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 …

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…

"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 b…

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 relish…

"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 scrat…

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…

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 mas…

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…

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…

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 …

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 Mill…

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…

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 spac…

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 comb…

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…

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 So…

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 e…

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.…

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, …

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…

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 b…

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…

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.…

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!…

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 favo…

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 wi…

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 Weeke…

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 …

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 B…

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…

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 b…

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…

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., sp…

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.By All About Beer

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 throug…

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: F…

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 wha…

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 …

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 proc…

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 impr…

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…

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…

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 Brewin…

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.…

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 f…

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, cockta…

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.By All About Beer

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 …

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 overloo…

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 office…