Average Joe's Above Average Beer Podcast

Okay Bro-Tato Chips, this place was sweeeeeet.  And really big.  It is run and owned by a great group of people.  I had a great time with Owner/Head Brewer Trevor Rose-Hamblin and his Asst. Brewer Andreas.  I got to meet the whole cast of characters, including Nee-Lo, who also works for the Lucky Door, and Mailman John, who supplied a Triple Barrel Big Bad Baptist for us.  Join us on our ride from Michigan to Illinois to over seas and back to Chicago again.  This place is the real deal, and Trevor, if you are reading this, please change the name of Trendi to O I B Juicy.  Also congrats on Engagment and your Upcoming Nuptuals with Amanda (Which will be at the Brewery!)  Old Irving Brewing Social Media: https://www.oldirvingbrewing.com OIB Facebook Twitter: @OldIrvingBeer Instagram: @oldirvingbrewing

It was a lucky and fortuitous day for myself and the podcast.  Drew Fox gave me a couple hours of his time on a Saturday morning in early March at the Hammond, IN location of 18th Street Brewery.  I had to miss the Energy City Brewing Beer Release in Batavia, but as luck would have it, my wife offered to go stand in line for me, while I talked to the Overloard of 18th Street and Sour Note Brewing.  On top of that, and completely unplanned, it organically turned out to be the 18th episode of the podcast!  He is a smart, insightful, driven, kind, and generous person.  I have never interviewed anyone like him, but I am sure the experience benefits me more than it does him.  I can not thank him enough for his time and his generousity.  Dude is dope and so is this episode.  Hope you all enjoy it and be on the look out for the 18th Street Distillery and Sour Note Brewing stuff.  This guy straight hustles! 18th Street Brewery Social Media: Website: http://www.18thstreetbrewery.com/18thhome Facebook: Hammond Location  Gary Location Instagram: @18thstreetbrewery Twitter:@18thStreetBrew  

Thank god for remodels and tank deliveries, otherwise Corridor Brewery & Provisions would not have been shut down for 3 days and given me the oppurtunity to sit down with not 1 but 2 of my favorite breweries going!  Roger Cuzelis, head brewer at Corridor, and Ryan Jacobs & Brent Banks, the duo that make up Saint Errant Brewing sat down for a nice long free form conversation with Average Joe's to talk some beer and whatever else came up.  Mostly beer.  These dudes were so knowledgable and just being around them, by the power of osmosis, I think I can brew a decent DDH IPA.  We crushed some amazing beers from both Breweries (Punchers Chance, Fuzzy Britches, Contrapasso - Saint Errant and Mosiac Monsoon, Mystic Fog, Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good - Corridor) along with a Hill farmstead and a Breaksides, and yes I call it Hillstead farm in the podcast, like an idiot.  More fun than you could shake a stick at.  Hope to talk to all these guys again soon.   Social Media:  Corridor     Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Saint Errant Facebook Instagram Twitter

Took a trip to Alter Brewing in Downers Grove to sit down with Co-Founders Mark Hedrick and David Yob and talk a bit about their story.  That taproom is immaculate.  Plenty of room for events in the taproom and a couple of hidden event spaces as well.  I sipped on some Alterior Motive Mosaic, Galaxy and the 7-C, a delicious Hoppy Red with Galaxy, and the Denali Llama IPA.  I really enjoyed our conversation about their story, their new lab program, a recent Hop Rub event, and basically all things Alter and beer.  Couple of world class dudes that are running a damn fine shop. Average Joe's Facebook Page Alter Social Media: Website: https://www.alterbrewing.com Facebook: Alter Brewing Page Instagram: @Alterbeer Twitter: @AlterBeer Youtube Channel

What can I say?  I can not wait to get back there.  Gary (Owner/Purnhubber), Aaron (Brewer/Badass/Rogan Listener), Chris (Taproom Manager/Cutie/Rick & Morty Enthusiast), were all so welcoming and entertaining.  We spent some time checking out the shop, bashing the Adam's over at Maplewood Brewing (Thanks to them for pointing me in the direction of Alarmist), talking life love, and all the things to come, like canning lines.  A lot of Cask beer and Hazy beer talk.  Mostly general nonsense.  What a great time they were, and by the way, THE BEER IS SO GREAT!  Their flights have 6 beers, so that is worth it alone. Average Joe's Above Average Beer Podcast Facebook Page Alarmist Social Media:  Website: https://alarmistbrewing.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alarmistbrewing/ Twitter: @AlarmistBrewing Instagram: @alarmistbrewing  

So Small, So Great.  It feels like being in on a little secret.  Though I hope after I post this episode, the secret will spread like wil fire.  Energy City in Batavia, IL is only open 11am - 3pm every first saturday of the month.  I have advice, GO THERE AND BUY BOTTLES.  Though I have no business talking about anything with a chemical, David Files was a scholar and a gentleman.  He has a great and balanced view and approach to beer making.  I am so impressed by the 4 or 5 beers I have tasted from them, I could not wait to share this episode!  Hop Nawi is a must!   Energy City Social Media: https://www.energycitybrewing.com Energy City Facebook Page

Shield Maidens, Literature, Gypsies, and Collaborations are just a few things we covered.  Josh Mowry is one of the most engaging people I have talked to yet on the podcast.  He offered great insight on different perspectives of the beer world.  With their traditional approach to beer (With a little twist sometimes) they have created a badass little beer harth right off I55 on the frontage road off Cass Ave in the Southwest Burbs.  They have had the popular Hop Butcher fellas brewing out their facility for sometime now and Josh breaks down that dynamic when you have two different breweries with two different approaches under one roof.  Look out for their BA Russian Imperial Stout coming in early March "The Bell Witch".  And be sure to get to their taproom. Average Joe's Facebook Miskatonic Social Media: http://miskatonicbrewing.com Miskatonic Facebook Twitter: @MiskatonicBeer Instagram: @miskatonicbrewing

Awwwww Yeaaaah.  We had some fun during Snow-Ma-Geddon 2018 in Willow Springs, at Imperial Oak Brewing.  Brett and Grant were so dope.  They gave me more than 2 hours of their time, and Grant and I may have extended that party a little further once the mics were turned off.  I got to try just about everything.  What a tremendous line up.  They shared the vision and drive behind how they got started, and touched on their "Savage Oak" sour/wild/spontaneous program, which is super exciting for any beer lover.  They do monthly BA Releases and soon will be pairing those with a sour too.  Grab a beer and Give it a listen. Average Joe's Above Average Beer Podcast Facebook Page   Imperial Oak Social Media: Website Facebook Twitter: @imperialoak

World Class DUDES!  We sat down with Members of the Joliet Brewers Guild at Chicago Street Pub in downtown Joliet to talk some JBG and some beer in general.  Along with my buddy Kyle Symons, I was joined by Doug Cowan, Other Doug (Ricky D), Paulie, and Brewer of the year Joel Rakoski!  We had a little fun sampling homebrews while talking homebrews.  If you are a local brewer I highly suggest you pay their meetings a visit every 2nd Wednesday of the Month, and tell em Average Joe sent you.  We heard stories of home brews past, and a little of what's in store for the future, and we got a little visit from Chicago Street Pub owner "Trizz".  We covered a lot in 2+ hours, and it was sensational. Average Joe's Facebook Page   Joliet Brewers Guild Social Media: Website: http://www.jolietbrewersguild.org JBG Facebook Page CHECK THEM OUT!

Quite possibly the most fun I will ever have in front of a Microphone.  The 2 Pack of Adam Cieslak and Adam Smith was a force to be reckoned with.  Tucked into an awesome spot in the Logan Square area, their Brand new LOUNGE is everything you want in a Beer venue.  It provided us with a great setting to talk everything from Fat Shaming to Jerry Saviano to How Maplewood got it's start to what the future holds for the States only Brewery/Distillery.  These guys were truly funny and even more passionate about what they do.  It is a must to pay them a visit.   Average Joe's Above Average Facebook Page Maplewood Brewing and Distillery Social Media: Maplewood Website Maplewood Facebook Page Twitter: @maplewoodbeer Instagram - maplewoodbrew  

A new perspective on the Podcast, talking to Ammar Sheikah who's family owns Joe's Beverage Warehouse in Joliet.  We sat right in the aisle amongst the beer and talked about what it takes to pivot from your run of the mill neighborhood liquor store, to a Craft Beer Super Store fit for a Beer Geek.  And their upcoming collaboration with MyGrain Brewing, Escape from Staeville.  They truly do "Speak Craft Beer" there.  We talked about their utilization of Social Media when hosting big time releases of CBS or Bourbon County, and Daily beer drops.  Great guy and a great spot to buy really good local beer and some damn good Bourbon and all types of other booze as well!  Go pay them a visit, they have it all.   Average Joe's Facebook Page - Go quick and Like it! Cardinal Liquor Depot Social Media: BrewsFlash Blog Facebook Page Twitter Page: @LiqDepotJoliet

I was so pumped for this episode and Brandon and Amanda did not disappoint.  We laughed we cried, we consumed, and we gave Brando a platform to tell the full story of the legend of "Brando's House of Awesomeness".  Though that dream had to be tempered, it lives on within each beer he brews.  I know you all will love this Orgin story along with a bunch of banter and nonsense thrown in.  Amanda and Brandon are two local entrepenuers worth supporting so, get out to Werk Force Brewing and Chicago Brew Werks Brewing supplies, and make sure to have a beer and saddle up for story or 2 as well.  They have a huge accomadating taproom they opened recently and the small tasting room is still there like your favorite old hoodie ready to give you some comfort and an experimental beer or 2.     Facebook Page: Average Joe's Above Average Beer Podcast Werk Force Social Media: Website: http://www.werkforcebrewing.com Instagram: @Werkforcebrewing Twitter: @werkforcebrew Facebook: Werk Force Facebook Page    

I sat down for a lengthy conversation with head brewer Dan Rosenberg at MyGrain Brewing in the old Joliet Train Station.  It is an impressive space centered around a 100 Year old building, with a large taplist, an out of this world Food Menu, and plenty of beer to go in Cans and Crowlers.  Pretty advanced for a 5 month old brewery.  Dan is Uber intelligent and provides some great insight into this unique space, and the beer world in general.  I prodded him for his past, present and future in the beer industry, and we got down into the weeds on non-sense as well.  Great experience and if you have not been there, come hungry and thirsty, they got what you need.   Average Joe's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Averagejoesaboveaveragebeerpodcast/ MyGrain Brewing Social Media: Website - http://www.mygrainbrewing.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MyGrainbrewing/ Instagram - mygrainbrewing Twitter - @MyGrainBrewing  

Got to spend a little time in the Monkey House with the guys at Metal Monkey Brewing in Romeoville, IL.  Dan and Jason were gracious hosts, letting me sample their delicious brews, and all the while telling me their story.  We covered the beginnings of a Home brew addict to how the two of them hooked up at the Joliet Brewers Guild, and thought hmmm, Maybe we should start a brewery.  With a large and outstanding taplist and a bunch of changes coming down the pipeline, this is a must listen for any Chicagoland beer lover.  There was talk of Canning and expanded Distro in the near future, along with a new 10 Barrel system in the works.  Don't miss their Anniversary Party January 27th.  The guys let us in on some of the special tappings and other things planned for the event, it is going to be pretty sick! Average Joe's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Averagejoesaboveaveragebeerpodcast/ Metal Monkey Social Media: Website: http://www.metalmonkeybrewing.com/home Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetalMonkeyBrewing/?fref=ts Instagram: @metalmonkeybrew Twitter: @MetalMonkeyBrew

What an Episode!  Tom and Jake were outstanding.  They rolled out the Beer Red Carpet for us, and let us sit in the Barrel House #1 while doing the podcast.  Meanwhile they broke out bottles of some of the best beers I have ever had.  Including some "Wild" Stuff, some Jester King, River City, and a collab with Une Annee.  We tried their The Dorado and Vanta, which were outstanding, but most importanly we talked, for a long time.  I also want to thank my guy, Mike Maxwell, for tagging along and adding to the conversation.  These guys were so gracious with their time touching on the beer industry as a whole, their starts in the business, what's coming down the pipeline, and a little of what they do when they are not elbows deep in Hops.  I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording it. Average Joe's Above Average Facebook Page Penrose Brewing Social Media: Website: http://penrosebrewing.com Instgram: @PenroseBrewing Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/PenroseBrewing/ Twitter: @PenroseBrewing