Beer Guys Radio Craft Beer Podcast

By popular demand, we're talking home brewing this week! Homebrewers Andrew Cooper and Michael Rothlisberger joined us in the studio to talk about the joys of brewing. We talked about extracts getting a bad rap, tips for entering contests, and the importance of having a brewing community around you. Plus, we recapped Aaron's trip to Maine and our tour of Monday Night Brewing's newest facility, The Garage.

Do you have friends who love wine, but turn their nose up at beer? Listen to this episode. We talk about crfat beers that will work with the wine palate.

Just ahead of their Atlanta stop on their 40th Anniversary Tour, Foreigner guitarist, craft beer enthusiast, and Cicerone Certified Beer Server Bruce Watson chats with the Beer Guys about craft beer and their "VIB" meet and greet craft beer tastings he hosts along with bandmate Michael Bluestein.

We talked to two dedicated collectors of "breweriana," Lee Dickson and Ken Jones. We were privileged to get a look of just a tiny portion of their collections, and talk about how you get started in collecting breweriana. Even if it's just for fun - and no, that can of Billy Beer your uncle gave you 10 years ago isn't worth anything. 

Avondale Brewing is the second-oldest brewery in Birmingham. Housed in a historic building that used to be a fire station, saloon and brothel, they used their saison to build Avondale’s brand. From opening up Birmingham’s first sour-only facility (the Barrel Works) and distilling, the crew is pushing the boundaries in Alabama. Head brewer Nate Darnell joined the Beer Guys in studio. We talked about his brewing background, the Birmingham beer scene, and the differences between brewing and distilling.

That shouldn’t shock many people. But about the only thing we love more than craft beer is pairing it with great food. That’s why we invited Tom Moran from Roswell’s Peach & The Porkchop into the studio. We sampled some delicious food, paired it with some local craft beers, and generally enjoyed ourselves. Not a bad way to spend an evening.

In honor of the 20th anniversary of one of the most iconic craft beer bars in the nation, we took our show on the road to Decatur, GA this week. We talked to the owners of the Brick Store pub...as well as a couple of extra interviews too!

While one brewery won’t likely change that, Phantom Horse Brewing Company owner Skip Welsh hopes you’ll keep their neck of the woods in mind. Skip also owns Pie Slingers pizza. in 2014, he got an extract homebrew kit, and the bug hit him quickly. They started serving their own beers in 2016, and Skip, along with his partner Jason Randles, have been going strong ever since.

The three Kosoris(es?) were in the studio. Robin, Tamara and Brian are the family members behind Marietta's Viking Alchemist Meadery.  If you think that mead is that cloyingly sweet alcohol they serve at your local Renaissance Festival, you need to try these out. In fact, according to Robin, if you won't really get a honey flavor from their meads.  Plus, we learn how to brew your own mead (hint: it's pretty easy to get started!)  

On this week's show, we're talking to Keith Yager, the owner and brewmaster for Huntsville's Yellowhammer Brewing.  Also, we remember Dan Rosen.  A good friend and co-founder of MAZURT Brewing.

Good Word Brewing, a brand new brewpub set to open this fall in downtown Duluth, joined us in studio. Ryan Skinner and Todd DiMatteo are soon-to-be former employees of Brickstore, striking out on this new venture. Working with them are CRL Contracting (one of our sponsors). After working with Orpheus, Second Self and Scofflaw, CRL has earned their slogan “We Build Breweries.” We talk about how they got into the business, and they’ve got a (long) list of breweries and brewpubs that are in planning.

This week's episode brings Gainesville's Left Nut Brewing into the studio. Brewmaster Jason Ford and R&D director Rick Foote answer our questions. And yes, we do ask the question. Plus, a podcast extra - if you want to know what ranch dressing soda tastes like, we've got the answer! 

The gents behind Carrolton's first production brewery joins us on the show today. We talked about starting up a new brewery in the western suburbs of Atlanta, growing hops and the benefit of having an in house print shop.

The crew behind Torched Hop Brewpub joined us in studio today. Co-Owner Chris Bivens joined us to talk about their journey from a pizza and salad idea to a full-fledged restaurant.  Plus, we talk about the controversy over ABInbev's decision not to sell South African hops to independent breweries. 

This week's show comes on the heels of the news that Ab-InBev "partnered" with North Carolina craft brew stalwart Wicked Weed Brewing. When the largest brewer in the world buys one of the "craftiest" companies out there, it's sure to ruffle some feathers. So that's what we talked about. We broadcast at Cherry Street Brewing Cooperative, who recently celebrated their anniversary. The brewpub out of Cumming, Georgia, is growing and distributing rapidly, and that keeps Nick Tanner's team busy!