1 NOV 2023 · This week, I’m delighted to be joined by Diane Flynt, the author of the recently published Wild, Tamed, Lost, Revived: The Surprising Story of Apples in the South. This is a story of history, diversity, and the future. For those who say social media is a bad thing, I get it. But occasionally it can provide gems. For example, last week I was scrolling through Facebook when I saw Sean Lilly Wilson, the founder of North Carolina’s Fullsteam Brewery post about a new book he was reading: Wild, Tamed, Lost, Revived: The Surprising Story of Apples in the South.  I was immediately intrigued and reached out to the author, Diane Flynt, to come on the show.  She and her husband Chuck live in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, where she is an apple grower and cidermaker. She says above all else she is an insatiable learner, which led to the concept and writing of this book.  Flynt is a multiple-time James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional and founded Foggy Ridge Cider in 1997 after leaving her corporate career and produced cider until 2018.  There aren’t nearly enough books on apples in the world, especially engaging and well thought out ones, but this book stands among the top, in my mind and based on what I’ve read, for not only the rich history and passion it provides, but also the personal narrative weaved throughout, and the easy to understand approach, which helps put the subject in our hands.  Press materials provided in advance give this description: Flynt "shows how southern apples, ranging from northern varieties that found fame on southern soil to hyper-local apples grown by a single family, have a history beyond the region, from Queen Victoria's court to the Oregon Trail.  Flynt also tells us the darker side of the story, detailing how apples were entwined with slavery and the theft of Indigenous land. She relates the ways southerners lost their rich apple culture in less than the lifetime of a tree and offers a tentatively hopeful future."  This Episode is Sponsored By: https://www.shopify.com/drinkbeer Shopify’s already taken the cash register online, helping millions sell billions around the world. But did you know that Shopify can do the same thing at your retail store? Give your point-of-sale system a serious upgrade, with Shopify. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://www.shopify.com/drinkbeer and take your retail business to the next level today. For more http://www.beeredge.com/podcasts/ check out https://allaboutbeer.com/ - Host: http://www.beeredge.com/our-team/ - Guest: Diane Flynt - Sponsors: Shopify, All About Beer - Tags: Cider, Apples, History, South, Agriculture, Flavor

25 OCT 2023 · There is a lot of uncertainty in the American beer industry these days, especially among the smaller breweries. In what is both a cautionary tale and one of optimism, Sean O’Keefe of Pontoon Brewing in Georgia is here today to talk about how his brewery was forced to close and to furlough employees. Earlier this month the brewery put up a social media post announcing that it needed to close. This was necessary, owners said because one of it’s main distributors had not paid them for beer delivered. O'Keefe has not publicly identified the distributor, citing on-going litigation as the reason.  The brewery has been a vibrant part of the Georgia Beer scene for years now, focusing on big boozy imperial stouts and messing around with adjuncts. It’s also making more mainstream beers that can appeal to a wider audience.  It hasn’t always been easy, but the brewery has grown, and O’Keefe is candid about what has been happening behind the scenes to get to this point, and how fragile it can all be.  Right now the brewery is looking for investors and looking for a path forward. There seems to be a lot of announcements these days about breweries closing and it puts a spotlight on all of the facets that go into running a successful business, and how even one piece out of sync can hurt the whole brewery.   This Episode is Sponsored By: https://www.shopify.com/drinkbeer Shopify’s already taken the cash register online, helping millions sell billions around the world. But did you know that Shopify can do the same thing at your retail store? Give your point-of-sale system a serious upgrade, with Shopify. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://www.shopify.com/drinkbeer and take your retail business to the next level today. For more http://www.beeredge.com/podcasts/ check out https://allaboutbeer.com/ - Host: http://www.beeredge.com/our-team/ - Guest: Sean O'Keefe - Sponsors: Shopify, All About Beer - Tags: Beer, Business, Bills, Stouts, Georgia,

18 OCT 2023 · “I’ve known https://nateschweber.com/ going on 20 years now, we’ve been colleagues, friends, and even co-authors. I can say without a doubt that he is one of the hardest working reporters I’ve ever met, he has a keen eye for detail, enjoys a good drink, and knows how to rock with the best of them.  He’s a raconteur, with endless curiosity and compassion, and great passion. My life is better because I know him.  His chords are familiar to listeners of this show as it has opened up every episode since we started, and was even part of the old After Two Beers show I did for All About Beer. We’ve been to breweries and crime scenes together, we’ve had adventures and even wrote a book together – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/indiana-breweries-john-holl/1100000522 – which was released in 2011 and has since gone on to sell tens of copies.  He lives in Brooklyn these days, but he grew up in Missoula, Montana and has always had a passion for outdoor reporting. A previous book, https://www.amazon.com/Fly-Fishing-Yellowstone-National-Park/dp/0811710513 is a must for any angler looking for the story of trout in the historic park, not just the fish but tales of the streams and its history.  His latest book tells a remarkable story about conservation, activism, and journalism, with belts of sold drinking thrown in here and again. It’s called https://www.harpercollins.com/products/this-america-of-ours-nate-schweber?variant=39935697158178  It was published on July 5, 2022 and the paperback is out now. It has also the book won the High Plains Book Award, and received the first place book award from the Outdoor Writers Association of America. The book tells the story of a husband and wife team that took on special interests and politicians like Joe McCarthy and worked to protect land that should have been protected, and along the way, they strike up a friendship with a woman who would alter the course of cooking in America.  It’s suspenseful, meticulously researched, frightening with bits of levity, and historically important with mirrors to today. It is one of the most engaging books I’ve read in a long time, and I’m not just saying all of this because he showed up at my house with a bottle of gin.  But, of course, that’s where we start.” -John HollThis Episode is Sponsored By: https://www.shopify.com/drinkbeer Shopify’s already taken the cash register online, helping millions sell billions around the world. But did you know that Shopify can do the same thing at your retail store? Give your point-of-sale system a serious upgrade, with Shopify. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://www.shopify.com/drinkbeer and take your retail business to the next level today. For more http://www.beeredge.com/podcasts/ check out https://allaboutbeer.com/ - Host: http://www.beeredge.com/our-team/ - Guest: Nate Schweber - Sponsors: Shopify, All About Beer - Tags: Beer, Nature, Travel, Parks, History, Gin

11 OCT 2023 · If you’ve been paying attention to the beer social medias lately, you might have noticed a photo of a Colorado-brewed amber ale making the rounds. It’s called Re-Tired and it’s a clear homage to the original recipe of New Belgium’s Fat Tire. This beer, however, is made by Crooked Stave. Chad Yakobson, the brewery’s founder and brewmaster is here for a conversation. He founded Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project 13 years ago and originally it focused around Brettanomyces.  As his official bio points out that his brewing master’s thesis was on Brettanomyces and its use in the brewing industry.  “Wanting to spread the wealth of knowledge, Chad published his research as an open-source website to provide a greater understanding of Brettanomyces yeasts for brewers. Focused on strain-specific fermentations and the major compounds produced during pure culture anaerobic fermentation in wort, the application of these yeasts has proliferated throughout the brewing industry.” Wild Wild Brett, where I’ll begin the conversation, was a research and development series that really helped drinkers of the time better understand the yeast. But, a changing beer world has it backburnered today.  Still, everything old can be new again, including amber ales. When New Belgium announced it was fundimentally changing its famed fat tire from an amber ale to more of a golden one, many folks were heartbroken, even if they hadn’t purchased the beer for some time. Chad walks me through how this homage came to be, and how he never thought Crooked Stave would ever make an Amber ale.  A lot has happened in thirteen years and Chad weaves the story of Crooked Stave and the larger beer industry through the lens of Colorado.  This Episode is Sponsored By: https://www.shopify.com/drinkbeer Shopify’s already taken the cash register online, helping millions sell billions around the world. But did you know that Shopify can do the same thing at your retail store? Give your point-of-sale system a serious upgrade, with Shopify. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://www.shopify.com/drinkbeer and take your retail business to the next level today. For more http://www.beeredge.com/podcasts/ check out https://allaboutbeer.com/ - Host: http://www.beeredge.com/our-team/ - Guest: Chad Yakobson - Sponsors: Shopify, All About Beer - Tags: Beer, IPA, Wild, Sour Ales, Colorado, Brettanomyces, Fat Tire 

4 OCT 2023 · This week, I’m excited to be joined by Tim Ogden of https://www.deviantlibation.com/ in Florida, for a conversation that revolves around inclusivity in the beer space, and creating a taproom that reflects personality and passion.  This is the last of the shows I recorded during the Florida Brewers Guld Conference this past summer, and I was grateful to meet and spend time with Tim Ogden.   Ogden started home brewing in the late 90s and after moving to Florida at a time when craft beer was far less accessible, and they became an avid homebrewer out of necessity.    It soon became apparent that working in the industry would be a dream come true.  They started out at Hops, a brewpub chain, and moved on from there in 2009 to help grow with Cigar City Brewing.    In 2008 after receiving a scholarship for the concise brewing course at Siebel Institute granted by the Florida Brewers Guild, Ogden served two terms on the guild Board of Directors.   Tim is known for adjunct sweet stouts, fruity IPAs, crispy clean lagers and not-so-tart sour ale, and has a passion for constant reinvention and blurring of the boundaries between styles.  Tim leverages creativity and personality to navigate the space between traditional beer and things a little less common to create beverages that are unique and fun, while still accessible to a wide array of people, and is intent on creating a space of radical inclusivity where all are not only accepted but genuinely feel welcome.  This Episode is Sponsored By: https://www.shopify.com/drinkbeer Shopify’s already taken the cash register online, helping millions sell billions around the world. But did you know that Shopify can do the same thing at your retail store? Give your point-of-sale system a serious upgrade, with Shopify. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://www.shopify.com/drinkbeer and take your retail business to the next level today. For more http://www.beeredge.com/podcasts/ check out https://allaboutbeer.com/ - Host: http://www.beeredge.com/our-team/ - Guest: Tim Ogden - Sponsors: Shopify, All About Beer - Tags: Beer, IPA, Florida, Sour Ales, Taproom, Diversity

27 SEP 2023 · This is a malt centric episode at the intersection of brewer curiosity. In a moment I’ll be talking with Chris Cates of https://www.littleanimalsbrewery.com/, Brent Manning of https://riverbendmalt.com/, and Andrew Zinn ofhttps://www.levellerbrewing.com/. A year ago,  Cates visited Belgium and came back inspired. After visiting through some of the worlds best breweries, drinking classic and carefully crafted saison, he wanted to make a beer that not only paid homage to those beers but to also impart a sense of place from Eastern Tennessee.  After trying a few recipes that didn’t yield the results he wanted, Cates reached out to Riverbend Malt House in neighboring North Carolina to help him create a pilsner malt that would mimic those from Belgium.   The idea, he said was to a local malt “tailored for diastatic and mixed fermentations, with higher protein and beta-glucans and built in minerality and buffering capacity.” Riverbend achieved this by creating a water profile that was rich in minerals that was used during the malting process.  Manning of Riverbend says the results yielded a malt that resists ph drop slightly better than usual, and allows for additional laxtic acid and potential ester precursors.  We’ll weave the whole story from start to finisih as Cates and Manning join the show with Andrew Zinn of Leveller Brewing, who has also been brewing with the malt.   This Episode is Sponsored By: https://www.shopify.com/drinkbeer Shopify’s already taken the cash register online, helping millions sell billions around the world. But did you know that Shopify can do the same thing at your retail store? Give your point-of-sale system a serious upgrade, with Shopify. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://www.shopify.com/drinkbeer and take your retail business to the next level today. For more http://www.beeredge.com/podcasts/ check out https://allaboutbeer.com/ - Host: http://www.beeredge.com/our-team/ - Guests: Chris Cates, Andrew Zinn, Brent Manning - Sponsors: Shopify, All About Beer - Tags: Beer, Malt, Belgium, Water, Science, Pilsner, Saison, Tennessee, North Carolina

20 SEP 2023 · This episode will specifically be talking about self-harm experiences and prevention.  Guests Jon Lane of O.H.S.O brewing in Arizona and Russ Klisch of the Lakefront Brewery in Wisconson discuss the beer initiative around 9-8-8, the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This episode will specifically be talking about self-harm experiences and prevention. Lane has lost family and friends to suicide, and, as you’ll hear, even had ideations himself. He credits the volunteer he spoke with after dialing 988 for saving his life.  Not everyone knows about the number and the service and Lane wanted to raise awareness and to shine light on the importance of mental health and saving lives. The 9-8-8 beer initiative helps breakdown barriers and bring suicide prevention to the forefront of conversations. Lakefront Brewery released its beer, Save A Weiss, earlier in September. If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Lifeline. Additionally, in the United States you can visit http://speakingofsuicide.com/resources for a list of services. Individual countries also have their own resources.  - Host: http://www.beeredge.com/our-team/ - Guests: Jon Lane and Russ Klisch  - Sponsors: All About Beer - Tags: Beer, Weather, Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, Recipes

13 SEP 2023 · Out to Washington this week for an update on the 2023 Hop Crop and to hear how the timing of the harvest impacts flavor and aroma. Eric Desmarais and Alexandra Nowell of https://clsfarms.com/ in Yakima is here to share their insight. Mid-september means the hop harvest is in full swing in the Pacific Northewest, and to get insight on what is happening with the harvest I’m so pleased to be joined by Eric Desmarais, the 4th generation owner of CLS Farms in Yakima and Alexandra Nowell the technical brewing advisor to the farm.  They’ve been busy taking stock of all that’s happening amid the acres and running sensory and talking with brewers. They’ve also been looking at the calendar and taking stock on the aromas and flavors that the hops present when they are picked.  It’s something that gets a good amount of attention these days.   Earlier this year they hosted a seminar titled "Finding the Edges: The Intersection of Art and Science Hop Picking Windows," and were joined by Tom Nielsen of Sierra Nevada, and Stephanie Conn of VGF Farms.  The seminar explored the diversity of hop aromas that can develop based on when a variety is harvested and in this conversation they will share details on that and what they have additionally learned this season.  How does harvest time impact the flavor of the hops? One example that CLS found that harvesting El Dorado towards the end of September brings out its tropical and candy aromas whereas early harvested El Dorado has more citrus and melon character.   It’s a fascinating subject and science.

6 SEP 2023 · India pale ale is the style that built craft beer.  With bold, hoppy flavors, it was distinctive and different and tantalized tastebuds of craft beer drinkers. IPA is a historic style, but historic doesn’t mean static.  Yes, there are many modern interpretations of IPA, but even historic IPA evolved over time, in response to tastes, wars, taxation and many other factors that drive beer makers and beer drinkers.Guests: Ron Pattinson Ron Pattinson is a British beer writer and historian who lives in Amsterdam. He has wasted the last two decades of his twilight years researching and obsessing over many beer-related topics.On his http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/ blog, he writes in excruciating detail about beer history, mostly of British beer styles, with excursions across the Channel into German Austrian, Dutch and Scandinavian beer history. The books he has authored on beer history are almost innumerable. They are mostly significant for their single-word titles, such as "Porter!", "Mild!" and "Bitter!" and their enormous page count. His published works include a book on brewing historic beers called "The Home Brewer's Guide to Vintage Beer" and the definitive work on Scottish beer and brewing, the snappily-titled "Scotland! vol. 2". The few copies of his books to be sold mostly reside in brewers' offices. He is married and the father of two sons in their twenties, neither of whom have yet bothered to move out, despite numerous hints. Mike Karnowski Mike Karnowski is the owner/brewer athttps://www.zebulonbrewing.com/ in Weaverville that he rubs with his wife Gabrielle. He is the author of Homebrew: Beyond The Basics, home brewer since 1986, historical beer enthusiast. This Episode is Sponsored by: https://www.instagram.com/estrellagaliciausa/ Estrella Galicia is an independent, family-owned brewery  in northwest Spain, founded in 1906.Estrella Galicia Cerveza Especial is a world class lager, brewed using the finest Spanish malts, locally  cultivated Galician hops and the best brewing practices, in a state-of-the-art facility in A Coruna. Recognized around the world for quality and exceptional character. Estrella Galicia is “A beer like no other.” https://yakimavalleyhops.com/ Looking for an easy hop sourcing experience? Yakima Valley Hops offers the finest quality hops from right here in our Valley and premium growing regions around the world. Get the hops you need when you need them, with ultra-fast shipping and awesome customer service. With a full line of liquid hop products and all your favorite varieties, no contracts are needed to brew with the best. Shop now at https://yakimavalleyhops.com/ - Hosts: Don Tse and Em Sauter - Guests: Ron Pattinson, Mike Karnowski - Sponsors: Estrella Galicia, Yakima Valley Hops, All About Beer - Tags: Brewing, IPA, History, Hops The following music was used for this media project: Music: Awesome Call by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3399-awesome-call License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist website: https://incompetech.com

30 AUG 2023 · During the Florida Brewers Guild Conference a few weeks ago I had the chance to meet a lot of dedicated professionals and folks working to bring deeper meaning to beer.  One such person is Ami Parrino the Laboratory Manager at Florida Avenue Brewing Company. At the brewery she combines her expertise as a microbiologist and Advanced Cicerone to ensure the production of top-quality beers and elevate the overall beer experience for consumers.  She is a beer judge and is Siebel Institute sensory trained. Ami offers classes on beer and food pairing and works with local breweries to curate their menu pairing options.  And she is in the process of writing a book on beer and food pairing culture around the world. This Episode is Sponsored By: https://www.pintsforprostates.org/ If you plan to be in Colorado in a few weeks for the Great American Beer Festival you need to check out the Denver Rare Beer Tasting. It happens on September 22nd and brings together 64 of America's best craft breweries all for a great cause -- the Pints for Prostates campaign. The beer list is incredible, packed with rare, exotic and vintage beers you won't find anywhere else. These are legendary beers the breweries hold back just for the Denver Rare Beer Tasting. This is a bucket list event for both beer fans and brewers. You can get a look at the beer list and find more information at http://pintsforprostates.org/. All-inclusive tickets are $200 and include unlimited beer samples, a great buffet lunch, t-shirt, tasting glass and program. Money raised goes to the fight against prostate cancer including a free health screening before the event, a simple blood test that checks for common health issues that might just save your life. That's the Denver Rare Beer Tasting -- Drinking Beer and Saving Lives. - Host: http://www.beeredge.com/our-team/ - Guest: Ami Parrino - Sponsors: All About Beer, Pints for Prostates - Tags: Beer, Florida, Sensory, Pairings, Food, Beer Weeks, Pink Boots