An über-beer geek and writer is looking to raise funds for a 30-BBL brewhouse in San Diego? Yeah, that’s somebody I need to talk to… Jacob McKean is in the midst of fundraising for Modern Times Beer and we discuss his experiences working as a social media specialist at Stone Brewing, his Beerpulse Op-ed piece, bringing on famed homebrew blogger the Mad Fermentationist as a consultant, their projected beer line-up (including a homage to Nugget Nectar), and much more.
If you’ve ever thought about taking your homebrew hobby to the pro level, listen to this and understand what you’re getting into.
Follow Modern Times on Twitter, Facebook, and say hello to Jacob if you are attending CBC ’12.
Click below to stream this episode in your browser using the audio player:
I get to interview Tony, from Lagunitas. It is awesome. If you like craft beer, listen to it as soon as possible. If not, please move along. That is all.
Use the audio player to stream this episode in your browser:
North Carolina Brewers Guild Director and honorary Alehead Win Bassett checks in to discuss the announcement that New Belgium is building a new production facility in Asheville. We talk about differences from the Sierra Nevada expansion plans, proposed LEED certification, and reactions from NC brewers and drinkers as their state becomes a focal point for craft beer in the eastern United States. At the end, Slouch’s Alehounds make a surprise appearance, only adding to the professional nature of this episode.
Use the audio player to stream this episode in your browser:
The boys are back on a historic day in the craft beer revolution as New Belgium finally commits to North Carolina. Then they get drunk and talk about a bunch of really interesting stuff. If you like beer, that is. Stuff like:
Flying Dog brewmaster Matt Brophy stops by to discuss International Arms Race, their zero IBU IPA collaboration with Brew Dog. We get into the challenges of brewing in a world without hops, how they hooked up with the extreme Scottish brewers for this unusual project, and some details about exciting upcoming beers coming out of Frederick.
Akron Beacon Journal beer writer Rick Armon stops by the podcast to discuss his new book Ohio Breweries. The latest in the popular Stackpole Series, Rick visited 49 breweries and brewpubs in the Buckeye State in less than 5 months and lived to tell the tale! He dishes about Ohio breweries familiar to all Aleheads like Great Lakes, Fatheads, and Hoppin’ Frog, and reveals some of his favorite small breweries in the state that may soon become familiar names like Indigo Imp, Jackie O’s, and Mt. Carmel.
A lively conversation that gives a glimpse into the great things Ohio has to offer for beer lovers.
Use the audio player to stream this episode in your browser:
Adam Nason is the founder and operator of Beerpulse, the world’s leading beer news website. We discuss how a nighttime hobby transformed into a business with the explosion of the craft beer industry, the challenges of monetizing publishing in the digital age, the debate over ethics in beer blogging, the death of embargoes, the future of beer media, and much more. For anyone with an interest in the writers and the technological tools they use to narrate the craft beer movement in America, this episode is a must-listen conversation with one of the most quietly influential individuals in the industry.
Use the audio player to stream this episode in your browser:
When last we spoke with Win Bassett, he was but a simple beer blogger like any other Alehead… now he’s the new Director of the North Carolina Brewers Guild with a mandate to spread NC craft beer across our great nation. We talk about how he plans to accomplish this, some exciting new breweries opening in his state like Mystery Brewing and Haw River Farmhouse Ales, and updates to some current beer news events like the impending Sierra Nevada expansion to the greater Asheville area.
Use the audio player to stream this episode in your browser…
*For our tens of fans that find it entertaining to hear Slouch drunk on the podcast, this episode is basically your “Sergeant Pepper’s”. He starts out half in the bag and it doesn’t get better as he consumes a growler of Founder’s Double Trouble. For those that don’t find it entertaining… well… sorry. I’d just go ahead and skip this one. Read the rest of this entry »
Tröegs Craft Brewery General Manager Ed Yashinsky is our guest to talk about the release of their vaunted Nugget Nectar Imperial Amber Ale, the challenges and joys of moving into their state-of-the-art new T2 brewing facility in Hershey, updates on favorite upcoming Tröegs seasonals like Perpetual IPA and Mad Elf, some info on their Scratch and Splinter programs, and a whole lot more. In true Tröegs fashion, Ed is an open book as to their plans and reveals a bunch of information for fans of the brewery in this episode of the podcast.
Use the audio player below to stream in your browser:
Acclaimed beer writer Jay Brooks is on the line to breakdown another epic SF Beer Week. Featuring 300-some events and 67 breweries in attendance, this celebration of beer will make your Alehead spin…
Jay takes us through some of the highlights of the week, from haute dogs at the circus with the Homebrew Chef Sean Paxton to the Double (and Triple!) IPA Festival. He also dispenses some advice for other cities across the country planning their own beer weeks.
Use the audio player below to stream this episode in your browser:
Former Goose Island brewmaster and craft beer pioneer Greg Hall stops by to discuss Virtue Cider- his latest venture to produce heirloom apple ciders with modern craft fermentation and aging techniques. We talk about similarities with the craft cider movement to craft beer in the early 90′s, the development of Virtue’s first offering dubbed “RedStreak”, the way cider is viewed in the US and Europe, Big Beer dollars getting into craft cider, and much more. A great conversation with one of the most important and knowledgeable beer and cider makers in the world…
Use the audio player below to stream in your browser:
We welcome Ken Linch and Nathan Herrold to the show, founders of and brewers at Bridge Brew Works in Fayettville, WV. Topics include: opening and operating a production brewery in a state with extremely restrictive alcohol laws, capitalizing on visitors that come seeking whitewater rafting and other outdoor activities with fresh, local craft beer, and plans to expand without losing their hands-on approach.
Alehead Pat Strader sent me the following email describing the impact Bridge Brew Works has made on the West Virginian beer scene and the dedication these guys have for their craft; I couldn’t have said it better myself:
“They are trying to introduce new styles to an area otherwise devoid of craft beer, or understanding craft. The little town where we are, is an anomaly. There are several world-class restaurants here, and Bridge Brew is helping by providing them with fresh, local beers that range the spectrum. A simple cross-over lager? They have that… to very high gravity, and legit Belgian-style beers (Triple, Dubbel, Trubell).
It’s also interesting to me, that they are just two guys….doing 99.9% of the work with some sporadic volunteer help. After the call I actually had a talk with Nathan, and he was telling me about cleaning kegs all day..and the extra care he put into them and he didn’t want to pass the job off because of the impact it would have on the end product. Bottom line, these guys take great care with their stuff…”
We welcome Edinburgh-based blogger and podcaster Beercast Rich to the show and talk about the latest craft beer news on the other side of the pond, including: CAMRA, the cask vs. keg debate, Brewdog’s role in UK beer culture, some exciting Scottish brewers you’ve never heard of, and more.
Click below to stream this episode in your browser:
Today’s guest is Prague-based beer writer Evan Rail- we discuss his new essay Why Beer Matters available for Amazon Kindle, beer and homebrewing culture in the Czech Republic (including the unlikely rise of the Czech IPA), where to go as a beer geek with three days in Prague, and his pratfall in front of Anthony Bourdain during the filming of No Reservations.
Click below to stream this episode in your browser:
Scott Metzger is an interesting dude: founder of San Antonion’s Freetail Brewing Co in a state with decidedly unfriendly laws towards brewpubs, professor of economics, sender of hilarious cease-and-desist response letters, purveyor of seven-or-so (and counting) different IPA’s, presenter of TEDx talks, and prolific beer blogger, among other things. We discuss… well, beer. And other stuff. But mostly beer.
Click below to stream this episode in your browser:
Slouch sits down for a chat about sour and wild beers with Brandon Jones from the excellent blog Embrace the Funk. The guys tackle a number of subjects from a homebrewer and commercial beer fan perspective, including: how to get started brewing beers with wild yeast, common fears and misconceptions regarding contamination and process, some exciting upcoming offerings that look to push sour beers further into the mainstream, and Brandon’s excellent interviews with legends Jean Van Roy (Cantillon) and Vinnie Cilurzo (Russian River) and pioneering newcomers like Crooked Stave’s Chad Yakobson.
If you have already “embraced the funk” or just want to learn more about this exciting branch of the craft beer movement, check out a great conversation with a brewer and writer that is passionate and knowledgeable about these beers.
Gov. Bev Perdue with the spoils of war, via Mountain XPress on Flickr
Unofficial (for now) North Carolina Craft Beer Goodwill AmbassadorWin Bassett of ncbrewing.org stops by to discuss the monumental announcement that Sierra Nevada Brewing will be building an east coast production facility just south of Asheville, NC. We discuss the incentive package, the practical and philosophical implications the development might have on local brewing culture, the impending New Belgium announcement, the economic benefits to the region, and more.
We also get into some of the state’s other beer destinations in the Triangle , Charlotte, and Coastal regions, as well as Slouch’s impending hero’s welcome* to visit the state’s myriad breweries and bottleshops.
Also of note: Win has been a leading advocate for getting his local legislators to sign on as sponsors to HR 1236 Small BREW Act. Where do your representative stand on this bill that reduces the tax excise rate for craft breweries that produce less the 60,000 barrels annually? Maybe you should call and ask them!
Click below to stream this episode in your browser:
Posted by Slouch Sixpack 
