Beer Sessions Radio (TM)

This week on Beer Sessions, Jimmy puts down the beer to light up the conversation about marijuana with Max Bookman, partner at Pesetsky & Bookman, and Andrew Mutty, co-owner of Beantown Greentown. Max covers what's been holding up the establishment of dispensaries in New York City, and what you need to know if you’re looking to open your own dispensary. Andrew points out some lessons from Massachusetts that can help guide the way for New York. The gang discusses how new laws are striving to empower marginalized groups to lead the way in the legal distribution of weed, and how the requirements of those laws might play out in practice. They touch on why your local dispensary feels so different from your local bar, and how a change in federal law might dramatically change the marijuana industry, from allowing cross-state distribution to empowering veterans with more medicinal alternatives. Swap your beer for a joint this week and give it a listen!Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Beer Sessions Radio by becoming a member!Beer Sessions Radio is Powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Happy Thanksgiving from the BSR family to yours! Instead of turkey and beer pairings, Jimmy takes the road less traveled this week, diving into fermentation. On the show is Gabe Toth, distillery manager, former brewer, and author of the Fermentation Kitchen for the Brewer’s Association, and Brandon Buza, a connoisseur of all things yeast, bacteria, and the tasty stuff they can produce. Gabe talks about his personal journey from fermenting for the first time as a homebrewer to writing a cookbook on fermented foods, and Brandon weighs in on the importance of curiosity, passion, and community in the world of fermentation. Kick back and get ready for a few surprises on this funky, fermented episode!Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Beer Sessions Radio by becoming a member!Beer Sessions Radio is Powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Jimmy is talking doomsday drinking with Chris Maestro, owner of Bierwax, Thomas Gaulkin, editor at The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist, and  Aaron Goldfarb, journalist, and author of Hacking Whiskey. From nuclear apocalypse to climate change, how might a disaster affect your favorite beer? Thomas talks about some of the little-known science of the food industry, including the radiation that might be used to produce some of your favorite foods. Chris gives an exciting window into the history of Japanese record bars and the opening of Bierwax’s new location in Queens. And Aaron talks about some of the more creative developments in the whiskey world. Grab your desert island beer and give it a listen!Support Bierwax's IndieGoGo campaign.  Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Beer Sessions Radio by becoming a member!Beer Sessions Radio is Powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Beer Sessions, Jimmy sits down with Tim Webb and Steven Beaumont, co-authors of the 3rd Edition of The World Atlas of Beer. Tim and Steven detail their paths to becoming some of the most renowned beer authors. They talk about the enormous growth the world of craft beer has seen in the past twenty years with now 45 countries having booming beer scenes. And they touch on what defines local variety. Of course, the gang gives recommendations for their favorite beers and pubs. And finally, they dive into what changes we can expect to see in the beer world looking forward. Grab your favorite beer from anywhere around the world and give it a listen.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Beer Sessions Radio by becoming a member!Beer Sessions Radio is Powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Jimmy dives into the history of working-class drinking with PJ Mercier, founder of Navigation Brewing in Lowell, Massachusetts, BR Royla, national judge for BJCP, Peter Brown, British journalist and writer, and Jerard Fagerberg, writer and journalist. From Jack Kerouac to British coal mines, the gang pieces through where pub myth and legend meet reality. The writers attest to the dangers of writing drunk. The group explores how beer and drinking have been such an integral part of working-class community and culture from Lowell to Minneapolis to England. And they touch on what it means to reconcile those identities today through their taprooms and writing. Grab your favorite porter and give it a listen!Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Beer Sessions Radio by becoming a member!Beer Sessions Radio is Powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Jimmy heads up to Cambridge to have a tasting with Soham Bhatt at Artifact Cider Project. Jimmy and Soham talk through the brief history of northeast cider as well as the founding of The Artifact Cider Project. They touch on how Artifact Cider Project has created cider deeply connected to both the landscape and the history of the Northeast. And finally, how through offering a knowledgeable staff as well as unique and casual bar food pairings, Artifact Cider Project is helping more consumers than ever enjoy all cider has to offer. Pick up your favorite cider and enjoy learning more about the world of Northeast cider!Cider List:Wolf at The DoorFeels Like HomeNo New FriendsMagic HourGold Rush Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Beer Sessions Radio by becoming a member!Beer Sessions Radio is Powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Jimmy explores the local sourcing and supply chains that bring you some of the best beers with Geoff Wenzel, R&D brewer at Industrial Arts Brewing, Mike McManus, director of brewing operations at Industrial Arts Brewing, Phil Neumann with Mainstem Malt, and Kevin Kain, beer blogger @Casketbeer. Kevin and Mike start us off diving into the local sourcing of ingredients from New York State and highlight Industrial Arts Brewing’s landscape series. Everyone emphasizes how local farm partnerships, as well as storage and production techniques, have dramatically improved our access to high-quality local ingredients over the past ten years. Phil notes how despite the challenges of Covid in the craft malt industry, a surprising benefit might be that the average consumer now knows the word supply chain. Crack a locally sourced beer and have a listen!Beer List:Industrial Arts Brewing Company - Autumn Landscape Festbier Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Beer Sessions Radio by becoming a member!Beer Sessions Radio is Powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jimmy heads to Boston for the 600th episode of BSR! We catch up with Chris Lohring, founder of Notch Brewing, to talk pilsner traditions, decoction, as well as the new Notch Tap Room and Brewery at the Charles River Speedway in Boston’s Brighton neighborhood. For the second year in a row, Jimmy is tapping and tasting the extremely limited, Pitch Lined Pils. Take a journey through history as Chris walks us through the process of bringing this old-world technique back, from sourcing to brewing. This is the ultimate Beer Geek episode! Crack a Bavarian Lager and have a listen.A special note: Our hearts go out to the beloved Anne Saxelby, who passed this week. In the words of Jimmy, “Her legacy is in everything around us: The food we eat, the people we know, the memories of tastes like “Comersdale” and “Moses Sleeper”. We will never forget. Much love.” Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Beer Sessions Radio by becoming a member!Beer Sessions Radio is Powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Beer Sessions, a celebration of Cider Week! Jimmy talks about everything Cider with Steve Selin, owner of South Hill Cider; Mike Reis, owner of Redfield Cider; Karl du Hoffman, owner of Orchard Hill Cider; and Paige Fiori, owner of Boutique Wines and Spirits in Fishkill NY. Steve and Mike dive into the exciting experimentation happening in cider, from exploring new spices and fruits to fire pressure in California driving many winemakers to explore the possibilities of cider. Mike and Paige talk about what it takes to get consumers interested in cider and break down how they choose the selection of ciders they offer from shelves to tasting rooms. Speaking of unique ciders, Karl and Jimmy dive into the novelty of the pommeau, from its minimum aging time of three years to the unique depth and fruitiness one can expect. Finally, the episode concludes with the gang trying to summarize New York cider in three words. To quote Jimmy, “Oh boy wow!”Cider listSouth Hill Cider, PackbasketSouth Hill Cider, GoldwinOrchard Hill, VerdeOrchard Hill, Ten66 PommeauOliver's CiderRoss On Wye CiderTilted Shed CiderBlack Diamond Cider Domaine Dupont Pomm Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Beer Sessions Radio by becoming a member!Beer Sessions Radio is Powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy is all about lagers! On the show, Jeff Alworth, author of The Beer Bible, and Jack Hendler, the co-owner of Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers in Framingham, Massachusetts, talk about everything from the brewing process to the history and future of craft lagers. Jimmy kicks us off by asking Jack why he chose to brew lagers. Jack dives into the real lack of lagers on the American craft beer market today. Jeff explains how a rise in Hazy IPAs among other things necessitated a refresh of The Beer Bible. He also dives into the process of decoction and how a single vs. triple decoction beer might differ. Jack and Jeff both launch into a discussion of Hoppy Lagers, including those brewed at Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers and those written about in The Beer Bible. Jimmy notes the Craft malt conference in Portland, ME, on February 18th and 19th. Then, the gang discussed how locally grown barley is shifting the malt scene. After the break, Jack shares 200+ year old breweries in Germany are starting to create IPAs inspired by American craft beer. Jeff encourages the beer connoisseurs of the world to travel to England, Germany, and more surprisingly Lithuania. Jeff chronicles his journey from university research all the way to receiving his (self-proclaimed) Ph.D. in beer. Jeff asks Jack if he has a cold IPA, and Jack asks Jeff his view on the future of Lagers. Jack and Jeff finish off the episode admiring the joys of enjoying a lager in a pub. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Beer Sessions Radio by becoming a member!Beer Sessions Radio is Powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.