Beer Sessions Radio (TM)

This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy is learning all about building a brewing system in upstate New York. On the show is Dieter Gehring and Scott Veltman from Indiana Ladder Cidery and Brewery in Albany County, NY and Melanie Fronhofer from Fronhofer Design in Glen Falls, NY. To kick things off, Melanie gives us Fronhofer’s backstory, taking us all the way back to her dad’s machine shop. Fronhofer has come a long way, and recently, they teamed up with Indiana Ladder Cidery Brewery to build a completely new brewery, helping them to create “The Traveler” system out of 100% New York State equipment. Scott and Dieter explain the pros to having small and big systems, and walk us through what design differences they were looking for in each. Dieter and Scott also explain the brand and identity behind running a brewery and cidery. After the break, the gang continues to geek out over brewing systems, including weather-proof outdoor fermenters and swinging shipping containers. Dieter also tells us about Farming Man Fest, their take on Burning Man, and Melanie talks about the challenges of refurbishing versus starting from scratch.Photo Courtesy of Melanie Fronhofer Weber.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 learning all about Dogfish Head. On the show is Sam and Mariah Calagione, Co-founders of Dogfish Head in Milton, DE and Andrew Greeley, Inn Keeper at Dogfish Inn in Lewes, Delaware. Jimmy takes it back to highlighting the core of Dogfish, starting with the origin of the 60-minute IPA. Andrew then tells us how he got his start running the Dogfish Inn, and Mariah introduces us to what Dogfish calls “beer and benevolence.” As a leader in creativity, Andrew reflects on incorporating unconventional ingredients into beer, such as oat milk and even bird seed. Keeping up with supply is a big challenge, so Jimmy asks of instances when Dogfish has ever had to improvise. The early days seemed full of improvising and learning on the job, and Mariah tells us some fun, but definitely stressful stories. Andrew then lets us in on what its like participating in a Dogfish staff brewing competition, and his team’s beer creation using...snails! The gang also answers a couple surprise questions from Ben Keene and talk black limes, monk fruit, super gose beer, and low-calorie drinking. Jimmy then asks if there’s anything more they can do to shock beer drinkers, and Andrew reflects on push and pull between boundaries and shock value. Finally, Jimmy wraps by highlighting the book coming soon from Dogfish Head.Drinks List: Hazy-O IPA 60-minute IPA Slightly Mighty lo- cal IPA Sea Quench AlePhoto Courtesy of Mariah CalagioneHeritage 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 highlighting Green Man Brewery. On the show is Green Man’s co-owner Dennis Thies and Taproom Manager Eric MacDonald from Asheville, NC. Dennis starts by taking us back to 2008 when he first discovered the Asheville craft beer scene. He then lets us in on who the mythical “Green Man” truly is, and how he polished the brand up once he became the new owner. What separates Green Man from other breweries is that they actually have two taprooms side-by-side, offering very different experiences. Eric walks us through the Green Mansion, a 3-story taproom offering a completely new experience of drinking craft beer. The two discuss how a brewery can really change a neighborhood, and Dennis even gives us a craft beer walking tour itinerary to make sure you hit all the spots. To wrap up the show, Dennis reminisces on growing up in a beer sales family and highlights some of his oldest distribution and customer service memories, inspiring us all to take a leap of faith and get into the world of brewing. Beer list:Green man brewery, porterGreen man brewery, trickster IPANightshift brewery, THE 87, New England DIPAPhoto Courtesy of Green Man Brewery.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 breaking down the Brewers Association style guidelines for craft beer. On the show is Chris Swersey from the Brewers Association in Salmon, ID; B.R. Rolya, formerly with Shelton Brothers Importers and a BJCP nationally ranked judge; and James Tai, an advanced cicerone, and BJCP certified from New York, NY.Chris kicks off the show with an introduction to the Brewers Association, offering a bit of history into the key power players behind the style guidelines. BR gives an inside look into what it’s like to be a judge, and the two discuss Kentucky Common beer, a great example of a historic style that had fallen out of favor but recently reemerged. Chris breaks down the pillars to judging beer, breaking down the process, and each event and category a beer can qualify for. Jimmy even challenges him to classify his double IPA from Kills Boro, which Chris aces easily. After the break, James hops on the show with lots of curiosity about how different beer style guidelines lean on each other. James is an advanced cicerone with a certificate in Advanced Brewing Theory from the Siebel Institute and is currently working towards his Master Brewer standing. After a lively conversation about how style changes can happen, James asks Chris for any insight into which direction craft beer is heading in the next five years, and Chris’ answer does not disappoint. Beer List:Sierra Nevada Juicy Hazy Session IPAWild East Brewing, Temperance, English Dark MildFifth Hammer Brass BonanzaKills Boro Brewing Company, The One With Sabro Kills Boro Brewing Company, Jumping to Conclusions, DDH Double IPA (Style: Juicy Hazy Imperial IPA)Photo Courtesy of James Tai. 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 getting excited for Memorial Day Weekend grilling and drinking. On the show is Paul Dlugokencky from Blind Bat Brewery in Long Island, NY; Ray Sheehan from BBQ Buddha, and Todd DiMatteo from Good Word Brewing and Public House in Duluth, Georgia.Paul tells us about how he incorporates beer into his food program at Blind Bat Brewery, and Todd introduces us to Good Word Brewing, where he jokes that the food is almost as good as the beer. Ray then previews a couple of recipes he has coming for his new cookbook, including a mouth-watering smoked queso and beer dip. There’s plenty of techniques when it comes to cooking with beer, and Ray walks us through how to get the best flavor for grilling, smoking, and the low-and slow-method. Sauce is also a secret weapon, and Todd has an extensive selection to pair with all his dishes. Finally, Paul tells us how smoke can enhance beer flavor, and the gang revisits Ray’s queso recipe that they can’t seem to get enough of.Photo Courtesy of Todd DiMatteo.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 brings in Brad McQuhae and Balbir Sidhu from Konig Brewing Systems in Abbotsford, BC, and John Legnard from Blue Moon Brewing at the Molson Brewery in Montreal, Quebec. In January, Jimmy had Brad on episode 565 to talk about all things craft beer in British Columbia. Back on the show for round two, Brad came with tons of hysterical stories, including dealing with snakes and rats in breweries, working just below the arctic circle, eating out in Japan, and mastering a brewing system in a 100-year-old baseball stadium.Alongside Brad, Balbir tells us how he got started as an engineer, and about a very special project he worked on in a hockey arena early in his career. The gang has been in the industry for decades, taking us back in time for a glimpse of what early craft brewing looked like in the 90s. John also reveals the secret weapons Brad and Balbir bring to the table, as well as the highly detailed checklist you need to map out before building a brewery.After taking us from Japan to the Caribbean, Jimmy brings the show back home by asking the gang what refreshing beer he should try out this summer, and John offers a couple of mouth-watering recommendations.Photo Courtesy of John Legnard.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 celebrating American Craft Beer Week with a great group of guests. On the show is Brian Strumke from Stillwater Artisanal in Seattle, WA; Ryan Brower from Gear Patrol in Brooklyn, NY; and Jean Broillet from Tired Hands Brewing Company in Ardmore, PA. To kick things off, Brian introduces his pandemic project: Fast Fashion with Matt Storm (The Masonry Pizza), in Seattle, Washington. Brian and Jean then quickly veer off course, offering a preview into their epic, convertible-style road trip planned across the Pacific Highway. Switching gears, Ryan asks Jean to reflect on the current American beer palette, which Jean feels is in a bit of a recoil period. Brian agrees that everyone is leaning into comforting, obvious flavors right now, but is hopeful that tons of experimentation will soon break-through the cracks. As an example of obscurity, Jean tells everyone the hidden secret in the Tired Hands Milkshake IPA, and explains how he gets away with having a strange recipe but a great-tasting end product. To wrap things up, Brian gives us a preview of an upcoming music project, Jean declares that the new trend in beer isn’t beer, and Jimmy asks the gang what a 21-year-old, new beer drinker should try out this summer.Photo Courtesy of Jean Broillet.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 focusing on all things cider. On the show is Eleanor Leger from Eden Specialty Ciders in Newport, VT; David Thornton from James Creek Cider House in Moore County, NC; and Craig Cavallo and Dan Pucci, co-authors of “American Cider: A Modern Guide to a Historic Beverage.”To kick the show off, Dan and Craig tell the story of how they came together to create “American Cider.” With the book paying special attention to regions, Eleanor and David both explain how their regions play a role in cider making. Dan and Craig also highlight two very unique cider regions, Colorado and Arizona, and explain the two different untold histories of cider making that exist within the southeast. After the break, David defines the term “harvest-based cider” and reveals the influence North Carolina’s climate and land have on cider production. To wrap things up, Dan and Craig bust a couple of cider myths, and Craig declares “the sky's the limit” when it comes to the cider community.Cider List:Brut Nature: Eden Specialty CidersPhoto Courtesy of Craig Cavallo and Dan Pucci.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 introducing Beer Sessions Radio to the Craft Brewers Whiskey Project. On the show is Chris Weld from Berkshire Mountain Distillers in Sheffield, MA; Rich Eyering from Harpoon Brewery in Boston, MA; and Jack Hendler from Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers in Framingham, MA. Chris kicks off the show by explaining where the project first came from, as well as introducing us to his passion for distilling. As a participating brewery, Jack introduces us to Jack’s Abby and the impressive list of lagers he’s brewing. Taking it back to the beginning, Chris tells the story of when he made his first still, which surprisingly was at a very young age. Then, Rich explains how UFO was originally selected as a participating beer, and Chris takes us through the selection process for the other 11 breweries. Finally, Rich and Jack highlight a couple of new things coming from their breweries, and if you ever find yourself looking for a beer at Fenway Park, Harpoon Brewery has you covered!Photo Courtesy of Jack Hendler.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 learning about the craft beer industry in Atlantic Canada. On the show is Chris McDonald from Atlantic Canada Beer Blog in Atlantic Canada; Chris Reynolds from Bar Stillwell in Halifax, Canada; Craig Pinhey, a writer from Rothesay, Canada; and Jeremy White from Big Spruce Brewing in Baddeck, Canada. The group kicks off the conversation with an introduction to Atlantic Canada, focusing on the remarkable cask ale, which has been pouring since 1985 and later influenced the East Coast craft beer scene. Jimmy is completely new to Atlantic, so the gang also tosses in travel tips and recommendations for when things start opening back up. To try and get a gist for the history, Jimmy then sparks a lively conversation about old traditions and strange rules within the Atlantic beer scene. For the second half, Jeremy joins in to talk about Big Spruce Brewing, and praises Bar Stillwell for trendsetting across Atlantic. Bringing the conversation back to cask ale, the gang describes the subtle texture and unique carbonation that makes cask ale so appealing. And finally, Chris shouts out a new bar opening this week in Newfoundland, getting everyone excited for summer. Drink list:Evolution Barrel Aged Saison by Niche BrewingPriority Pale Ale from North Brewing Benedict Arnold ESB from Big TideBig Spruce Brewing Kitchen Party Pale AlePhoto Courtesy of Jeremy White.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.