. We chat with their marketing & events manager, Anne Marisic. She discusses what it means to work for a company whose motto is "do what's right" and how that translates to the beer, expansions, and employee care. Part of the new renovation is a space for a sensory evaluation, which sparked a dive into tasting and evaluating beer.

Homebrewing Competitions

Full Service Radio — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 16:02:00 -0500

History is in the making. Pizza Paradiso, DC Brau, and DC Homebrew Club are joining forces to host a homebrewer competition at the Georgetown location of Pizza Paradiso. The winner will get to brew their beer at DC Brau and have it served at every Pizza Paradiso location (now 5!). Michael Stein of Lost Lagers and Drew McCormick (executive beverage director of Pizza Paradiso) are in the studio to share the inspiration and the technical explanation of this event. We also dive into what it's like to submit your beer to a homebrew competition.

Port City Love

Full Service Radio — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 11:39:00 -0500

John Gartner of Port City Brewing Company and Bill DeBaun of DCBeer.com swing by the studio to talk about our mutual love of Port City. This is a brewery that sometimes gets overlooked for how amazing they are. We get into history, the beers, competition, and new beer releases - the importance of lagers. Also, reminders for the upcoming St. Baldrick's event at Boundary Stone and The Brewer's Ball.

Maryland Brewing History

Full Service Radio — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 13:37:00 -0500

Maureen O'Pray recently published a book "Beer in Maryland: A History of Breweries Since Colonial Times" and she comes by to take us through that history. We covered Maryland's first brewers, the industrial age, prohibition, and immigration. Through her research, she has uncovered some amazing stories and captured the human quality of this story.

Brewery Support

Full Service Radio — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 11:33:00 -0500

Leah Cheston, co-owner/founder of Right Proper Brewing Co. in Washington, DC comes by to chat about the importance of brewery owners coming together. She is the VP & Treasurer of the DC Brewers Guild (a non-profit trade organization that supports DC Brewers). She is also one of the newest members of the Brewers Association board of directors (another non-profit trade organization advocating for brewery owner rights). The beer world is a supportive community, and Leah explains how that happens, and why it is so important.

Government Shutdown & Beer: Twitter Edition

Full Service Radio — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 11:00:00 -0500

The partial government shutdown includes the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). This is highly problematic for breweries as they need to get label and formula approval for new beers from the TTB. Not to mention make tax payments and file other operation reports. Prairie Artisan Ales out of Oklahoma tweeted about this on January 6th - and as you would imagine, got a deluge of varying responses. Wade and Cody from Prarie call in to talk about the shutdown and managing social media for a brewery.

A Day of Firsts

Full Service Radio — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 11:51:00 -0500

To kick off the season, and the year, we are celebrating diversity in beer, community, and firsts. Beer historian and author, Micheal Stein, is welcomed back on the show to talk about DC brewery firsts - including DC's first female-owned brewery, first 100% gay-owned brewery, and first African American-owned brewery. Thankfully, diversity is growing in craft beer, let's keep it going.

The Festival 2018, presented by Shelton Brothers

Full Service Radio — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 16:30:00 -0500

In October we got the chance to cover this small, but mighty beer festival in Denver. Shelton Brothers Importers throws this festival every year, and in their words: "You’d have to spend months and countless dollars for a chance to meet this many world-class brewers." Listen in to hear a collection of interviews with brewers from Scotland, Canada, US, Tasmania, Germany, Belgium, Mexico, England, Switzerland, and Jordan.

Beer Me, Bro

Full Service Radio — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 11:52:00 -0500

Sarah Jane gathers some of her favorite people to drink beer and talk beer. Abit of a departure from our normal show, but we manage to cover growth in the industry, local beer, beer with adjuncts, collecting beer, contract brewing, and sample some pretty great brews.

Resilience IPA

Full Service Radio — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 11:37:00 -0500

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. recently brewed Resilience ""Butte County Proud"" IPA, all profits from this beer will go to assist the victims of the Camp Fire in Northern California. Sierra Nevada put out a call for breweries around the country to do the same, making donated ingredients and the recipe available.

Over 1,200 breweries around the U.S. answered the call, including Atlas Brew Works in DC. Justin Cox (Founder & CEO) returns to the show to talk about the execution of the project. Bill Debaun (Co-Editor of dcbeer.com) also returns to discuss why so many brewers are compelled to give back to their communities.

It's a feel-good kind of day.

Think Beer, Drink Beer

Full Service Radio — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 14:38:00 -0500

Beer journalist, John Holl is in town for a beer panel at Solid State Books tonight! He stopped by the studio to talk about his new book, "Think Beer, Drink Beer." While sipping Sierra Nevada Pale Ale we manage to cover beer trends, nerds, the ever-changing beer world, and fit in a few rants.

Homebrew on the Hill

Full Service Radio — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 11:44:00 -0500

The practice of homebrewing was federally legalized in 1978 and from there, the world of independent craft beer was born. In an effort to spread the joy of homebrewing and in turn craft beer, John Moorhead (American Homebrewers Association National Homebrew Competition Director) and Katie Marisic (Federal Affairs Manager for the Brewers Association) come by to explain the exciting competition they have just completed on Capitol Hill. That's right, for the third year now there is a Capitol Hill Staff Homebrew Competition, where anyone who is employed on the Hill can enter. Check out this week's episode to hear why they do it, how it went, and other beer ramblings.

Opening a Brewery

Full Service Radio — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 11:43:00 -0500

Opening anything is like giving birth: painful, surprising, and messy. Brett Robison and Christian Layke come by to chat about their final push in opening their brewery in Silver Spring Maryland: Silver Branch Brewing Co. We also talk about some winter homebrew tips, dreamy beer experiences, and how to get involved in their brewery opening.

Thanksgiving Beer Pairings: the Journey

Full Service Radio — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 11:40:00 -0500

Chef Kyle Bailey (Chef Owner of The Salt Line) and Mike McGarvey (Co-Founder & Head Brewer of 3 Stars Brewing Company) come by to chat beer and food pairings, specifically Thanksgiving. We go through the whole meal, giving you suggestions throughout. We start with what to drink while everyone stands around awkwardly, making small talk, and carry you right on through to when people dip into politics and you need something to balance the fattiness of the sides and the rampant racism of your uncle. We get into some food as well! Eels (veal eels), Caul fat (fat cape), and apple pie sandos (with cheese). Happy Thanksgiving folks!

Brewing on Chincoteague Island

Full Service Radio — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 11:46:00 -0500

Sustainability, producing local beer, yeast wrangling, and wild ponies all get tackled in today's episode. Josh Chapman, co-founder and head brewer of Black Narrows Brewing Co. comes by to chat about opening a brewery in Chincoteague, Virginia; among other beer musings.

Beer History: Ancient World

Full Service Radio — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 11:14:00 -0500

Today we talk about a new study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. Li Liu, a professor of Chinese archaeology at Stanford University, and her team analyzed traces from stone mortars dating back some 13,000 years from a cave in Israel. They certainly made some interesting discoveries.
Nick "The Baltimore Beer Trekker" Nichols, who teaches beer history & appreciation enrichment classes at Johns Hopkins University and Howard Community College comes by to chat about the beer in the ancient world and Sarah Jane shares a Finnish beer appreciation poem.

If you take away anything from this episode: there is so much about beer history that is being updated, generalizations are being specified, and myths are getting separated from facts. Stay current with your beer history knowledge!

Beer & Restaurant Collaborations

Full Service Radio — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 11:41:00 -0400

Full house today on Beer Me! Chef Mikey Friedman, the man behind The Red Hen & both All-Purpose locations, Co-Founder & CEO of DC Brau Brandon Skall, and Mari Rodela Chief Community & Culture Officer of DC Brau all come in to chat about what it takes to do a beer and restaurant collaboration. Chef Mikey dives into his joys of pairing beer with food and we get to try DC Brau's latest releases. Special appearance made by Full Service Radio Industry Night Co-host Nycci Nellis (also creator of "The List Are You On It?" and co-host of "Foodie & the Beast").

Union Craft Brewing: Baltimore, Cask Ninja, IPAs

Full Service Radio — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 11:40:00 -0400

Kevin Blodger, Co-Founder & Director of Brewing Operations and Lynn Pronobis Operations Manager & Cask Ninja from Union Craft Brewing in Baltimore come down to DC to chat. We get really nerdy on cask flavor development, pine for the days of "regular IPAs", and discuss some exciting developments for Union.

Snallygaster

Full Service Radio — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 11:43:00 -0400

Why are beer festivals important? What makes for a good one? How is it executed? Managing Partner & Beer Director, Greg Engert of DC's Neighborhood Restaurant Group breaks down the answers to these questions. He also shares exciting updates about the Snallygaster Beer Festival this Saturday in DC. There will be over 400 different beers, live music, food, and all ticket sales benefit the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture. Tickets are still available!

Allagash, A Love Letter

Full Service Radio — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 16:04:00 -0400

Allagash, a wonderful brewery in Portland, Maine founded in 1995 by Rob Tod. Matt Pollard is responsible for Allagash Field Sales for DC and Maryland and comes by to chat all things Allagash: new beer releases, Allagash White in a can (!), visiting the brewery, and the culture of the brewery. We do an accidental advertisement for visiting Portland, Maine and go off topic with DC beer events, but that's to be expected.

Aslin Beer Company Anniversary Party

Full Service Radio — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 16:03:00 -0400

To celebrate their 3rd year anniversary Aslin threw an epic beer festival with over 60 brewers coming from all over the US, Canada, and Denmark. Beer Me got the chance to chat with a few of the brewers and hear some great stories.

Cask beer: real deal on real ale

Full Service Radio — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 11:21:00 -0400

We have skimmed the surface with Cask Ale here on Beer Me Radio, but today we take a deep dive with Dan Kopman, CEO of Heavy Seas Beer; which has one of the most impressive cask ale programs in the US.

Christian Heurich, DC Beer History, and Pre-Prohibition Lagers

Full Service Radio — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 11:51:00 -0400

DC residents are incredibly spoiled. There are so many museums and richly historic sites that forever languish on DC resident's bucket lists. The Heurich House Museum is a must visit! Kim Bender, the executive director of the museum comes by to chat about DC beer history, The Heurich house, the interesting man Christian Heurich was, and other beer tangents.

Dacha Beer Garden: that happy place

Full Service Radio — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 11:35:00 -0400

Dacha Beer Garden in the Shaw neighborhood of DC is on the brink of celebrating their five year anniversary and Oktoberfest. Co-Founder, Dmitri Chekaldin comes by to talk about all things Dacha; from opening day, #dogsofdacha, and their new location. Of Course, Oktoberfest is right around the corner, and Dacha has big plans for their celebration. O'zapft is!

How 'bout them Apples: ANXO Cidery

Full Service Radio — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 11:33:00 -0400

Kicking off DC Beer Week with, that's right, a cider show! Sam Fitz, co-founder of ANXO Cidery comes by chat about cider 101, the proper way to taste cider, American Cider identity, and where to drink ANXO cider.

DC Beer Week!

Full Service Radio — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 11:12:00 -0400

Get ready DC! August 19 - 26 our city will be celebrating our 10th annual DC Beer Week. Everyone is invited and Beer Me is getting the skinny on the events you can't miss. Tune in to plan your DC Beer Week right!

Another Side of Beer Sales: What's Next?

Full Service Radio — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 10:49:00 -0400

Chris Banich was the Mid-Atlantic Sales Manager for Avery Brewing Co. in Boulder, Co. He comes by to talk about what it's like to represent a single beer brand, and what happens when a brewery needs to downsize. He also suggests some excellent breweries to check out in the DC area.

Denizens Brewing Company

Full Service Radio — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 10:50:00 -0400

This week on Beer Me we talk politics, diversity in beer, and brewery expansion with Julie Verratti, the co-founder of Denizens Brewing Company in Silver Spring, Maryland.

American Beer History with Theresa McCulla

Full Service Radio — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 10:47:00 -0400

Theresa McCulla is the historian of the American Brewing Initiative at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Her research focuses on the history of brewing, the beer industry, and Craft Brewers in America. Listen in to hear about new stories and artifacts she has collected!

Crosby Hop Farm at The Craft Brewers Conference Mini-episode

Full Service Radio — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 17:31:00 -0400

During the Craft Brewers Conference in Nashville this year, Beer Me got to sit down with Crosby Hop Farms. Zak Schroerlucke, the marketing specialist, describes the 5th generation hop farm out of Woodburn, Organ and how brewers make their hop selections.

DC Brews Fights Back

Full Service Radio — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 10:18:00 -0400

June 30, DCBeer.com is teamed up with Helping Oppressed Peoples Survive (HOPS) to organize the local beer community with “1 Dollar, 1 Call, 1 Purpose” in support of #FamiliesBelongTogether. Organizers of the event Bill Dubaun & Aaron Morrissey (dcbeer.com), and Matthew "Heff" Heffernan (HOPS) swing by the stuido to discuss the event and how a brewing community got involved in the cause.

Connecting with Guests

Full Service Radio — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 16:24:00 -0400

D.C. and NYC come together in this exciting new episode! Colleen Gillespie (Assistant General Manager of The Boundary Stone) makes a triumphant return to the show and Kathrine Kyle (General Manager of The Blind Tiger) calls in from NYC to discuss Cornell’s 2nd Annual Craft Beer Roundtable from this past May. We discuss staff & guest education, food & beer pairing, and growing interest in craft beer.

Adventures from the Expo Floor

Full Service Radio — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 10:06:00 -0400

A major part of the Craft Brewers Conference is Brew Expo America, the largest Beer focused trade show in the U.S. While exploring the MASSIVE show, I got to chat with a few people. These interviews are from wildly different parts of the Beer world, which is what we here at Beer Me are all about!

Craft Brewers Conference with Ray Daniels of the Cicerone Certification Program

Full Service Radio — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 13:29:00 -0400

This week’s show is a pre-recorded interview at the Craft Brewers Conference in Nashville this past May, with Ray Daniels. He is the founder and director of the Cicerone Certification Program. In this interview he tells the story of how and why the cicerone program was founded, he also takes us through the decision making process that lead to another level within the cicerone examination, the advanced level.

D.C. Beer History

Full Service Radio — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 14:02:00 -0400

Mike Stein, of Lost Lagers and DC Brau, comes by to chat about D.C. beer history, including D.C.'s first Lager! Lost Lagers also has a class coming up at the Hill Center this weekend, check out this new episode for more information.

Brewers Association Exclusive

Full Service Radio — Thu, 31 May 2018 16:18:00 -0400

Bob Pease, President and CEO of the Brewers Association is in the studio this week to talk about SAVOR, the annual BA Hill Climb, and a fun re-cap on the Craft Brewers Conference earlier this month in Nashville!

Aslin Beer Co.

Full Service Radio — Tue, 22 May 2018 11:02:00 -0400

Co-founders of Aslin Beer Co. in Herndon, VA Andrew Kelly and Kai Leskowicz come in to chat about their never ending love of hazy New England IPAs, the ups and downs of owning a brewery, and their pop-up near Nationals Stadium.
Warning: you might have to shot-gun a beer at the end of the episode.

Buying Beer?

Full Service Radio — Mon, 14 May 2018 15:16:00 -0400

Erika Goedrich owner of The Craft Beer Cellar on H Street Northeast is joined by Grant Vaught, beer collector, man about town to talk about buying beer. What to look for when buying beer, how to store your beer, and how to age beer (Meryl Streep style - gracefully)

Mental Health in Breweries & Restaurants

Full Service Radio — Mon, 07 May 2018 16:42:00 -0400

This episode is for anyone in the food service industry or for anyone who knows someone in the industry. Today we take on the challenging subject of mental health support for food service professionals. Josh Kemp of The Brewer's Table in Austin, TX calls in to share his story and how he is supporting his staff.

Fresh outta Queens: Singlecut Brewery

Full Service Radio — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 15:03:00 -0400

Dan Bronsen, General Manager of Singlecut Beersmiths (Astoia, Queens) calls in live from the Craft Brewer's Conference in Nashville to talk about their brewery, why you should appreciate pilsners more, and hop terrior. Also, where can you find Singlecut IPAs in the D.C. area? We give you the scoop!

Beer Books and Travel

Full Service Radio — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 15:14:00 -0400

Lucy Burningham, Author of "My Beer Year" long distance chats with us from Portland. OR about her book, beer travels, and studying for the Cicerone exam.

Beer and Food Pairings with Adam Dulye

Full Service Radio — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 13:52:00 -0400

Adam Dulye came by to chat about SAVOR (tickets on sale now, June 1+2, right here in D.C.), a recent beer dinner in Paris, and his new book: "The Beer Pantry"

A New Brewery in the DMV

Full Service Radio — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 11:36:00 -0400

Brett Robinson joins us to talk about "Sliver Branch" the soon-to-be new brewery opening in Silver Spring. We will also cover important things like waxing poetically about cask ale and pilsners.

Demystifying Beer Sales Representatives

Full Service Radio — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 16:55:00 -0400

This week we are joined by Sam from Legends Ltd. and Ben from Denizens Brewing Co. to talk beer sales. What do beer reps do? What is it like suppling all the fine establishment in the DMV area?

Grant Vaught and Aaron Morrissey, DC Beer

Full Service Radio — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 15:30:00 -0400

Grant Vaught, beer collector, former bartender and Aaron Morrissey, staff writer DCBeer.com come in to chat about Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs, beer label design, and making the craft beer world more inclusive.

The Cicerone Exam

Full Service Radio — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 16:42:00 -0500

This week we discuss The Certified Cicerone exam, what it is, what it takes to studty for it, and most importantly: is it worth it.

Event Coverage: Engine House No. 9 Debut

Full Service Radio — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 11:39:00 -0500

Listen to special event coverage of the East Coast debut of Engine House No. 9 Brewing Co. out of Tacoma, Washington. Beer Me, sits down with Brewer, Donovan Stewart, Carl Crafts, from Shelton Brothers Inc., and Jeff Mellow, yeast wrangler.

DC Homebrewers Club

Full Service Radio — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 16:04:00 -0500

This week we are discussing the ins and outs of homebrewing, how to get started, tips for the seasoned pros, DC homebrewing events, and some homebrewing war stories.

Greg Engert of Neighborhood Restaurant Group

Full Service Radio — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 15:57:00 -0500

Beer director of Neighborhood Restaurant Group Greg Engert comes by to chat about the ins and outs of designing a beer list, beer pairings, and favorite beer travel destinations.

Teaching Beer with Doug Miller

Full Service Radio — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 14:42:00 -0500

Getting people to take beer seriously is difficult, what it is like to teach beer at Cornell University. What are students excited about? What are some career options students have in beer? Tune in to this week's episode of Beer Me with guest Doug Miller of Cornell University and find out!

Justin Cox: Atlas Brew Works

Full Service Radio — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 11:32:00 -0500

Breweries are vital to community growth. Justin Cox of Atlas Brew Works will discuss how they have embraced the local community and how they give back.

Beer Bars in D.C.: How They're Run

Full Service Radio — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 12:12:00 -0500

Colleen Gillespie of Boundary Stone sits down to talk about running a beer bar and beverage program. We talk about some fun, upcoming beer events, and what it takes to give good beer service.

Beer Me: Right Proper

Full Service Radio — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 11:29:00 -0500

This week on Beer Me! , Sarah Jane chats with Thor Cheston, co-founder of Right Proper Brewing Company in Washington, DC.

Debut Episode! Katherine “Katie” Marisic, Federal Affairs Manager at the Brewers Association

Full Service Radio — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 11:01:00 -0500

Welcome to the debut episode of Beer Me! Host Sarah Jane Curran is joined by Katherine “Katie” Marisic, Federal Affairs Manager at the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American craft brewers. Based in Washington, D.C. Marisic plans and executes legislative, regulatory and political strategies to drive the Brewers Association’s federal affairs presence on Capitol Hill.