Beer Sessions Radio (TM)

This week, Beer Sessions Radio is all about Vermont hops. On the show is Bob Grim and Sam Keane from Foam Brewers in Burlington, VT; and Julian Post and Max Licker from Champlain Valley Hops in Starksboro, VT. The conversation begins with all things hops. Julian introduces everyone to Vermont agriculture, explains just how niche the hop industry is, and wows the gang with some impressive hops statistics. Then, Bob and Sam offer a brewer’s perspective, emphasizing the importance of sourcing quality, local ingredients, and collaborating with your community to create a unique atmosphere within a brewery. For Bob and Sam, using local hops offers an exciting end result, with tropical, unexpected tasting notes people have never tried before. At the end of the evening, the gang asks Julian for a couple of short and long-term projections. Julian offers a preview into what he’ll be growing this season, and then also reflects on his biggest fear in the next ten years.Photo Courtesy of Max Licker.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 diving into the world of flavor intelligence. On the show are Jean van Damme from ESTER in Belgium and New York; Suzanne Schalow from Craft Beer Cellars and Trinktisch in Belmont, MA; and Emily Hutto from RadCraft. Jean kicks off the show by introducing us to ESTER, which uses flavor intelligence to help inform producers, retailers, and consumers. Understanding flavor is an individual experience, and ESTER helps retailers navigate consumer’s preferences to find the exact beer for them. From a retailer’s perspective, Suzanne explains how ESTER also helps build loyalty and trust with her customers, which has accelerated Craft Beer Cellars to launch multiple stores, and most recently, Trinktisch. Finally, Emily wraps up the show with one final shout out to ESTER, which has helped retailers and producers boost profit and trust while also helping people find their perfect beer.Photo Courtesy of Jean Van Damme.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 spotlighting New York City Hospitality. On the show is Mitch Banchik from Eat, Drink, & Be Merry Hospitality in New York; Rachel McGown from Boston Beer Company and Coney Island Brewery in Brooklyn, New York; and Andrew Rigie from the NYC Hospitality Alliance in New York. Rachel introduces Jimmy to Hops for Hospitality, an initiative through Coney Island Brewing that is running through May, aiming to give back to the NYC Hospitality Alliance and help revive the city. According to Andrew, restaurants and bars are at the core of recovery, and while he sees a light at the end of the tunnel, there is plenty more work to be done. Recapping this past year, Mitch highlights how essential the NYC Hospitality Alliance was in helping bills and laws get passed. The Alliance built credibility for the city, offering crucial information to hospitality workers while also enacting direct support from the government. Looking towards the future, the gang discusses how temporary successes such as outdoor dining can be turned into permanent additions to the city. After Andrew makes a great point about giving people a reason to come back, Jimmy asks each guest to shout out their favorite neighborhood doing big things at the moment. And finally, the gang reveals where they’re all headed to get their next beer.Photo Courtesy of Andrew Rigie.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.

With beautiful weather hitting the east coast this week, Beer Sessions Radio is gearing up for spring and summer with Lawson’s Finest. This week, Jimmy catches up with Sean Lawson from Lawson’s Finest Liquids in Waitsfield, VT, and Katherine Kyle, formerly the longtime general manager of Blind Tiger Ale House in New York City.The conversation kicks off around Sip of Sunshine, which has grown tremendously popular since it launched a few years ago. Sean explains the process of scaling up, and where the magic comes into play during small, artisanal production. Sean and Katherine then get into a lively conversation about hops, and Sean gives us a great preview of the Super Sessions series. With the warm weather getting everyone excited for spring, Katherine and Sean both give us an update on how their breweries fared in the cold, and what exciting plans they have for customers looking to enjoy beer all summer long. Sean also introduces us to the “little cousin” of Sip of Sunshine, the Little Sip IPA! Finally, the gang wanders down a sweet sap rabbit hole before shouting out a few great summer classics they look forward to trying this year.Photo Courtesy of Sean Lawson.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 following the grains trail from before the beer to way after. On the show is Tyler Fitzpatrick from Lamplighter Brewing Co. in Cambridge, MA; David Brand from Blue Ox Malthouse in Lisbon Falls, ME; and Kyle Fiasconaro from Brewer's Crackers in Somerville, MA. Kyle takes us back to his first memory noticing a dumpster full of spent grain left outside a brewery, coincidentally right across from a bakery. As a brewer, Tyler explains just how difficult it can be to handle spent grain, especially when you are in a city with limited space. According to Tyler, it’s every brewer's fantasy to have somebody easily take all the spent grain off your hands, and one day, Kyle made that a reality. Jimmy then takes it back to the beginning, having David walk us through a day in the life at the malthouse. David falls at the intersection between brewing and agriculture and is able to connect local brewers with regional farmers. David, Tyler, and Kyle explain just how much effort goes into the grain, and how much potential is still left over after the beer has been bottled or canned. Finally, the gang wraps up with a quick conversation about rye, and David predicts what we can expect from the next generation of “beer nerds.”Drink list:Orbiting Blue Ox- Wormtown BreweryDubliners- Lamplighter Brewing Co.Photo Courtesy of Kyle Fiasconaro.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 taking us to Toronto, Ontario. On the show is Stephen Beaumont, an international beer writer from Toronto, Ontario; Jordan St. John, a beer writer and co-author of The Ontario Craft Beer Guide; and Mary Beth Keefe from The Granite Brewery in Toronto, Ontario. An avid traveler, Stephen has found that staying put this past year has helped him rediscover his home beer market. In Toronto, there have been tons of new experiments and innovations, but Stephen also praises brewers' loyalty to classics, including Belgian style beers, brown ales, and saisons. Mary Beth is also a fan of the classics, which may be why she prefers to steer clear of “hype” beers. However, Granite Brewery does a fantastic cask ale called “Cask in a Box,” and Jordan chimes in with the historical context surrounding cask ales and the Cask Beer Festival.While Ontario has tons of different beer styles to offer, Jordan also praises the locally grown hops, which can add unique flavors to beer. Finally, the gang all raise a glass to their favorite Ontario breweries and their wonderful city of Toronto.Photo Courtesy of Stephen Beaumont.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 covering one of the best weeks of the year, NYC Beer Week! For the first part of the show, Jimmy welcomes Ann Reilly from the NYC Brewers Guild; Jim Betz from Coney Island Brewery in Brooklyn, NY; and Jeff Lyons from Endless Life Brewing in Brooklyn, NY. Then in the second half, Jimmy catches up with Kat Telesca and Vic Pitula from Coney Island Brewery; Meg Rickerson from Someday Bar NYC in Brooklyn, NY; and Fee Doyle from Beer Witch in Brooklyn, NY. Ann starts the conversation by highlighting the beer boxes created by the NYC Brewers Guild, both as a way to celebrate beer week and also share NYC beer with customers outside of the city. Jim gets everyone excited about the special beer Coney Island Brewing is featuring in a beer box, and also explains how they are supporting the NYC Hospitality Alliance. Ann then offers us an update on the state of NYC craft beer, and Jeff highlights a couple of special moments from the past year. The second part of the show is all about the women. Opening her own bar just seven months before Covid-19 hit, Meg explains how the pandemic was a real crash course in bar ownership, forcing her to master everything from staple guns to small business loans. She also recently founded Save NYC Bars as a method to communicate the ripple effect that the pandemic has caused throughout the entire community. The gang all agrees that the history of beer is closely tied to women, and Kat, Vic, and Fee all chime in with interesting stories about the connection between beer, women, and witches. Finally, we hear about some exciting new beers and favorites, and Meg shouts out a special beer that supports lesbian-run bars, which is another underrepresented community that is struggling in the beer scene.Photo Courtesy of Ann Reilly.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 bridges the gap between wine and beer. Back on the show is Jake Endres from Crooked Run Brewing in Sterling, VA; Patrick Rue from Erosion Wine in Napa Valley, CA; and long-time Beer Sessions Radio favorite, BR Rolya.Patrick kicks off the show with an introduction to Erosion Wine. With prior training as a Master Cicerone, Patrick brings craft beer methods to winemaking and explains the differences he witnessed between the beer and wine worlds. Back East in Virginia, Jake walks us through his mixed fermentation beers that are a part of Crooked Run’s Native Culture series, which aims to challenge people’s ideas of what beer can taste like. BR agrees that mixed fermentation opens the range of flavors you can get, and explains how the language to describe beer and wine flavors has evolved through time. Then, Jimmy poses a hot take about wine drinkers versus craft beer drinkers, and the gang walks us through their favorite food pairings. Even after diligent training, Patrick still maintains a lax approach to food pairings, and BR concludes that beer is much more forgiving than wine when looking for the right food-drink match. Drinks list:Druplet from Crooked Run BrewingSecret Handshake from Erosion WineryDe Ranke, Cantillon BreweryPhoto Courtesy of Erosion Wine.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 taking center stage to highlight the "Curtain Up" initiative with the Happy Hour guys and a couple of special brewmasters. On the show is Dave Lopez from Gun Hill Brewing Company in the Bronx, NY; Jon Zerivitz from Union Craft Brewing in Baltimore, Maryland; Kris March from Slickfin Brewing in Fort Edward, NY; and Jimmy Ludwig and Mark Aldrich from The Happy Hour Guys. For the first half of the show, Jimmy, The Happy Hour Guys, and Dave catch up with Jon down in Baltimore. Jon highlights Baltimore’s rich art scene and all the support his Curtain Up beer has received from the Baltimore community. He also credits Covid-19 for helping him refocus and slow down a bit, reworking his brewing process and recipes so that everything is in great shape for an early March reopening. Jimmy and Mark speak candidly about how hard the past year has been for anyone in the live performance industry, and how the Curtain Up Initiative is adding any sort of stimulus they can to people’s lives. In the second half of the show, The Happy Hour Guys and Dave bring on Kris, who has a unique family connection to the Broadway scene. While he’s only a couple of years into owning his one-barrel brewery, Kris has been experimenting with fermentation since he concocted a “toilet wine” while serving in Afghanistan. Now much more established, Kris reveals some super exciting news to the gang and shouts out his upcoming new beer inspired by Girl Scout cookies.Photo Courtesy of Mark Aldrich.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 hearing from three experts in barrel aging. He welcomes previous co-host Ben Keene, a beer, cider, and travel writer from Seattle, WA; Matt Lincoln from Fremont Brewing in Seattle, WA; and Jake Endres from Crooked Run Brewing in Sterling, VA. Ben kicks off the conversation by explaining the differences barrel aging can make, highlighting the complexity and bold intensity the process brings to beers. Matt emphasizes the layering of flavors that barrel aging offers, as well as the unique characteristics of each individual spirit barrel. Then, Jake lets us in on a couple of brewing secrets, including why Black Friday is such a big day for new beer releases, and how aged hops should be your best friend. Plus, the group walks Jimmy through the aging process from brew to bottle, or more recently, cans, which they all agree have accelerated in popularity during Covid-19. Finally, Ben, Jake, and Matt offer up a couple of barrel-aged inspirations for anyone looking to try out a new brewery.Beer List - Ben: Ferment Brewing CompanyJake: Pen Druid Brewing and Allagash Brewing CompanyMatt: Perennial Artisan AlesPhoto Courtesy of Ben Keene.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.