Beer Guys Radio Craft Beer Podcast

A pint of plain is your only man...

Drinking holidays are the best holidays.  St. Patrick's Day is a drinking holiday now, but it wasn't always that way.  The story is kind of crazy.

Join us as we talk about the lore and legends of St. Patrick and St. Patrick's Day while we sample some Irish beers and whiskey.

The Beer (and Whiskey) List

• Guinness & Smithwick's - Blacksmith (“Pint of Special”)
• StillFire - O’Farrell’s Irish Red (Red Ale)
• Sullivan’s - Black Marble (Dry Irish Stout)
• Sullivan’s - Maltings Irish Ale (Red Ale)
• Fat Orange Cat - Baby Leprechauns (Session IPA)
• Evil Twin - Even More Irish Jesus (Dry Irish Stout)
• Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
• Slane Irish Whiskey
• Whistle Pig 10, 11, and 12 (OK, not Irish, but tasty.)

TRIVIA! Order a ‘Black Bulldog’ in Malaysia and you’ll be handed a bottle of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. This is because the first export bottlers of Guinness used to add their own symbols to the label to distinguish their bottles and exclusive territories. There were dozens of different symbols, the most famous of which were the bulldog, the wolf, the dog and a cat

Sláinte!

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

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If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Wooden Robot co-founder dies in brewery fall

We send our sincere condolences to the family of Dan Wade and his brewery family at Wooden Robot.  Dan tragically lost his life in a fall at the brewery last week.  If you'd like to help support his wife and newborn son with immediate and long-term expenses you can give to the GoFundMe here.

The weather here has been crazy lately.  This would be expected if it was the end of March or beginning of April, but this is (or was) February.  We've had temps hit nearly 70°.  The madness brought storms through here and got Brian excited to see a tornado.  A sentiment only expressed by those that haven't been through a tornado, or maybe storm chasers.  Brian is in Group A.  I brag about my new fancy pants bath towels.  Seriously, they're really nice.  Y'all drop me a line if you want to come by for a shower some time.

AB InBev brewers were going strike, but they didn't

So, this story updated right after we recorded the show.  ABI brewers were close to a strike, but reached a deal to stop that happening.  Just ignore this part of the show.

Fishwife partners with Keystone Light

This was a collab we didn't expect.  We're not mad at it, just a bit confused.  Tinned seafood purveyor Fishwife has partnered with Keystone Light to launch The Smooth Snackle Pack.  The combo gets you three tins of smoked trout, and insulate snackle box, and a coupon to get you some Keystone Light from Uber Eats.  We'll get one (update: we did) but Fishwife is not to be very proud of their upscale image.  Kind of a surprise to see them partner with Keystone Light.

Dry February > Dry January

Non-alcoholic beer continues to grow.  Sales are still up through February showing some people are stretching out that Dry January.  Whole Foods Market now sells more Athletic Brewing than any other brand.

Beer laws are stupid everywhere

No matter what state you live in you're likely face some type of stupid beer laws.  A bill to improve laws in Georgia (SB 163) failed to get out of committee this year.  Leaving the state's brewers struggling with current regulations.  A bill in Tennessee propose to ban the sale of cold beer with the intention of combatting drunk driving.  However, recent updates suggest that one the sponsor learned about the impact

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
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If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

We sat down with our friends Zach and Cliff at Truck & Tap along with our new friend Tiffany Dillon of Gwen Tajz wine bar.  We poked some beers, we mulled some wines (wine wine and barleywine) and we talked about serving traditionally cooler beverages warmer.  Luckily, when we recorded the show it was a seasonally-appropriate cooler temperature, the only cool day in the last couple of weeks actually.

While the image of a frosty mug overflowing with cold beer might be the first thing that comes to mind, the history of enjoying warmed brews stretches back centuries. Tonight, we're venturing beyond the icebox and exploring the comforting world of hot drinks, with a special focus on the surprising (and potentially delicious) realm of hot-poked beers.

A Toasty Tradition: Hot Drinks Through the Ages

From mulled wines enjoyed by medieval nobility to steaming cups of tea that fueled revolutions, hot beverages have long held cultural and practical significance. In colder climates, they provided warmth and comfort, while spices and herbs added flavor and potential health benefits. Even beer, that seemingly summery beverage, has a warm past. In fact, some historians believe that heated ales were the norm in ancient Europe, offering a safer alternative to potentially contaminated water.

Mulled Magic: Crafting the Perfect Winter Warmer

Mulled wine, a timeless classic, remains a popular choice for chilly evenings. The process is simple: simmer wine with spices like cinnamon, cloves, and citrus, creating an aromatic and warming concoction. But did you know you can adapt this recipe for beer lovers? Experiment with different styles and spices to find your perfect match.

Beyond the Bottle: Wine for the Beer-Curious

For those open to exploring new territory, natural wines offer a fascinating journey. These unfiltered, unfined wines focus on minimal intervention, showcasing the unique characteristics of the grape and terroir. If you're a beer enthusiast looking to expand your palate, natural wines with their emphasis on freshness and complexity might surprise you.

Poking Fun & Flavor: The Hot-Poked Beer Craze

Now, let's delve into the slightly unconventional world of hot-poked beers. This trend involves heating a mug of beer with a red-hot poker, supposedly caramelizing the sugars and creating a unique flavor profile. While opinions vary, there's no denying the intrigue and potential for experimentation. We'll compare and contrast the experience of a hot-poked beer versus

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
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If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Disclaimer: Ride the Clydesdales at your own risk

Touchdown for Beer Commercials: The episode kicks off with a high-energy discussion about Super Bowl Sunday and its iconic beer commercials. Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors Light, and Michelob Ultra all vie for our attention, but according to the latest buzz, Michelob Ultra emerged as the top-selling brew of the big game. It's a fascinating peek into the battle for marketing supremacy in the world of sports and suds.

Busch Gardens & Sweet Memories: From the bright lights of the stadium, the conversation takes a nostalgic turn with a visit to Busch Gardens. Memories of childhood trips come flooding back, along with a mention of Eagle Brand snacks. This unexpected pairing sparks a discussion about branding strategies and the strange yet sometimes successful partnerships that emerge in the food and beverage world.

Monster Shakes Up the Craft Beer Scene: Speaking of unexpected turns, the episode dives into the surprising news of Monster Energy eliminating Cigar City Brewing's brewmaster Wayne Wambles' position. This sparks important questions about the relationship between craft and corporate brewing, and whether such collaborations ultimately compromise the spirit of craft beer.

Tax Time for Beer?: But not all discussions are lighthearted. The episode tackles the serious issue of domestic beer tax rates, comparing 2022 and 2023 numbers. This insightful segment shed light on the challenges faced by independent breweries and the potential impact of tax reform on the craft beer industry's future.

Crafty Triumphs: Despite the tax hurdles, there's good news on the horizon! The episode highlights the positive statistic that craft beer sales are actually outpacing total beer sales in early 2024. This is a major win for the craft beer community, showcasing its resilience and innovation in the face of challenges.

Global Beers & Pinball Perfection: Beyond the United States, the episode celebrates a historic moment: the United Arab Emirates opens its first-ever craft brewery after years of contract brewing in the US. This exciting development marks a significant milestone in the global expansion of the craft beer scene.

Beyond the Brews: But brewing isn't all there is to life! The episode throws in some fun segments, including "Beer Flights, The Dadverse, & Pinball." This lighthearted diversion offers a refreshing break from the industry discussions and showcases the diverse interests of the podcast hosts and listeners.

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

The stovepipe is gonna take over the world.

If you follow us on Twitter, errr... X, then you've seen the posts for #LongBeerFriday.  That's Brian's doing.  He loves a good stovepipe and he's finding more beers in these 19.2 oz. cans.  North Coast just announced their Old Rasputin RIS is coming out in a stovepipe can.  Dangerous.

With the "Big Game" this weekend we explore some stats on NFL fans and their drinking habits.  Any guesses on which teams have the drunkest fans?  Not to leave out the places without an NFL team, we also take a look at which state has the drunkest residents.  I wonder if there's any correlation.

We've another Anchor Brewing update.  The Anchor Union isn't in the mix any more to buy the brewery, but they aren't totally out.  We'll keep an eye on what develops here.

The closures keep on keeping on.  New Belgium announced this week they were closing their San Francisco brewery and taproom.  Based on the surprise from some San Fran residents on the beer forums that New Belgium even had a taproom there, it seems like that's not a shocking end.

COME SEE US NEXT WEEKEND AT TRUCK & TAP DULUTH!

We have to move our Hot Drinks for Cold Weather show and drinking event to 02/17 at 2PM.  Come hang with us and have a toddy or two.

Beer of the Week

• Stillwater - Extra Dry (“Sake Style Saison Ale”)
• Sierra Nevada - Dank Little Thing IPA
• Iron Hill - Winter Warmer (winter ale w/ cinnamon, nutmeg, & star anise)
• Anderson Valley Black Light - Light Dark Ale - 95 calories, 3.8% ABV.  Brewed with Chocolate Malt, Midnight Wheat, and Black Rice
• Northern Monk - Rocket Lolly IPA (from the the UK)
• 49th State - Alaska 8 Star Lager with Cranberry & Hibiscus (“Winter Lager”)

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

We made it to FOUR HUNDRED episodes.  Whew.

This week marks the 400th episode of Beer Guys Radio. Crazy. We've been pretty steady with the show since we launched in January 2016, and here it is 2024. Thanks for joining us for the ride.

We open up with a little WTF action as Truly launched a Hot Wing Sauce Hard Seltzer "just in time" for the Super Bowl. Maybe it would pair well with our cellared Hormel Chili Cheese Beer?

Just like everything else the average price for a case of craft beer is up, and I learned there are several categories of craft beer at retail, all the way up to Apex Craft.

Bids are in for Anchor Brewing and it's expected a winner will be announced soon. The Anchor Union is still in the mix but no word on where they stand in the race.

We share some thoughts on Dry January and hop water, now that it's all behind us, and thoughts on what breweries can do to keep people coming in during those challenging months. We definitely support giving your body a break, but we sure don't want to hurt our favorite bars and breweries. In related news, NA beer is the NA beverage of choice (next to NA wine and spirits) for Dry January.

We take a little side venture into hot sauce chat, and about if listening to a book counts as reading a book.

More closures. So many more closures. Buffalo Bayou Brewing got locked out of their building for non payment of rent. The CEO says he's trying to come back. We ponder the likelihood of that happening. You gotta have a bold strategy to pull off a Lazarus move.

AB InBev continues to close down craft breweries it acquired. But it's keeping some of the brands alive at its other breweries. Let's see what they have left when it's all said and done.

Finally, a shout out to our friends Jason and Leslie from Orpheus Brewing. They're having a going away party this weekend ahead of a move to Amsterdam where they'll start up a much smaller brewing operation, The Hollows. We wish them luck!

Beers of the Week

• Scofflaw Juice Quest (Hazy IPA)
• Three Taverns Decatur 200 (Cold Pale Ale)
• Dogfish Head / Rodenbach - Crimson Cru (Red Ale, blend of Rodenbach Grand Cru and “an off-centered red ale” infused w/sumac & sweet orange peel.)
• Bearded Iris Pep Talk (Lager)

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Live from the Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting!

ACAT has become a tradition for us.  We've gone every year since we launched and always look forward to it.  This year's event, the 18th, was no exception.  Plenty of awesome cask beers and great people.  It was actually pretty packed, which was nice to see with all the negative talk about craft beer and beer festivals.

In keeping with tradition we sat down with the event organizer, Owen Ogletree of Brewtopia Events.  We chatted about cask ale and why you'll sometimes see "Ale, Beer, and Stout" mentioned together as though they are distinct things. (They are, or they were.)  We talk about beer foam, lacing, and how fests like ACAT inspire homebrewers.

Georgia Craft Brewers Guild executive director Joseph Cortez sits down with us to talk beer laws and the current bill up for consideration, knows as The FOAM Act, SB163 would provide various relief for brewers in relation to self-distribution, sales limits, franchise law, and direct donations to charities.  You can view the bill here and sign a petition to show your support here.

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Beer Mints and Potato Chips

Miller Lite always has some interesting swag.  For Dry January it's mints that are supposed to taste like Miller Lite, which I guess is a good thing.  More my taste (maybe?) are potato chips that taste like a citrus IPA.  Honestly, that doesn't sound great, but I would try them.

AB InBev does Paris

As a beer sponsor backs out  in protest of Russian and Belarussian athletes being allowed to participate in the olympics, AB InBev steps in to be the beer sponsor.  Good for them, they always do make sound business decisions.  

Mikkeller goes macro and our favorite gueuze scales back

Carlsberg has acquired a minority stake in Mikkeller.  They wanted to buy them outright, but Mikkeller wasn't up for that.  More sadder for us, Drie Fonteinen announced team changes and the climate of craft beer means they'll be scaling back production.  Hold on with all you've got, 3F.

Uber drops Drizly

After acquiring the company for over $1 Billion just a few years ago, Uber is shuttering the Drizly alcohol delivery service.  Since you can still get alcohol via UberEats it may just be unloaded the name and some of the tech, but that's speculation.

New Jersey's beer bill is SIGNED!

We've followed this all year and it is done.  The governor signed the bill and brought much needed relief.

Local Scene

Here in Georgia Pontoon Brewing recently reopened.  They're one of the breweries caught up in the mess at Bevana which forced their closure last year.  Also, visitors went to Dry County Brewing to find locked doors with no comment from the brewery as to why.  We reached out to one of the owners who told us the taproom is closed temporarily and more info will be released soon.

Beer Guys on the move

If you're in the Atlanta are or ready for a trip come see us at the Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting on 01/20 and join our Hot Beer, Cold Weather show at Truck & Tap Duluth on 01/27!  See you there!

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
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If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

We've always been supporters of Dry January.  We love beer, but we know you need to take it easy sometimes and if you want to take January to purge your liver, we're all about it.  But... a side effect of that is that our pubs and breweries have an even slower month in a month that's already traditionally slow.

With that in mind, Jeff Alworth at Beervana suggested we make it #PubJanuary.  You can still stay dry if you choose to, but go out to your pubs (or breweries, if appropriate) and have a meal with some friends or family.  Show them love, give them business, we know it's a tough time out there and they need all the support they can get.  We're totally on board with that.

New Jersey beer bill heads to governor

We've updated this throughout the year and it looks like a bill was reached that made everyone, including the governor, happy.  It passed nearly unanimously in both houses - some chose to abstain from voting, but everyone that did vote was in support.  Now, it's headed back to the governor's desk for a signature.  Good luck, NJ!

Asahi buys Octopi Brewing

Another big acquisition.  Octopi is a contract brewer whose owner also owns Untitled Art, who offers up some tasty NA and not-NA beers.  Asahi acquired Octopi recently.  More details in the show!

Call the PPO Police!

Beer Twitter sprung into action this week when Other Half's new Chicago taproom opened with some pints costing $16.  The addressed it quickly and prices were lowered, with the highest priced pint now at $9.  But still, $16 to start.  Madness.  Related, we talk about pricing at NFL stadiums.  Where is a beer a (relative) steal and who's robbing you?

Beer Guys out and about

We've got a few events coming up soon so come see us if you're in the area. We'll be at the Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting on Jan 20th and we've got a fun event coming up (Cold Weather, Hot Drinks) with our friends at Truck & Tap on Jan. 27th.  More details coming soon!

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Eight years of talking about beers

This week marks the 8th anniversary of Beer Guys Radio.  Cheers to us.  So much has changed over the last 8 years it seems like we've been at it a long longer.  Cheers to the next 8!

It's Dry January

The annual holiday of people deciding they need to chill on their drinking.  If you're playing along we've got some recommendations for you.  It's a bit more controversial this year.  Several brewers have noted that craft beer sales are down (they are) and that January is one of the tougher months for your bars and breweries.  They need you now more than ever.
 
We share an update on the lawsuit against Treee House Brewing, some news about hops and their ability to combat Alzheimer's, talk travel for beer, and how to get more Gen Z'ers in your taproom.

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Looking back on the big styles and big stories of 2023.

We've almost made it through another year.  Whew.  Seems like they hasn't been a ton of sunshine and puppies for craft beer since before the plague and 2023 definitely brought its share of challenges.

The Most Loved Styles

We'll start off with some non-negative news and recap the top rated beer styles per Untappd.  I'm a bit surprised here, but I talk it through and see why these styles landed where they did.

Is the Bubble Bursting?

The big Bubble Burst has been predicted for several years now for craft breweries.  We're not really seeing a bubble burst, but we are seeing, as Bart Watson of the Brewers Association put it, market correction.  Brewery closures, sell offs, bankruptcies, and mergers were the norm this year with a few lawsuits thrown in for good measure.

Bud Light Blunder

Another story that stayed in the news for most of the year.  This one made everyone mad, and AB chose not to take sides on either front and just move on.  Their moves cost them dearly, with lasting effects.

A Look Ahead

Who the heck knows what 2024 holds.  We make some predictions and wishes.  Unfortunately, signs point to more challenges for the industry.  But, we're still going to get great beer from great brewers, so I guess it will be alright.

Thanks for spending 2023 with us.  We appreciate you and hope 2024 is a banger of a year for you!

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
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If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

What a fun way to "work."  As is tradition, it's time for our annul Holiday Blind Beer Tasting, aka The 12 Beers of Christmas, aaka The Interfaith Holiday Beer SPECTACULAR.

13 (so close to 12) beers, 7 beer drinkers, blind tasting and picking our favorites.  Mixed in with some fun facts about drinking and the holidays.

The Beers

• N'Ice Chouffe
• St. Bernardus Christmas
• Ommegang Everything Nice
• Ommegang Everything Naughty
• Noda Cheerwine Holiday Ale
• Bell's Christmas Ale
• Scaldis Noel
• Barrel of Monks Father Christmas 2018
• Delirium Noel
• Prairie Christmas Bomb!
• Highland Cold Mountain
• Hardywood Christmas Morning
• Deschutes Jubelale

We're taking next week off for the holiday break but we'll be back the next wek.

Cheers, Y'all!  Happy Holidays!!!!

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
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If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

What's your favorite brewery?

Just before we recorded this week's show VinePair dropped an article about 30 of the best breweries in America.  These "best of" lists always bring out some controversy, but we're pretty happy with the spots from Georgia that made the list.  Any of your favorites get mentioned?

As the holidays approach the Costco beer advent calendar is out again.  Folks seem to love grabbing this and then complaining about it.  I'm always cautious about a dozen or so random beers, they always seem to be about 50% duds in my experience.  On the holiday note, Miller Lite continues with some interesting swag.  They recently dropped a beer nutcracker, their beernaments are back, and they've even got a neon Christmas tree that smells like a diver bar.  Crazy.

In the beer drama lane, as there always seems to be plenty of that to go around, Joyride Brewing sued one of its co-founders saying he diverted over a $1M to other businesses.  This comes a few weeks after the brewery announced they were filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  Even more drama in Russia.  We've talked about Heineken's delayed withdrawal from Russia and Carlsberg was holding out even longer.  Bad move for them as Russian authorities seized the brewery and arrested some top management and accusing them of fraud.

Oh yeah, the foam story... Seems that foamy things are all the rage in craft beer these days.  I kind of thought this already happened but news stories say it is happening right. now.  If you say so.

WARNING!  INCOMING CHRISTMAS BEER SHOW!  Two weeks from now we'll drop our annual Interfaith Holiday Craft Beer Spectacular.  It's gonna be great.  If you can't wait then check our what we had to say last year.

Beers of the Week

• Sierra Nevada - Celebration (Yes, again.  YOLO.)
• Wrecking Bar - Big Slurp Imperial IPA (Strong Beer Fest 2023 Best IPA Winner)
• Delirium Noel 2022
• Goose Island / RTJ - Golden Ale
• Trillium - Fort Point (Pale Ale)
• Bells - Hopslam (DIPA with Hon

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Lawsuits and taxes and beer laws, oh my!

2023 has been a hell of a year for craft beer.  Breweries continue to close their doors or move in together.  Like when you had to go back to your parents' house after college to save some money.  Shit happens and you gotta do what you gotta do.

Bevana Drama and Trouble at Tree House

Craft beer is no stranger to lawsuits but there are a couple heavy hitters lately.  You've heard us talk about Bevana several times.  Some of our friends breweries have partnered with them.  Well, things are not going well at Bevana.  One brewery claims money owed to them by Bevana forced them to close and file bankruptcy and others say monies are owed and promises have not been delivered on.  There's a lot to this one and it's just getting started so we'll keep our eyes open for more.  Also, a minority shareholder of Tree House brewing claims majority stakeholders paid themselves excessive salaries and amassed real estate holding while no paying proceeds to others.  It will be interesting to see how all of this plays out.

Taxes and Laws and Big 'ol Stouts

Britian has frozen their beer taxes until next Summer.  Seems people were getting pretty upset about recent increases.  News from New Jersey, Gov. Murphy vetoed a bill that would have eased restrictions on breweries.  However, there's more to it as the governor vetoed the bill as he said it doesn't go far enough.  More to come here.

More in the show as we talk about Blackout Wednesday, the return of Bourbon Country Brand Stout, and interesting collaborations in Colorado.  Cheers!

Beers of the Week

• Sierra Nevada Celebration
• Halfway Crooks / Three averns - Tiene Pils (10th Anni Belgian pils w/100% Belgian ingredients.)
• Bell’s - HopSlam (DIPA with Honey)
• Parish / Tripping Animals - Animals in the Machine (Double NEIPA)

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Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

This new hop sounds fishy...

With our recent love of tinned seafood we were pretty stoked to hear about Anchovy hops, and even more stoked to hear they don't taste like anchovies.  We'll have to find a beer with these soon.

Y'all remember a couple of years ago when someone stole two truckloads of beer from Sweetwater Brewery?  Well, some folks in Memphis beat that by stealing "17 or 18 truckloads" of Twisted Tea.  What in the world will you do with that much Tea?  I can't wait to hear how this shakes out.

Spice up your boring beer

I'm not sure this is exactly new, but the internet says to upgrade your cheap beer to put a few dashes of hot sauce in it.  Some places really go all out with that like a Loaded Tecate or the Dressed Hamm's.  I decide to try it with a Three Taverns Beeps and gotta say, pretty good.

On the note of spicy beers... remember when chile pepper beers were cool?  Habnero Sculpin, Stone's horrendous Crime and Punishment.  We loved No Label's Don Jalapeno.  Another one last to the sand of time, mostly.

More brewery closures coming at us and another big one this week with the announcement that Ecliptic Brewing would close their pub and restaurant.  However, the brand's beer will still be available.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We're talking off this week to stuff our fat faces with turkey.  We hope you'll do the same.  Have a great holiday and we'll see you in two weeks!

Beers of the Week

• Featured!  Parish's Holy Ghost 3X NE IPA - Deep dive on the show.
• Parish Ghost in the Machine
• Parish Reve Coffee Stout
• Sierra Nevada Celebration
• Allagash Gatherwell

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

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If it's gonna be dark at 5:00 I'm gonna need more stouts.

Oh. My. God.  I hate this time of year.  Set the clocks back an hour and I'm off schedule for two weeks.  I don't sleep right, day is night, up is down.  What is even happening here?

Fortunately last weekend was nice so we hit some patios, drank some good beers, ate some oysters, and visited our local barcade.  Good times that we'll take advantage of while we can.

The brewery closures keep coming.  The Brewers Association says craft beer is now a "mature market," listen in for more on that.  We saw Hippin' Hops close a location here in Atlanta, big news out of Austin as Oskar Blue's shutters, and after we went to press news came out that Ecliptic Brewing has been sold and while the brand will live on, the pub and restaurant will close.  We'll see more of that, no doubt.

As it is the season and we are all for playing along, we discuss pumpkin beers this week.  I even drink one.  Madness.  Pumpkin beers aren't my thing but NoDa was nice enough to share some of their medal-winning Gordgeous so I gave it a shot.  It's pretty good, opens up at cellar temps IMO.  I may not go for pumpkin beer often but we've all got opinions on what we want IF we do happen to have one.

While beer fests are down in popularity the Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer (FoBAB) in Chicago is still a hot one.  We talk about the winners this year and get excited to see a Brett beer get some love again.

In other stories can sales are down, could this mean the end of the shortage?  Brian, for some reason, shares a story about alcohol and sexual assault in Antarctica.  Seriously, I don't even know why this was included.  But here we are.

The Beer List

• Trillium - Deciduous (Hoppy Pale Rice Lager)
• Fast Fashion / HW Crooks - Catch of the Day (Fresh Hop NE IPA)
• Iron Hill - Spruce Moose IPA 
• Homebrew - Tiny Trout (Pilsner)
• Green Man - ESB
• Wild Leap - Alpha Abstraction vol. 25 (DIPA)
• NoDa Gordgeous (Pumpkin Ale)
• Anchor Steam

Sources

• https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/beer-cans-maker-ball-misses-quarterly-sales-estimates-slowing-demand-2023-11-02/
• https://www.wxyz.com/news/michigan-laundromat-expands-business-t

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
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If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Would you pay $250 for 25 ounces of beer?

It's once again time for the semi-annual release of Sam Adams Utopias and with that, the slew of websites touting that it is illegal in 15 states.  Technically a beer, but drinks more like a spirit, and hits a hefty 28%.  Have you tried it?  What did you think?

Along with Utopias we recently saw the annual release of Bruery's Black Tuesday and Founders teased the return of their CBS (that's Canadian Breakfast Stout).  We talked with Founders Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki about these big beers back in 2019.

What's the deal with beer fests?

Beer fests are a hot topic these days, too.  People are divided on whether they're still cool, if they ever were, or if it's just a huge group of nerds getting drunk.  We like beer fests.  Well, some beer fests.

NA beer and bacterial growth, a bit of pee in your TsingTao, Alcohol and Loose Morals

A recent report says NA beer is a "breeding ground" for bacteria.  We get the point they're making, but the headlines make it sounds a bit more scarier than we think it actually is.

An employee was caught on camera urinating into some malt at a TsingTao brewery in China.  The brewery said they have secured the malt.  They didn't say they tossed it, just that they secured it.

A study shows "one drink" of just 7 oz of spirits can impact your moral compass and have you dancing nude on stage at concerts BUT your loyalty won't waiver.  Alrighty then.

Beers of the Week

• Sierra Nevada - Celebration IPA
• Four Fathers Brewing - The Gadget Milkshake
• Voodoo Brewing - Grindin’ (Imperial Coffee Stout, 9%!)
• Halfway Crooks - Exporrrt (Belgian - Style Export Lager)
• Blackstack Brewing - 100 Year Jubilee - TDH DIPA
• Highland Cold Mountain Winter Warmer

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

Oh, Spyglass has hazies alright, but there's so much more

John Wagner and Isaac Boucher from Spyglass Brewing Co. join us on this week's show.  They brewery made their name with their hazy IPAs.  Thanks to a recent expansion there's now a lot more on tap  Isaac tells us he's been enjoying brewing some lagers and playing with all the new hops.  We joke about people wanting more variety in their IPAs... as long as they're still hazy/juicy/tropical.  Good times.

We chat about all the cool innovations in ingredients available to brewers now.  Modified yeasts (yay GMOs!), new hops, craft malts.  We're living in the future, people.  So much great beer out there.  Make sure to drink it all and keep these breweries open.

To take things to a whole. 'nother. level. Spyglass has a Quad IPA.  We chat about the difference between a QIPA and a Barleywine, and sipping on those big boys.  We chat more on raw ales, maybe we'll see one of those from Spyglass soon.

If you're near Nashua, NH make sure to stop and have a beer or two with the crew.  If not, follow them on the socials to see what they're up to,

Atlanta has a Michelin guide!

Y'all, we had to talk about this.  The Foodie... Oscars? finally hit Atlanta.  This week we got our first Michelin guide.  We haven't visited any of the spots that got a star, but several of the Michelin Recommended and Bib Gourmand spots we've raved about and, if you follow us on the socials, you've likely seen pics.  Cheers to Deer and the Dove, Little Bear, and Fishmonger on their awards.

More from Georgia.  Creature Comforts Brewing's union vote failed to pass with a vote of 32-21.  We think that says a lot these days.  More info and opinions in the show.

25th Annual Learn to Homebrew Day is 11/03

Check out the website for more info or look for an event in your area.  If you've never homebrewed now is a perfect time to ask someone that does if you can join them for a brew day.

The Beer List

• Smith & Lentz - German Pils (Nashville pickup!)
• Barrique Brewing & Blending - Wet Hop Reserve (Wild Ale w/ Wet Hops)
• Other Half - 11 Pounders (DDH IPA)
• Two Tides / Halfway Crooks - Waterfall (Pilsner)
• Green Man - Porter
• Timber Ales - Pancakes by C

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

We don't recommend this beer drinking challenge...

Seems a guy in the UK has "challenged" himself to drink 2,000 pints of beer in 200 days.  I'm fully opposed to this challenge, but it's hard to look away.  Last I saw he was running behind as he didn't start off with the goal of 2,000.  So, to make his goal, he'll have to drink more than 10 pints of beer a day.  Ridiculous and dangerous.  I hope he gives up.

Still controversial but less dangerous, VinePair shared an article discussing some of Reddit's polarizing beer takes.  Nitro beers, six packs, saisons, and candy beers are in the mix.  What are your thoughts on these hot takes?

Much to Brian's joy, Ukraine has a tomato beer they've submitted for approval as a BJCP beer style.   As you may know, we dabbled with some sun dried tomatoes back in our homebrewing days with Johnny Saisoni.  We nailed what we were going for, and most agreed, but not everyone thought that was a good thing.

Support better beer laws for Georgia's breweries

Georgia's beer laws aren't great, but we've got some folks trying to change that.  The Georgia Craft Brewers Guild is presenting Senate Bill 163 - The FOAM Act to help improve laws for small breweries.  Check out the bill and we'd really appreciate if you'd sign this petition.

We also share another Anchor update, info on New Zealand's Raw Ale movement, and the most expensive airport beers.  Whew!

Beers of the Week

• Anchor Steam
• Round Trip Instant Krüsch | Kölsch
• Hi-Wire Brewing - Rye Whiskey Barrel-Aged Manhattan Ale | Barleywine
• Line Creek The Real Dill | Dill Pickle Sour
• Creature Comforts / Heater Allen - Heater Action | Dortmunder Lager
• Birds Fly South - Nights Like These | Dry Irish Stout
• Three Taverns Pilsen Liberation | Czech Pils

Sources

• https://vinepair.com/booze-news/reddit-polarizing-beer-takes/
• https://www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/article/s-f-anchor-brewing-on-the-market-18422512.php
• https://www.vice.com/en/article/93kzj3/jon-may-2000-pints-200-days-livestream

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!

We have no idea what's going on anymore.

Some of the beer (or at least alcohol) news we see is just insane.  Maybe we shouldn't judge too hard, we've all had our moments, remember Brian's BORG phase?

Seems another ridiculous TikTok trend has people de-carbing their White Claws.  If you're gonna do that, why not just get some crazy flavored vodka and mix with some water.  I think that would actually be cheaper.  Madness.

And from the "I shouldn't be surprised that I'm surprised" file, Ultra Right beer is a hit.  A special edition with Trump's mug shot on it apparently sold 20,000 six packs in record time. 

A little less insane, the popularity of hop water is increasing.  We've dabbled.  Hop Lark was on the show a few years ago and we've even made some hop water ourselves.  It's not really my thing, but Brian digs it.

And we've got one last round of stats from this year's Oktoberfest.  They hit record attendance in 2023, but sold less beer than previous years.  Oh well, at least people were showing up.

Beers of the Week

• Reuben’s Brews / Monday Night - Surround Sound
• Xul Beer Co - Rhymes Like Dimes
• Halfway Crooks - Whole Cone Fest Marzen
• Untitled Art/ Collective Arts Brewing  - Cotton Candy
• Good Word - Any Day Now
• Burnt Hickory Brewing - Big Shanty (Graham Cracker Stout)
• Hi Wire 10 Years of Hi Wire | Blend of BBA 10W-40 Imperial Stout, BBA Barleywine, and BBA Belgian-style Quad

Sources

• https://allaboutbeer.com/why-hop-water-is-great-for-breweries-and-consumers
• https://vinepair.com/articles/urine-in-corona-hoax/
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/dontse/2023/10/07/2023-oktoberfest-was-the-biggest-beer-party-ever/
• https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/04/molson-coors-ceo-on-non-alcoholic-drinks-were-moving-beyond-beer.html
• https://vinepair.com/booze-news/iwsr-data-at-home-drinking-trend/

Thanks for listening to Beer Guys Radio! Your hosts are Tim Dennis and Brian Hewitt with producer Nate "Mo' Mic Nate" Ellingson and occasional appearances from Becky Smalls.

Subscribe to Beer Guys Radio on your favorite app: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Follow Beer Guys Radio: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

If you enjoy the show we'd appreciate your support on Patreon. Patrons get cool perks like early, commercial-free episodes, swag, access to our exclusive Discord server, and more!