This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy welcomes Tom Acitelli who authored the new book Pilsner: How the Beer of Kings Changed the World along with Chris Lohring of Notch Brewing and Matt Levy from Threes Brewing . Tom began his latest book project in a search to understand what laid the groundwork for the craft beer movement and argues we wouldn’t have the beer marketplace we do now without pilsner. He talks about the history of style and how it evolved along with innovations in roasting, while...
Aug 12, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 545
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy revisits the question of ‘what came first beer or bread?’ and dives deep into the history of milling. Joining him are guests, Lavada Nahon , a culinary historian and interpreter for African American history for NYS Department of Parks; Amy Halloran, flour ambassador and the author of The New Bread Basket ; and Bryan Ford, of Artisan Bryan and the author of New World Sourdough . Starting with when settlers brought wheat, barley and rye from Europe and turne...
Jul 29, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 544
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy talks about the whirlwind of changes that have been made to New York’s alcohol laws during the pandemic and considers what the future may hold. He is joined by Max Bookman of Pesetsky & Bookman, PC , a law firm specializing in alcohol licensing in New York state. Beer bar owners, Anthony Ramirez II and Paul Ramirez of The Bronx Beer Hall add their perspective to the conversation as well. Although canned beer could be legally sold to-go before the pande...
Jul 23, 2020•55 min•Ep. 543
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy welcomes the collaborators behind Pa’lante, a cream ale inspired by the Puerto Rican rice pudding, Arroz Con Dulce. The beer is flavored with coconut, raisins, and vanilla beans and aged in Pitorro barrels. Pa’lante means “Move Forward” in Spanish and proceeds from the project go to Friends of Puerto Rico. Hear from Kelly M Coffey from Big Alice Brewing who came up with the idea, as well as Joel Suarez and Matt Negron from Uptown Beer Society who have work...
Jul 15, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 542
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy welcomes Marcus Baskerville the founder of Weathered Souls Brewing and the creator of the Black is Beautiful Stout , a collaboration centered on racial justice that has reached nearly 1,000 breweries worldwide. Marcus initially thought he would just make the stout at his own brewery but challenged himself to think bigger. He talks about the whirlwind he has experienced since launching the project on a large scale. Also joining the conversation to talk abou...
Jul 09, 2020•47 min•Ep. 541
This week Beer Sessions Radio spotlights three women who met a year ago at the 2019 Beer Without Beards Festival. Jimmy welcomes Kim Harris of Harlem Hops , Katherine Kyle of Blind Tiger Ale House and Sara Hagerty of Origin Malt . They offer their various perspectives from the retail side of the industry, from Sara’s view of the supply chain to the criteria Kim and Katherine consider when curating the menu at their beer bars. They give shoutouts to other women working in beer, share the stories ...
Jul 02, 2020•55 min•Ep. 540
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy hosts Joel Shelton of Shelton Brothers to take a (virtual) tour with him across European breweries. We hear from Casey Wellman of Brouwerij De Ranke in Belgium, Jim “Bocky” Barnes of Braumanufaktur Hertl in Germany, and Elliot Konig from Edge Brewing in Spain. These American expats talk about their respective journeys abroad and their perspectives on Europe’s craft beer boom. From the traveling craze of hazy IPAs to the value of sourcing local ingredients ...
Jun 25, 2020•59 min•Ep. 539
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy is joined by guests from both New York and abroad. He’s talking about Crafted Exports with co-owners Qurban Walia and Peter McNulty, who export American craft beer to Europe. They also invited a few of the breweries and distributors they work with to join the conversation. Andrew Reed of Galatea calls in from Sweden, Todd Matteson of Mondo Brewing calls in from London, and Scott Vaccaro of Captain Lawrence Brewing joins the conversation from Elmsford, NY. ...
Jun 19, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 538
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy is joined by Sean Lawson of Lawson’s Finest Liquids in Vermont. Katherine Kyle from Blind Tiger Ale House and beer writer, Ben Keene also join the conversation to talk about the IPA that made Lawson’s famous and the newest beer being added to the Sunshine series. Together they talk about what hops Sean is working with, the relationship between Lawon’s Finest Liquids and Two Roads Brewing, and what came first, New England IPAs or Vermont IPAs. Sean also sha...
Jun 11, 2020•56 min•Ep. 537
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy speaks with Lars Marius Garshol all the way from Norway. He is credited with discovering and cataloguing kveik yeast and is the author of Historical Brewing Techniques: The Lost Art of Farmhouse Brewing . John LaPolla of Bitter & Esters and Pete Legyel-Fushimi of KCBC join the conversation as well. Lars provides the history of how kveik yeast has been passed down by home brewers in Norway for centuries, while Pete shares how he is using the yeast at KC...
Jun 04, 2020•50 min•Ep. 536
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy welcomes Geriz Ramirez, the general manager at Other Half Brewing and the man behind All Together , a global beer collaboration generating support for hospitality industry professionals in need. Basil Lee of Finback Brewery and Tim Besecker of Twin Elephant Brewing join the conversation as well to talk about how they got involved in what Jimmy calls the “#1 hope project of 2020” that is now 800 breweries strong and counting. Beer writer, Niko Krommydas chi...
May 29, 2020•52 min•Ep. 535
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy talks to Evan Watson of Plan Bee Farm Brewery , Barry Labendz of Kent Falls Brewing , and Derek Dellinger AKA The Fermented Man , who has worked with both breweries. Evan has always said he constructed an “apocalyptic” brewery and COVID-19 has certainly put that to the test. Evan and Barry share the strength of their local supply chains. Evan is sourcing mixed culture from the spring honey at his farm, has a field of danko rye and is seeing his best hops y...
May 20, 2020•56 min•Ep. 534
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy is joined by Joe Lipa, who is retiring after a 40 year career in the craft beer industry, working for specialty beer importer, Merchant du Vin . He shares the stories behind the efforts to introduce Americans to four iconic breweries: Samula Smith, Lindemans, Ayinger, and Orval Trappist. Along for the ride are Robert Hodson from Sheehan Family Companies and Ben Keene, a writer for Beer Advocate . When Joe helped launch Samuel Smith in the US, it was twice ...
May 14, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 533
This week Jimmy talks saisons with Phil Markowski of Two Roads Brewing who literally wrote the book on farmhouse ales. Anthony Accardi of Transmitter Brewing offers his perspective as a brewer who aims to bring saisons to New York’s beer scene. B.R. Rolya of Shelton Brothers discusses the European farmhouse breweries she works with and shares her experience translating portions of Phil’s book. Together they talk about some special collaborations, the strains of yeast they are using to brew saiso...
May 09, 2020•52 min•Ep. 532
Jimmy welcomes Clay Risen and Theresa McCulla to the studio to discuss what beer Americans were drinking in 1898. Clay is Deputy Editor of The New York Times Opinion Page and the author of “ The Crowded Hour: Theodore Roosevelt, The Rough Riders, and the Dawn of the American Century. ” Theresa McCulla is a beer historian at The Smithsonian, who is currently working to archive homebrewing and craft beer history for the museum. Together they talk about the first era of consolidation for American b...
Apr 29, 2020•50 min•Ep. 531
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy shares an interview from NYC Beer Week, when he visited KCBC to talk with head brewer Bobby Rolandi along with Ian Kalmes of Transmitter Brewing . The two met when they were starting out in the brewing industry washing kegs and have stayed friends. They share their respective career paths, compare the operations at the two breweries, and talk about the rewards for making good beers that take time. Beer List: KCBC, Cosmic Zombie KCBC, The Hour of Death Tran...
Apr 21, 2020•55 min•Ep. 530
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy talks with Ben Neidhart of OEC Brewing , Michael Opalenski and George Flickinger of B. United International , and Gavin Murphy from Beer Table . Ben discusses the traditions and mysticism that have inspired OEC from its start as well as the “old school” system he operates, which includes a Beaudelot Chiller. He also explains the importance of balance in brewing sours and lets drinkers know what they can expect next from the orchards at OEC. The group share...
Apr 16, 2020•46 min•Ep. 529
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy talks to Sofia Barbaresco and Geoff Wenzel from Industrial Arts Brewing . Plus, beer writer at large Ben Keene joins the conversation from Seattle. Sofia and Geoff provide an update on Industrial Arts’ second location in Beacon, NY, explain the flexibility they have to experiment with raw ingredients and various grains with the brewery’s new mash filter, and marvel at how far New York State ingredients have come. They dive into the ingredients behind Indus...
Apr 08, 2020•49 min•Ep. 528
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy puts the spotlight on cask ales. He is joined by Michael Paul Messenie of Dutchess Ales , Paul Pendyck of UK Brewing Supplies , Steve Hamburg of Cask Marque , Greg Engert of The Grand Delancey, and Tony Forder of Ale Street News . They discuss what made each of them fall in love with cask ales, and why they nevertheless remains “a niche of a niche of a niche.” From their lower ABV, soft mouth feel, natural fermentation and enhanced flavor, cask ales are gr...
Apr 03, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 527
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy nerds out about beer and more with Jeff Cioletti, author of Drink Like a Geek . Jeremy Cowan of Shmaltz Brewing , Doug Campbell of Brewery Ommegang , and beer writer, Ben Keene join in as well to try and put a finger on the genre of geeky beers they all love. Jeremy shares the process he underwent getting the rights to sell Star Trek beer and Doug describes how the flavor was developed for Ommegang’s Game of Thrones series. They also discuss the connection...
Mar 27, 2020•56 min•Ep. 526
This week on Beer Sessions Radio Jimmy hones in on beer business trends. For this remote recording on Saint Patricks Day, Jimmy is joined by Sean McNulty of Selling Craft Beer Podcast , Cat Wolinkski of Vinepair and Zach Mack of ABC Beer Co . They talk about the beer trends they anticipated going into 2020 and how much has changed in recent days as a result of the coronavirus. While there has been an uptick in sales as people stock up for periods of self-quarantine, there is a grave concern that...
Mar 20, 2020•49 min•Ep. 525
The Torch and Crown team meets with Jimmy in the studio as they prepare to open Manhattan's first brewery along with a taproom and restaurant in SoHo. Torch and Crown's co-founder, Joe Correia discusses the challenge of brewing in a place where space comes at a premium. He is joined by Torch and Crown's restaurant partner, Christian Pappanicholas, and the brewery's marketing director Chris McClellan. They discuss pairing food with beer, how they built their team, and the removable staircase they...
Mar 11, 2020•45 min•Ep. 524
Brewers from around New York State join Jimmy in a jam-packed studio to talk about making beer north of the city. Adam Krawczak and Patrick Sylvester of Crossroads Brewing; Stuart Morris, Dieter Gehring, and Alex Gill of Indian Ladder Farms Cidery & Brewery; Ryan Demier of Bound by Fate Brewing, Dana Ball of Upward Brewing; and Aaron Krawczak of Grotta Azzurra are all on hand for a lively discussion of brewing in a more rural environment. They cover using local ingredients, the importance of...
Mar 04, 2020•54 min•Ep. 523
With NYC Beer Week in full swing, Jimmy talks all things lambic with Greg Engert of The Grand Delancey who is preparing to host a rare bottle tasting and screening of the film Lambic: About Time & Passion. B.R. Rolya of Shelton Brothers, Ryan Brower of Gear Patrol, and Sadaf Asmolvoa of Beer Town NYC are also on hand to discuss the meeting of art and science in lambic brewing. The group tastes the holy trinity of lambics while chatting about spontaneous fermentation, how lambic production is...
Feb 26, 2020•55 min•Ep. 522
Visiting from Sweden, Jonas Hjalmarsson of Brewski sits down in the studio with Jimmy to talk about working at a brewery that prides itself on being different. They are joined by Beer Sessions regular B.R. Rolya of Shelton Brothers as they discuss the fun in sharing beer across cultures as well as the brewery's plans to expand in the US. Jonas shares the philosophy behind his fruited sour ales as well as the business as a whole. Beer List: Brewski's Blueberry Pie, Brewski's Cherry Pie, Brewski's...
Feb 19, 2020•43 min•Ep. 521
In honor of the upcoming Bowl of 'Zole Festival, Jimmy talks about the festival's featured food and drink: pozole and mezcal. He is joined by one of Bowl of 'Zole's curators, Arik Torren of Fidencio Spirits, in addition to Leslie Vinyard of Roberta's Pizza and Chris Crowley of Grub Street . Arik draws on his experience importing spirits as the group talks about the traditional process of making mezcal and how increased demand has affected farmers in Oaxaca. They also discuss their favorite place...
Feb 12, 2020•55 min•Ep. 520
On the eve of their fourth year in business, the team from Hopewell Brewing comes to the studio from Chicago. Jimmy talks to married couple Samantha Lee and Stephen Bossu of Hopewell about building an inclusive environment in the taproom and having a brewery that supports its staff. Tom Pavlich of Remarkable Liquids is also on hand, as is Katie Cochrane of Carton Brewing who once wrote a thesis based on Crooked Stave founder Chad Yakobson's research . The group discusses the taste of sea bucktho...
Feb 06, 2020•48 min•Ep. 519
In anticipation of Beer Boom, the upcoming documentary on New York City brewing, Jimmy talks to the people who made the movie possible. Filmmakers Eric Schleyer and Andrew Coury, and producer Aaron Bell of Canataro Park Avenue Financial join Jimmy in the studio alongside one of the documentary's main characters, Rich Castagna of Bridge and Tunnel Brewery. The five years Schleyer and Coury spent filming Beer Boom gave them a firsthand look at the city's rapidly changing beer scene. They talk abou...
Jan 29, 2020•51 min•Ep. 518
This week, Jimmy talks to his guests about the challenges of owning a craft beer bar in New York City. He is joined by Kyle Radzyminski of The Baroness Bar, Gerry Leary of One Mile House, Megan Rickerson and Brian Winget of Someday Bar, and Ryan Brower of Gear Patrol. Hear them discuss the ups and downs of their labor of love, as well as the value of independent craft beer seals and lasting effects of hurricane Sandy. Beer List: Other Half Brewing's Double Vanilla Boysen Berry Crun Chee Threes B...
Jan 16, 2020•54 min•Ep. 517
Bronx brewers come to Brooklyn to discuss a new collaboration: Mama's Candied Yams Imperial Ale. Jimmy talks with Joel Suarez and Matt Negron of Uptown Beer Society, Rey Cortez and Oscar Santiago of First Boro Brewing , Paul Ramirez and Anthony Ramirez of The Bronx Beer Hall , and Dave Lopez of Gun Hill Brewing . Dom Cook, the founder of Beer Kulture and author of This Ain't the Beer That You're Used To: A Beginner's Guide to Good Beer also calls in from Tampa, Florida. They speak about the clas...
Jan 08, 2020•53 min•Ep. 516
