It’s our job to bring together five local table beers (and deal with Eddie Munster), so we seek to further understand this lighter cousin of saison by talking with Mike Thorpe of Afterthought Brewing about the style and his TableFest™ on September 11th. Also, Ryan finds the perfect work night beer; Craig says the brewery name that makes him squeamish; and we both create the flavor better known as Thunder. The tables are our corn. Mike Thorpe Interview (00:11:27 - 00:23:10) Beers Reviewed Off Col...
Sep 07, 2022•1 hr 27 min•Season 9Ep. 448
BlackStack Brewing has built quite a reputation off of exceptionally well-crafted hazy IPAs, and we have three of them in this lineup to prove it’s true. Craig also managed to find two other styles to help us better understand this five year-old brewery out of St. Paul, MN. You gotta love a show that challenges your expectations of style, and this one reinvigorates some haze appreciation on our part. Also, Craig excitedly recaps his time at the World’s Largest Bouncy Castle; Ryan invokes Patio D...
Aug 31, 2022•1 hr 24 min•Season 9Ep. 447
Unlike a usual episode where we rub our fuzzy faces and gaze at our navels, this peach beer show comes with a twist. Certainly we review five local beers under a shared theme of “beer with peaches,” but we also foray into a dice-rolling RPG-style podcast with a whole game based around a popular mustachioed video game character (who is not Mike Haggar from Final Fight…sorry). Fortunately, the beers are much better than Ryan’s dice rolls, and Craig’s playing like he has a GameShark. Also, we talk ...
Aug 24, 2022•1 hr 37 min•Season 9Ep. 446
Known as Beervana for a reason, Portland, Oregon is maybe the premier beer destination city in the United States. Summer Craig recently spent some time getting to know the beers of the Pacific Northwest, and he got some help from accomplished beer writer Jeff Alworth. The Beer Bible author gives us the story of Portland’s beer proclivities and how they don’t always follow the national trends. Also, Jeff gives us good Portland beer history, explains how the hazy trend might’ve actually started ou...
Aug 17, 2022•1 hr 57 min•Season 9Ep. 445
The hefeweizen is a pretty universally appreciated summer beer, and we’ve amazingly never dedicated an entire show to the style. But thankfully a bunch of cool local brewers have put their best non-hoppy hazies in cans for us to consider, as we rise from 5% ABV all the way up to 5.4% ABV in this lineup. Also, we do some summer PD by putting Summer Craig through a SWOT analysis; Ryan has rediscovered his Willi Becher; and we have Hefeweizen Opinions (on HBO). There’s also a game that Ryan’s unfor...
Aug 10, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Season 9Ep. 444
Though it may not be many people’s pick for Oregon’s best beer city, it’s hard to ignore the quality beers produced in Bend. From Craig’s trip, we have five diverse beer styles from five different Bend breweries that both impress us with new flavors and stir up some nostalgia. Also, Craig talks about his trip to The Last Blockbuster and quizzes Ryan on related trivia. Plus there’s talk of squirrels drunk off of tree fermenters, a Rule 34 Brewery, imaginary berries, and a desperate plea for someo...
Aug 03, 2022•1 hr 19 min•Season 9Ep. 443
Plunge that hand deep into the slushy depths of that beach-ready cooler and help yourself to a cold and refreshing serving of…lactobacillus, saccharomyces, and brettanomyces?! That’s right - we are packing our coolers with refreshing and fruity mixed culture sour beers from local breweries to bring some new energy to our summer gatherings. These are the kind of tart beers that can only be measured in beach balls, deck chairs, patio lights, and floppy sun hats. Also, we imagine the stories behind...
Jul 27, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Season 9Ep. 442
For almost 30 years, Alan Sprints and his Portland, Oregon brewery Hair of the Dog pioneered American craft beer through some of the earliest barrel-aging experiments and developed potent beers built for aging, creating some of the original “whales” in the process. Once Alan decided to retire and close his legendary brewery in June of 2022, Craig booked a trip to experience Hair of the Dog for a final time and to get Mr. Sprints on the microphone to reflect on his career and look ahead to the jo...
Jul 20, 2022•1 hr 33 min•Season 9Ep. 441
The time has finally come to pit the world’s premier saison producing cities - Chicago and Milwaukee, obviously - against one another in an arbitrary competition to determine once and for all whose farmhouses rule the I-94 corridor. We have six saisons, three from each city, going head-to-head in specified categories to help determine a “winner.” Also, we evaluate which candies would make the best breakfast food, Craig’s mundane superpower of ABV-detection, and our desire to drink fancy bathroom...
Jul 13, 2022•1 hr 24 min•Season 9Ep. 440
We’ve long loved Hood River’s Pfriem Family Brewers, and thanks to Craig’s recent travels, we are able to drink through five of their impressive beers. For this one, we experience a wider array of styles, and a few challenge the best of style available locally. Also, we dream of having our own Streisand-like underground malls, we settle into a good butt nook, and we try to forget some bad brut memories. If you’re down with P(friem), then you’re down with me. Beers Reviewed Helles Lager Sparkling...
Jul 06, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Season 9Ep. 439
Pittsburgh’s Necromancer has just crossed over a year in operation, and we’re already onto our second show featuring only their beers. Why? Kuit beer is the reason. We catch up with head brewer Lauren Hughes about five of her “Resurrection” releases - beers that were previously “dead” or so obscure that there’s almost no example for comparison’s sake. (Much like our beloved Kuit beer.) She also shares updates on Necromancer’s expansion plans and what in the hell is a Pennsylvania Swankey. Also, ...
Jun 29, 2022•1 hr 28 min•Season 9Ep. 438
No matter how much trends fluctuate, one of the steadiest beers to bank on is the pilsner. Everyone who loves beer loves a great pilsner, and in our opinion, no beer list is complete without one. So we pick five pilsners from five midwestern states to taste through and appreciate while trying very hard to banish the term “drinkable” from the show. Also, Bo Jackson is behind the wheel on the way to our pheasant-hunting trip; we talk about how going to New Glarus is like going to Six Flags; and we...
Jun 22, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 9Ep. 437
It is once again time for us to drink more barrel-aged beers (MoBAB), with Craig and Ryan as the only two heroes that can withstand this lineup of sinister and imposing stouts. Because it’s a sequel, we brought in ALL RINGERS for this one, and capping it at four beers was the best decision we could’ve made. Also, we sketch out Jef Lambic, Attorney at Law; struggle mightily against wax; and reflect on exactly what TMNT has taken away from us. Beers Reviewed Mikerphone Brewing - Sir Blends A-Lot [...
Jun 15, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 9Ep. 436
Based in Madison, Wisconsin, Giant Jones is a woman-run, certified organic brewery specializing in big beers and obscure styles - a few of which are completely new to us. So we have on co-owner and brewer Jessica Jones to talk about how Giant Jones gets creative within the limits of organic ingredients, why some of their signature beers were born somewhat accidentally, and how they’ve evolved from their origins as a barleywine brewery. We also review five beers that each surprise and impress us ...
Jun 08, 2022•1 hr 59 min•Season 9Ep. 435
Established in 1998, Kuhnhenn remembers a simpler time for craft beer. But Kuhnhenn also remembers that there were big and flavorful beers done differently - to emphasize style while also honoring drinkability - in the early part of the 21st century. This lineup of five beers from the Detroit suburb-housed brewery gives us a lot of nostalgia while finding a way to keep up with some of the big flavors of today. Also, we explore the relationship between sandwich size and happiness, get our drippie...
Jun 01, 2022•1 hr 24 min•Season 9Ep. 434
Hard seltzers are starting to see a bit of a dip in sales, but it’s probably because they’re not all loaded up with chunky fruit and 250-plus calories per can. Last year’s “phenomenon” of the smoothie hard seltzer was kicked off by an offshoot of Ann Arbor’s HOMES Brewery that goes by the name of Smooj. Craig stopped by the Lab (which should really be called the Smoojery) to pick up five slim cans of thick and sludgy hard seltzer for us to review. And because we needed another layer of smoothnes...
May 25, 2022•1 hr 30 min•Season 9Ep. 433
Currently operating out of Pilot Project, Azadi Brewing may be small at the moment, but their flavors are big and inspired by ingredients from regions all over India. We talk with co-founders Bhavik Modi and Gator Schrand about their unusual collaborative process that results in a rich lineup of beers that seek to tell a story and educate the consumer about India, Indian food, and Indian communities in Chicago. (They also taste pretty great as well, we might add.) In addition, we learn about how...
May 18, 2022•1 hr 52 min•Season 9Ep. 432
Malt-forward and flowery, the bock-style lager most made for the Spring season is typically a maibock, though not all breweries embrace the confines of that title. We collect five local bocks made with Spring in mind to help Craig make up his mind about this style that once literally saved a city. We also meet two diabolical breakfast buffet villains, get our minds freaked by food commercial secrets, and start feeling real TOASTY! Shorts and a sweater? A dress and a jean jacket? We’ve got the la...
May 11, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 9Ep. 431
One of America’s few original styles also happens to be a commonly misunderstood one. The Cream Ale has no dairy or lactose (much to Craig’s chagrin) but is instead much more similar to the flavorful and easy-drinking Kölsch. We drink through five examples of the style to better grasp its nuances and are once again surprised by the refreshing amount of subtle variation. Also, we discuss the ultimate mind game, foosball, and accidentally give the ice cream machine sentience. (And if you’re intere...
May 04, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Season 9Ep. 430
We’ve been summoned to do our civic duty in Haze Court, giving five hazy beers their due process through our arbitrary…arbitration. We’re ready to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that we should drop the charges against haze, and sentence our taste buds to about an hour of hop service. Also, we imagine adding a twist to new MLB rules, experience the Mandela Effect with Sir Mix-A-Lot, and try to keep Craig’s Hop Anger Meter below critical. Beers Reviewed Old Nation Brewing Co. - DDH M-43 (D...
Apr 27, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Season 9Ep. 429
In less than two years, Atrium Brewing already has folks claiming them as the best brewery in Louisville - so Craig had to visit and find out for himself. Head brewer Spencer Guy hops on for an interview to talk about the brewery’s origins, being known for kettle sours but having a penchant for clean beers, and what to expect once they are able to add more space. Then we drink through five diverse offerings that range from nostalgia-inducing classics to “how could this possibly work?” in a matte...
Apr 20, 2022•1 hr 47 min•Season 9Ep. 428
As if the Chicago shelves couldn’t be more saturated with tantalizing options, a whole new round of hot drops has hit recently that got us out to the bottle shops to see if they’ll take valuable fridge space away from our local faves.We have five very different beers from some notable out-of-state breweries - and we have our first ever D.O.A. Hot Drop. Also, Ryan is living with the horror of a room centipede, Craig’s working through some hop anger, and we both are titillated by The Burden of Sto...
Apr 13, 2022•1 hr 25 min•Season 9Ep. 427
Well ahead of Derby Day, Craig trotted down to Louisville, Kentucky to check out their beer scene and bring back a five-pack, along with an interview. The range is wide on this one with easy-drinkers to adjunct-crammed sippers all fighting for the top spot in our arbitrary rankings. Also, Craig chats with Andy Cobb from Butchertown to learn about his growing operation, how to determine the right amount of coconut to cram into a stout, and the potential for kung fu showdowns over craft beer. Also...
Apr 06, 2022•1 hr 44 min•Season 9Ep. 426
Craig’s recent travels brought him to Ethereal Brewing who have been bringing a wide variety of bold styles to Lexington, Kentucky for the better part of a decade. We hear from co-founder and head brewer Brandon Floan on the brewery’s evolution, the real fifth element, the ease of barrel access in actual bourbon county, how making sake is different than making beer, and how to brew a beer that gives you weird dreams. We also talk about misunderstood roller coasters, Craig’s entirely useless smel...
Mar 30, 2022•1 hr 26 min•Season 9Ep. 425
Inching ever-closer to our Belgian cycle, we finally reach for the Dubbel on this show by drinking the style-originator and several American examples - including one big-time medal winner. With such wide variety on the style that are mostly good in their own way, we try to examine what makes a Dubbel such a beloved style - even when you’re not ingesting gamey meats. Plus, we introduce tickling to the Olympics, put Brendan Fraser and Hugh Grant into a buddy comedy, and explore your body as an int...
Mar 23, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Season 9Ep. 424
We don’t always have the best luck with fruit feature shows, so we hand our expectations over to some of our most trusted local brewers to give grapes a chance. All five bottles on this show feature unique grapes from the rest, so Craig schools us off the vine. Also, we have a therapeutic conversation about grocery stores, discuss how EastSide Gushy Got Chonked (Vol. 1), perform Nerds Box-to-mouth, admire the bold dismantling of a rotisserie chicken, and learn some new words. Beers Reviewed Off ...
Mar 16, 2022•1 hr 29 min•Season 9Ep. 423
Sometimes you just gotta say, “What the f***?” and open five cans absolutely crammed full of fruit slurry and let the whole notion of beer just leave your mind. We’re down with the thiccness for this episode, watching our glasses become opaque with a pulpy sludge while measuring the detritus on each glug-glug pour. So while they may not be beer per se, are they fun to drink? Also, we re-examine the days of the week, learn the truth about MC Hammer, develop some can-rolling techniques, and experi...
Mar 09, 2022•1 hr 28 min•Season 9Ep. 422
For the third straight year, we return to the type of enormous barrel-aged beers that destroyed us throughout December…and fall in love all over again. This lineup of five is going down in the history books, as they not only compete for rankings on this show but several are also in the very early running for our year-end lists. Complex barrel blends and big adjunct additions go toe-to-toe with our sobriety, and it’s a hell of a way to ring in Craig’s birthday. Speaking of, we wonder about an alt...
Mar 02, 2022•1 hr 31 min•Season 9Ep. 421
Yeah we know what episode this is, and truthfully, the pressure of somehow delivering The Funny Weed Number Show was too much, leading us to sip on five delicious dark lagers instead. We explore some of the range a “Dark Lager” can have while finding ourselves in a real rankings-based bind. Also, we have run-ins with NBC sitcom doppelgangers in very unexpected places, we ascend (and descend) the flavor mountain, and we discuss if a Cold Black IPA is a thing. And we back our way into a 420-approp...
Feb 23, 2022•1 hr 23 min•Season 9Ep. 420
We’re finishing off this season’s Deep Wood series from Revolution by doing all the non-stouts - and in many ways we’ve saved the best for last. Though the barrels deservedly get top-billing, it’s hard to ignore how dialed-in the base beer recipe is in all of these - and somehow they get better every year. All these ‘wines inspire a midshow 3-day nap, but we also invent a can-based Chopped challenge for your friends, dream up the inverted mozzarella stick, share tips for beating the Maple Man, a...
Feb 16, 2022•1 hr 43 min•Season 9Ep. 419
