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Sure, I explain all this verbally and make tons of excuses.  But I have not put out a legit episode since March 2020, I had not recorded a legit episode since Feb 2021, and here I am now putting out an 8 month old episode I finally finished editing.  Well, whatever, I love the guys at Brothership Brewing.  We had a great conversation and we got to hear some dope stories and drink insanely good beer.  From home brewers, right to the hearts of the SW Burbs beer nerd.  Broship has it working.   Instagram: @brothership_brewing Facebook Search Brothership Brewing

Leading up to Mikerphone's BBA Imperial Bean Spirit, Mike Pallen and I decided to do a little Sunday Morning chat while tasting some delicious new Barrel Aged Bean!  We got a surprise visit from Co-Owner of Phase Three Brewing, Mr. Evan Morris.  A good time was had by all.   Mikerphone Online Store Mikerphone Facbook Mikerphone Instagram Phase Three Online Store Phase Three Instagram

Lockdown sucks, but it sucks less with a little Zoom chat with Alex Lovinggood and Pete from Barn Town Brewing in Iowa.  We recorded this before I went with the Pro License so it was recorded in 2 35+ minute chunks.  We even got guest appearances from Brandon and Amanda Wright (Werk Force) and Steve Miller (Hailstorm).  There were beers chugged and shotgunned and some pretty hilarious conversation.  Now you can even check out the Zoom video recording on my Youtube Channel.     Barn Town Brewing Social Media: Instagram Facebook

Despite my best efforts, I made the choice to move the podcast to a remote setting by hosting it on Zoom Meeting.  Mike Pallen at Mikerphone is deeply entrenched in this New World of To Go/Carryout only due to Covid 19, so I wanted to gets some thoughts from him and give people something to do while we are all locked down and Quarantined.  The crew was awesome enough to accommodate my Podcast request, so here is the Pilot Episode of Quarantine Content! Youtube link: Coming Soon!

Just another interesting human to talk to.  Brian Barclay of Barclay Brewing is doing something truly unique, with a completely fresh perspective.  His story is pretty damn cool, and You get to hear from Armando, the beer buyer over at Warehouse Liquors in the South Loop.  We did drink through some pretty high octane stuff, so we may ramble a bit, but man did we have some fun.  We even had an Inception moment with Don't Drink Beer creator, Alex Kidd.  This one should be a fun listen for anybody.

The ladies of Mikerphone took over the brew house and let me hang out with them all day while they brewed a big ol Hazy DIPA Called, Dripping So Much Sauce.  This Citra, El Dorado, and Sabro hop banger, lyrically inspired by Juicy from Lizzo, will come out at Mikerphone on Sunday March 8th to celebrate International Womens Day!  These are some awesome and Intelligent people and I had too much fun.   Here is a link to the Facebook Event:  https://www.facebook.com/events/199336281191816

Katy and Michelle rolled out the red carpet for me with a little tour, some coffee, a lot of conversation, and some food and science to cap it all off.  These two have plenty of stories surrounding their beautiful space in Old Irving Park.  The Place was just tremendous and so were the hosts.  Get to know about this Brewery and Ciderhouse and get out there immediately.   Eris Social Media: Website Instagram Facebook

This episode was about Confusion, Fun, and Chaos.  I think it should be entertaining for the listeners. It starts with an Original Song by St. Louis musician Adam Gaffney and spins out of control from their with voices from Bloomingtons White Oak Brewing, and Sparta, IL White Rooster brewing.  Also with a guest appearance from my man Tyson Shroyer of home Brew fame, Fire Hop Brewing.  

At the beginning of December Crafted 1979 hosted a panel discussion led by Josh Noel, Author of Barrel Aged Stouts and Selling out, Josh Deth, Founder and owner of Revolution Brewing, Bob Iggins, VP at Windy City Distribution, and Denver Worker, Owner of Crafted 1979.  Discussion was over an Hour long, and it includes parts of Josh's book, The recent purchase of Ballast Point by Kings and Convicts Brewing, and the current state of beer complete with predictions on the future of the craft beer industry.  It is a must listen for beer nerds everywhere.

Smoked Meats and Beer Talk.  You can't really beat that.  With 40 taps to choose from, DYB is a sweet little spot to have a beer and kick it.  I got to sit down with the owners of all 4 breweries that dwell within DYB.  Its a long one but damn was it entertaining.  We got technical, we got comical, we sang, we drank, but more importantly, we learned how and why they started this whole thing.

From being drugged by your friends on Thanksgiving, to Turkey Day Turducken and living in the bush, Todd and Jake covered just about everything in the epic episode.  And we talked a little about beer and shit too.  These guys are two of the most engaging people I have had on, and the stories just keep coming.  You can't not listen to this one.   Cruz Blanca Social: Website Instagram Facebook

Oz opened up his doors and his skills to make Crafted 1979 an Anniversary beer.  So as our crew so often does, we descended upon his place on a Monday morning with beers to share, and shit to talk.  It was an awesome day, hanging with good friends, talking beer and consuming it.  We also got to hear from Matt Griseta, the executive chef over at Square Roots, and one half of the new Mokena Brewery Brothership brewing in Ryne Willig.

Is/Was Brewing is small and it is new, and I suggest everyone put them on their radar now.  What my guest, Mike Schallau, is doing is completely different than everything we are consuming in the current Chicago market.  It is not a "never been done" scenario, but out side of Off Color, Afterthought, and a handful of others, no one is focusing on these Saison style beers.  There are other Fermentation forward breweries out there, but Mike is doing it with 5 barrel fermentors out of Marz Brewing in Chicago.  He is splitting off batches of the same beer and fermenting half straight up with a specific yeast and the other half with the same yeast but treating it with Brettomyces.  You can taste the beer as it is and as it was.  Please follow this young brewery: Social Media: Instagram Facebook 

So one year after leaving my "regular" job to join the beer world, Crafted 1979 decided to surprise me by having my wife bring my podcast gear to the shop so that they could do a performance review podcast with customers and beer industry folks.  They thought, I ask enough questions on this podcast, they wanted to have our customers and some beer industry folks as me some questions.  It was a fun day either way, even if it was weird as shit for me.  Thanks to Crafted 1979 for allowing to live my passion daily while also supporting a family.  It means everything to me.

That Woodridge area is so hot right now.  I love the design and layout of the place, and the beer was spraying to all fields.  Nathan the brewmaster and owner Ed were a great pair to chat with about some beer, pizza, and Iktoberfest activities.  Wish I had gotten out to this place sooner.  It always fascinates me to hear about how a place goes from planning to opening those doors to the public.  Their story satiated that impulse. Social Media: Website Instagram Facebook

Finally, I got to sit down with a Chicago original, Goose Island Beer co.  Thanks to Renee for putting this together and getting me Keith Gabbett (Brewmaster), Mike Siegel (Research & Development), and Bjorn Johnson (Lead Brewer).  We got to explore a little about what drove them all to beer and ultimately Goose Island.  We talked about some new beers they have in the works, and exactly what it takes to get them from idea states to actual products.  Bjorn, broke down a little about process on how to create some beer.  Of course we talked Bourbon County Stout and where the beer world is going. Social Media: Website Instagram Facebook Twitter  Youtube

If you don't know, you soon will.  Viking Artisan Ales is incredible.  And I got a bonus with Aaron, the owner of Boneflower Craft Mead, who is making a massive name for themselves.  We had a blast and drank some insanely good beer while we bullshitted for 2 and a half hours.  Really impressed with both these dudes and the beverages they are creating.   Viking Artisan Ales: Instagram Facebook Boneflower: Website Instagram Facebook

Cruising Down I57 with my beef jerky in hand I shot down to Savoy, IL to document a pretty awesome Collaboration brew day with Triptych Brewing and Windmill Brewing.  I was joined by Anthony Benjamin, brewer and managing partner of Triptych Brewing, along with Mike G. and Justin V. from Windmill Brewing.  They brewed up a Horchata style Milkshake IPA with tons of Silk Almond milk, vanilla and a little bit of lactose.  It was really awesome to see these guys interact and actively learn while drinking and having a little fun as well.  

I may sound like a broken record, but another episode and another world class human to talk beer with.  The one, the only Oswald White of The Sour Note Brewing.  The self-proclaimed Southern Wild Boy.  What a smart and insightful dude Oz is.  Loved hearing about his path to brewing beer and the early days of his relationship with Drew Fox of 18th Street, who also joined us for a few minutes.  The beer is killer and the conversation even exceeded that! The Sour Note Social Media: Website Instagram Facebook

Lane and Beth opened up their doors on a Monday morning for me, and then they served me one of the best over fruited sours I have had the pleasure of tasting.  We had a great conversation about what led them to open up a cozy and elegant taproom in the middle of a crazy strip mall in Lake Zurich, IL.  These guys are a must visit with killer NEIPA's, the Fruit Shoppe Series, and a ton of classic styles they are hitting out of the park right now.     Roaring Table Social: Website Instagram Facebook  Untappd