imabeerhound

“Behind the Mitten” is Michigan’s premiere travel radio show and Podcast, and it has more than 430 episodes. It is co-hosted by veteran journalist John Gonzalez and former chef/beer expert Amy Sherman. The show has been recognized by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters as Best in Category.

This week's show starts off with our very good friend, and fellow media personality, Stephanie Adkins, who just recently left her job at TV 9&10 after 20 years of sharing Michigan stories on television. She shares some of her favorite spots that she has visited around the state and gives us an update on her exciting new position with Ebel's General Store in Falmouth.

Then, we catch up with Paul Starr from I'm a Beer Hound to learn about several upcoming beer fests being held in the Lansing region, as well as a pretty cool beer cruise that is being offered once a month through the fall.

Our last guest is the indomitable Sam Reese, Director at Upper Hand Brewery, who is not only an incredible home chef but is also throwing a big BBQ party in Gladstone on Sunday, August 7. Fire on the Mountain is a family-friendly event where you bring the drinks, and they'll provide some amazing BBQ to taste and try in a beautiful setting to benefit the Hiawatha National Forest.

This show aired July 30-31, 2022.

BTM airs:

*8 a.m. Saturdays on WBRN - 1460 AM and 107.7 FM in Big Rapids (new affiliate)

*8 a.m. Saturdays on Kalamazoo Talk Radio 1360 WKMI (new affiliate)

*8 a.m. Saturdays on WILS-1320 AM in Lansing

*10 a.m. Saturdays 95.3 WBCK-FM in Battle Creek (new affiliate)

*10 a.m. Saturdays on News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM in Benton Harbor.

*1 p.m. Sundays on WSGW-AM (790) and FM (100.5) in Saginaw.

*6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM (1300) and (106.9) in Grand Rapids.

Follow John and Amy on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten or
Twitter at @BehindTheMitten and Instagram at @BehindTheMitten_.

On this episode of Behind the Mitten, Amy Sherman hosts the show and covers plenty of ground, and delivers BEER of the WEEK! Tune in.

Show Notes:

Segment 1- ArtPrize kicks off in Grand Rapids on September 19 and runs through October 7. We talk with Katie Moore, exhibition manager, and Becca Guyette, director of learning and engagement about the world's large art competition.

Segment 2- Amber Stokosa of 20 Monroe Live joins us to discuss the Grand Rapids concert venue's upcoming fall season. There's plenty of shows to choose from, including Blink-182 on September 17 and Eve 6 on December 6. Plan your next concert at 20MonroeLive.com

Segment 3- Paul Starr from I'm A Beer Hound has a new beer fest in works. Join us as we discuss his Beers, Bar Food and Bands festival happening in Lansing on September 8.

Segment 4- Big Lake Brewing in Holland helps us pick our BEER OF THE WEEK. Brewer Zach Dreyer and marketing manager Keith Henry tell us all about the new pub, and the full line up of beers from Big Lake.

Learn more about Behind the Mitten at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/

While on the road searching for Michigan's Best Bowling Alley, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman stop at the Wagon Wheel in Portland.

They also tell you about American Fifth in Lansing. And they catch up with good friend Paul Starr from I'm a Beer Hound.

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman of MLive and the radio show Behind the Mitten talk to Paul Starr of I'm a Beer Hound and Ryan Engemann of Brewery Vivant while at Hopcat East Lansing.

They talk about beers at Hopcat, as well as Lansing Beer Fest, which is June 18 (1-6 p.m. at REO Town).

More info on Lansing Beer Fest:
http://www.lansingbeerfest.com/

More on BTM:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten?fref=ts

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman of MLive host the podcast and radio show Behind the Mitten. On this weekend's show they broadcast from Hopcat in East Lansing where they talk with some friends, including Paul Starr of I'm a Beer Hound. They also catch up on what's happening at New Holland Brewery and its expansion into Grand Rapids.

Show Notes:

Segment 1:
John and Amy talk to Paul Starr, and they also run into Ryan Engemann of Brewery Vivant, who happened to be at Hopcat. They talk about some cool events, including "explorer" classes at the Public Museum of Grand Rapids. Classes will be held June 21, July 19 and Aug. 16. They're titled "Science of Beer," ''Science of Flavor" and "Yeast Science/Wild Fermentations," respectively. Each class includes general admission to the museum — as well as three beer samples.
More info on The Public Museum:
http://www.grpm.org/
More on Brewery Vivant:
http://www.breweryferment.com/

Segment 2: (10:01)
John and Amy catch up with Joel Peterson of New Holland Brewery, as well as Chef Dale Beaubien, who talk about the expansion in Grand Rapids later this fall.
More on the expansion from MLive: http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2014/10/rockford_new_holland.html
More info on New Holland:
http://newhollandbrew.com/

Segment 3: (18:31)
John and Amy catch up with New Holland's Pub on 8th Street Head Pub Brewer, Steve “Bert” Berthel, who is passionate about supporting Michigan agriculture as it pertains to the brewing industry. Right now he brews his beers with 100 percent Michigan products. He announces on the show that starting at the Summer Beer Festival in Ypsilanti that New Holland will feature Pub on 8th's beers, which are only available exclusively in Holland.

Segment 4: (29:00)
John and Amy get back with Paul Starr of I'm a Beer Hound and Ryan Engemann of Brewery Vivant to talk about some beers on tap at Hopcat East Lansing. They also talk about Lansing Beer Fest, which is June 18 (1-6 p.m. at REO Town).
More info on Lansing Beer Fest:
http://www.lansingbeerfest.com/
They also feature BEER OF THE WEEK.

More on BTM:
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten?fref=ts

Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez recorded this weekend's show at Cooley Law School Stadium, home of the Lansing Lugnuts. Their season opens April 6 with the Crosstown Showdown when the Lugnuts take on the MSU baseball team.

SHOW NOTES:
Segment 1: They talk to Nick Grueser, General Manager at the Lansing Lugnuts and Jesse Goldberg-Strassler, radio broadcaster at the Lansing Lugnuts
More info: http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t499

Segment 2: Paul Starr from I'm a Beer Hound talks about the upcoming Beer Fest at the Ballpark on April 30. Tickets are on sale now. (9:20 mark)
More info: http://www.beerfestattheballpark.net/

Segment 3: They also talk to Jessica Wright, the Education Coordinator at the Michigan 4-H Children's Garden. (18:10 mark)
More info: http://4hgarden.cowplex.com/

Segment 4: Jenna Meyer, marketing director at Common Ground Music Festival, July 5-10. (28:12 mark)
http://www.commongroundfest.com/

And Jesse returns with Brett Telder, Senior Director of Food & Beverage at the Lugnuts. (32:21 mark)

We ran out out of time for Beer of the Week, which we selected from Lansing Brewing Company. You can find the Podcast here: http://www.spreaker.com/user/michigangonzo/beer-of-the-week-angry-mayor-ipa-at-lbc-

Learn more about Behind the Mitten at http://behindthemitten.com/

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are co-hosts of "Behind the Mitten," a radio show and podcast about Michigan beer, food, festivals and the people who make it happen!

Today John records a promo for this weekend's show, which airs July 11-12, 2015:

"Behind the Mitten" airs:

*8 a.m. Saturdays on Mix 1049 on WBXX in Battle Creek http://mix1049online.com/

*Noon Sundays on Talk Radio 1360 on WKMI in Kalamazoo http://wkmi.com/

*6 p.m. Sundays on Newsradio WOOD 1300 & 1069 FM in Grand Rapids http://www.iheart.com/live/wood-radio-1069-fm-1300am-1165/

With co-host Amy Sherman on vacation, John enlists his good friend Mary Turner of Lansing to sit in on the show.

They talk about Alpenfest in Gaylord (July 14-18), a cool Vodka Dinner at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, and they check in with good friend Paul Starr of I'm a Beer Hound. He runs down events and Beer of the Week.

Listen to today's promo where John talks to J. Michael DeAgostino of Grand Traverse Resort.

Find the latest info and more details about "Behind the Mitten" at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten

More on the Behind the Mitten at http://behindthemitten.com/

More on Grand Traverse Resort at http://www.grandtraverseresort.com/

More on Alpenfest at http://gaylordalpenfest.com/

More on I'm a Beer Hound at http://imabeerhound.com/

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are co-hosts of "Behind the Mitten," a radio show and podcast about Michigan beer, food, festivals and the people who make it happen!

"Behind the Mitten" airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on News Radio WOOD 1300 & 106.9 FM. http://www.iheart.com/live/wood-radio-1069-fm-1300am-1165/

On June 2, John traveled to Lansing where stopped by to to talk to long-time friend Paul Starr of I'm a Beer Hound. We caught up on his 4-month-old twins, as well as upcoming events for the month of June.

More details about "Behind the Mitten" at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten

More on I'm a Beer Hound at http://www.imabeerhound.com/

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are co-hosts of "Behind the Mitten," a podcast about Michigan beer, food, festivals and the people who make it all happen! More details about "Behind the Mitten" at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten

On this day, John and Amy are at Osgood Brewing in Grandville, Michigan. They talk to owner/head brewer Ron Denning. More on Osgood at http://www.osgoodbrewing.com/

They also talk to Joe Boyer, who is putting on Springfest at the Hudsonville Fairgrounds on May 2. More details at http://www.beercityfestivals.com/

Amy and John also talk to Tom Norton, executive director of WKTV, who is putting on the Eclipse Awards on May 7 at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. Amy is a former winner of one of the awards, and she is a presenter this year. More details about the awards show at http://www.theeclipseaward.com/#!/page_home The show will be broadcast on WKTV.

Also, John and Amy plan to announce some future developments with "Behind the Mitten" on April 28, 2015. That happens to be Amy's birthday. Stay tuned.

BTW, if you're looking for events throughout the state, check out Paul Starr of I'm a Beer Hound. http://www.imabeerhound.com/

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are co-hosts of "Behind the Mitten," a podcast about Michigan beer, food, festivals and the people who make it all happen!

They recorded today's show at Graydon's Crossing, an English-style pub in Grand Rapids. John and Amy talk about the menu, as well as an upcoming Beer Dinner on April 28 with Arbor Brewing. (Listen at 8:45)

John also checks in with Paul Starr of I'm a Beer Hound about upcoming events. (Listen at 18:45)

More details about "Behind the Mitten" at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten

More on Graydon's Crossing in Grand Rapids at http://graydonscrossing.com/

More on I'm a Beer Hound at http://www.imabeerhound.com/

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are co-hosts of "Behind the Mitten," a podcast about Michigan beer, food, festivals and the people who make it all happen! Today's episode (March 5, 2015) finds John and Amy Sherman at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, where they talk to Carrie Kolehouse about Laughfest GR 2015. The event is from March 5-15. The Amway is hosting a Yellow Up Party at 8 p.m. March 6. (Listen at 5:26). John and Amy also talk about MLive's search for Michigan's Best Coffee Shop. The results were announced March 5. (Listen at 14:45). And new daddy Paul Starr from I'm a Beer Hound talks about some upcoming events. (Listen at 27:39)
More details about "Behind the Mitten" at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten
More on LaughFest at https://www.laughfestgr.org/
More info on Yellow Up Party at the Amway at https://www.facebook.com/events/684053641705159
More info about MLive's Best Coffee Shop search at http://bit.ly/mi-best-coffee-shops
More info about I'm a Beer Hound at http://www.imabeerhound.com/

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are co-hosts of "Behind the Mitten," a podcast about Michigan beer, food, festivals and the people who make it all happen! Today's episode (Feb. 19, 2015) finds Amy Sherman hanging out with the West Michigan Whitecaps about their new summer menu at the Ballpark. (Listen at 5:00) John and Amy talk about a Fermenta tap takeover on Feb. 23 at Harmony Brewery in Grand Rapids. (Listen at 14:00) And Paul Starr from I'm a Beer Hound talks about some upcoming events leading up to the Winter Beer Festival. (Listen at 18:51)
More details about "Behind the Mitten" at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten
More on Fermenta at https://www.facebook.com/fermentamichigan
More info about the Whitecaps at http://westmichigan.whitecaps.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t582
More info about I'm a Beer Hound at http://www.imabeerhound.com/

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are co-hosts of "Behind the Mitten," a podcast about Michigan beer, food, festivals and the people who make it all happen! Today's episode (Feb. 5, 2015) finds Amy and John in two different places. John records with Paul Starr of I'm a Beer Hound at Sleepwalker Spirits & Ale in Lansing. They run down the weekend's biggest events, and also spend time learning about community-owned Sleepwalk from co-founders and brewers Matt Jason and Jeremy Sprague. Amy then heads out Schmohz Brewery in Grand Rapids to interview brewer Chas Thompson. It seems his team the MI Ice Guys have been named members of the USA Ice Fishing Team. They will be traveling in March to compete in the World Ice Fishing Championships XII. As a fundraiser, Schmohz will be hosting Fish Frys every Friday in February from 5-8 p.m.
More details about "Behind the Mitten" at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten
More on Sleepwalker at http://www.drinksleepwalker.com/
More info on Schmohz at http://schmohz.com/
More info on MI Ice Guys (and their podcast) at http://miiceguys.com/
More info on I'm a Beer Hound at http://www.imabeerhound.com/

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are co-hosts of "Behind the Mitten," a podcast about Michigan beer, food, festivals and the people who make it all happen! Today's episode finds Amy and John recording at West Michigan FarmLink, a wholesale food hub for professionals. It connects local area chefs, restaurateurs, institutions and schools with Michigan farmers and producers of good food products. Amy interviews brewer Adam Mills of Cranker's Brewery in Big Rapids about event at KDL. And John goes to Kalamazoo Beer Week to interview Chuck Brown of Cellar Brewing in Sparta. Also, John talks to Paul Starr of I'm a Beer Hound about the Art & Craft Beer Festival Jan. 30 and 31 in Lansing with Right Brain Brewery and Blakes Hard Cider.
More details about "Behind the Mitten" at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten
More on West Michigan Farmlink at http://wmfarmlink.com/
More info on KDAle, and the Cranker's beer sampling event at 6 p.m. Feb. 3 in Kentwood, at http://blog.kdl.org/?p=29848
More info on Cellar Brewing at http://cellarbrewingco.com/
More info on I'm a Beer Hound at http://www.imabeerhound.com/

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are co-hosts of "Behind the Mitten," a podcast about Michigan beer, food, festivals and the people who make it all happen! Today's episode finds Amy and John at Brewery Vivant in Grand Rapids. Brewery Vivant is tapping a seasonal beer, a Belgian Wit (on Jan. 8). It's called Ski Patrol. John and Amy talk to Ben Darcie about the beer, and special dinner pairing this weekend with Brook Trout. (Listen at 5:20). John and Amy also talk about the second-year KD-Ale program with the Kent District Library. Morgan Jarema is their guest. (Listen at 20:31). Also, Paul Starr of I'm a Beer Hound calls in to run down some of this weekend's events. (Listen at the 34:30 mark).
More details about "Behind the Mitten" at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten
More on Brewery Vivant at http://www.breweryvivant.com/
More info on KD-Ale at http://blog.kdl.org/?p=29848
More info on I'm a Beer Hound at http://www.imabeerhound.com/

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are co-hosts of "Behind the Mitten," a podcast about Michigan beer, food, festivals and the people who make it all happen! Today's episode finds Amy and John recording portions of the show at Logan's Alley in Grand Rapids. Logan's Alley is celebrating NYE and New Year's Day with special events, including a tapping of Founders' Canadian Breakfast Stout at 7 a.m. Dec. 31, 2014. John talks to morning air personality Gravy from 105.3 FM about his station's NYE party at Calder Plaza. John and Amy also talk to Sylvia Yacoub of Muskegon, who is best known as a member of Team Christina Aguilera on Season 3 of The Voice. Sylvia, who is getting ready to release her debut CD, performs with other contestants of The Voice on NYE at Bella Maria Ristorante in Muskegon. They run down other NYE happenings at Michigan breweries, thanks to a list from Paul Starr of I'm a Beer Hound. And John and Amy each recognize 2014's Beer of Year.
More details about "Behind the Mitten" at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten
More info on Hot New Year's Eve at http://www.1053hotfm.com/common/page.php?pt=2015+Subway+Hot+New+Year%27s+Eve&id=43952&is_corp=0
More info on The Voice of New Year's Eve with Sylvia Yacoub at http://www.bellamariasristorante.com/
More info on Logan's Alley at
https://www.facebook.com/logans.alley.gr?ref=br_tf
More info on I'm a Beer Hound at http://www.imabeerhound.com/

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are co-hosts of "Behind the Mitten," a podcast about Michigan beer, food, festivals and the people who make it all happen! Today's episode finds Amy and John recording portions of the show at Grand Coney in Grand Rapids. They also play segments recorded at Kuhnhenn Brewery in Warren where they talk to Jon Pienpenbrok about the popular Winter Solstice Party on Dec. 19-20 (Listen at 5:03) and at Slows Bar BQ where they talk to Rochester Mills Beer Co. president Mike Plesz about the 12 Days of Milkshake Stout (Listen at 22:52). John travels to Hopcat in East Lansing to talk to Paul Starr of I'm a Beer Hound, who runs down this weekend's events, including the Dec. 17 Joe Short Birthday Party at Hopcat Grand Rapids. (Listen at the 36:37 mark).
More details about "Behind the Mitten" at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten
More info on Kuhnhenn at http://www.kbrewery.com/winter-solstice-coming/
More info on Rochester Mills at http://www.rochestermillsbeerco.com/
More info on HopCat at http://hopcat.com/
More info on I'm a Beer Hound at http://www.imabeerhound.com/

Recorded Dec. 8, 2014: John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are co-hosts of "Behind the Mitten," a podcast about Michigan beer, food, festivals and the people who make it all happen! Today's episode finds Amy and John recording at the Downtown Market in Grand Rapids. They also play segments recorded in Traverse City with Beards Brewery in Petoskey (Listen at 9:31) and Shorts Brewing Company in Bellaire (Listen at 15:05). John travels to Lansing's Front 43 to talk to Paul Starr of I'm a Beer Hound, who runs down this weekend's events. (Listen at the 17:25 mark). Also, Amy talks about a cool event she is doing in January with the Kent District Library in Grand Rapids. She is hosting two KD-Ale events. (Listen at 30:43)
More details about "Behind the Mitten" at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten
More info on Beards at http://www.beardsbrewery.com/
More info on Shorts at http://www.shortsbrewing.com/
More info on HopCat at http://hopcat.com/
More info on I'm a Beer Hound at http://www.imabeerhound.com/
More info on KD-Ale at http://www.kdl.org/kdl/pdf/KDLKaleidoscope.pdf

Recorded Dec. 4, 2014: John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are co-hosts of "Behind the Mitten," a podcast about Michigan beer, food, festivals and the people who make it all happen! Today's episode finds Amy and John talking to co-pastor Billy Norden of The Community Church, which is hosting the Ada Chili Cookoff on Dec. 6. (Listen at 3:20 mark). They also talk to Tim Surprise, the founder and owner of Arcadia Brewing Company, which is hosting its 18th Annual Highland Christmas Anniversary Party and Charity Event (Listen at 8:37 mark). Also, Paul Starr of I'm a Beer Hound calls in to run down some of this weekend's events. Listen to his adventures of drinking out of a boot! (Listen at the 17:25 mark).
More details about "Behind the Mitten" at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten
More info on the Ada Chili Cookoff at http://thecommunity-ada.org/chili/
More info Arcadia's 18th Annual Highland Christmas Anniversary Party and Charity Event at https://www.facebook.com/events/1529160847326364/
More info on I'm a Beer Hound at http://www.imabeerhound.com/

Recorded Nov. 24-25, 2014: John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are co-hosts of "Behind the Mitten," a podcast about Michigan beer, food, festivals and the people who make it all happen! Today's episode finds Amy and John broadcasting from Perrin Brewery in Comstock Park where they talk to Terry Vanden Akker about the brewery's first bottled releases. John and Amy also talk Thanksgiving & Beer pairing with reps from Beards Brewery and Short's Brewery. And they bring you details about Right Brain's CEO Stout Day (Nov. 29) with Phillip Davey and Jeff House. Then, Amy talks Thanksgiving dinner with Chef Andy Holiday of Selden Standard, a seasonal, shared plates restaurant in Midtown, Detroit. John wraps it up with Paul Starr of I'm a Beer Hound. They broadcast from Horrocks Market in Lansing and talk about upcoming events.
More details about "Behind the Mitten" at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten
More info on Perrin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/perrinbrewing?fref=photo
More info on Right Brain at http://www.rightbrainbrewery.com/gateway.php
More info on Beards at http://www.beardsbrewery.com/
More info on Short's at http://www.shortsbrewing.com/
More info on Selden Standard at http://www.seldenstandard.com/
More info on I'm a Beer Hound at http://www.imabeerhound.com/