This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy adds to a cidery summer with an intergenerational conference where the legends meet rising stars in the New England cider world. In this episode, we will welcome Steve Wood from Farnum Hill Ciders and Eleanor Leger from Eden Ciders — the legends — along with Bird Dog Cider ’s Peter Endres and Easthampton Cider Project ’s Josh Bromage — the legends-to-be. The episode kicks off with a brief introduction for our guests before we get to know Steve, who has bee...
Jul 01, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 635
This week, Beer Sessions Radio welcomes two homeschooled brewers — Jeff Lyons from Endless Life Brewing in Brooklyn, and Jaega Wise from Wild Card Brewery in East London, who also happens to be the author of “ Wild Brews .” The gang will bang out lessons on homebrewing and sour beers, before revealing the secrets to the water section of Jaega's latest book. The episode starts with Jaega’s and Jeff’s introduction to the homebrewing world as well as their backgrounds outside of the beer industry. ...
Jun 24, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 634
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy welcomes the legends of the cider world — James Asbel from Ciders of Spain , Peter Mitchell (not British) of Headwater Cider Company and Ronald Sansone from Spoke + Spy Ciderworks , who just so happens to also be the president of the Cider Institute of North America . The gang will discuss Spanish cider and its making methods, before traveling through space and time to investigate the historical and geographical developments of ciders. The episode kicks of...
Jun 17, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 633
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy flies spirit to Europe for a meeting with three European cider makers — Oliver’s Cider and Perry’s Tom Oliver , Pilton Cider’s Martin Berkeley from the United Kingdom, and Berryland’s Vitalii Karvyha from Ukraine, who recently lost his cidery . The gang sit down to talk cider techniques and tasting, as well as discuss the cideries, community, and events in the UK. Help rebuild Berryland with the American Cider Association here . The episode starts with the...
Jun 10, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 632
This week, Beer Sessions Radio welcomes Dave McLean from Admiral Maltings in Alameda, California. Founding Magnolia Brewing Company in the 1990s and Admiral Maltings in 2017 with Ron Silberstein and Curtis Davenport, Dave proves to be among the ranks of fearless pioneers in the wild world of craft beer. Jimmy kicks off the episode turning back to Dave’s early days in the industry. Discovering craft in the parking lot of a Grateful Dead concert, Dave moved to the West coast and learned how to bre...
Jun 03, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 631
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, we return to our live studio at Roberta’s Pizza upon our guest’s special request. Jimmy sits down uncomfortably before he welcomes Em Sauter, the author of ‘ Hooray for Craft Beer! ,’ and James Tai, a ‘random guy sitting at the bar’ who is helping local bars and restaurants improve their service. The episode kicks off with Em’s and James’s background in the beer world and their experience with the Cicerone Certification program. Em also shares her cartooning bac...
May 26, 2022•58 min•Ep. 630
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy tunes into the Ska network with co-founders Bill Graham and Dave Thibodeau from Ska Brewing in Durango, Colorado. The gang will listen to Dave's and Bill’s latest album about their brewing, growing, and drinking process. For the first track, we have the story of Bill and Dave. Growing up together by the Front Range of Colorado, the duo started home-brewing to Ska music in high school. They then moved to Durango partly to create the Ska Brewing Co. we now k...
May 21, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 629
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy welcomes back Jerard Fagerberg from Episode 603: From Jack Kerouac to British Coal Miners, The History of The Workingman’s Drink . Two renowned beer culture writers, Pete Brown and Dave Infante also join us for a conversation about unionizing in the craft beer industry. The episode kicks off with Pete’s description of the pubs and private clubs in Britain, along with his solid argument about how Shakespeare, Beyonce, and Charles Dicken all share a favorite...
May 13, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 628
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy welcomes award-winners Peter Yi from Brooklyn Cider House and Ray Sheehan who created the “ Best BBQ Sauce in the World ” for an in-depth discussion on the classic American pairing of cider and BBQ. The gang will introduce not only insights into the makings of cider and BBQ, but also guide us to fully draw out their flavors by pairing them together! The episode will start with Ray’s gradual yet monumental growth in the BBQ world that led him to the top of ...
May 09, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 627
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy welcomes mad scientist/artist/poet Sean Towers from Atlantic City’s The Seed: A Living Beer Project, and New Jerseyan beer appreciator/ Gear Patrol ’s beer guy Ryan Brower. In Sean’s lair, the gang will devise their master scheme to prove there's so much more to Atlantic City than casinos. Step one: Thinking inside the box. With Sean’s background in marine biology and microbiology and his lifelong sidekick Amanda’s in sociology, The Seed utilizes the tradi...
Apr 30, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 626
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy will drive North to Amesbury, Massachusetts, where package stores are cordially called "packey," to visit RMA Craft Beer and Wine packey store for an exclusive tasting and on-site recording session with Rockport Brewing Company . Jimmy is always on the lookout for top-notch retail beershops, and Rockport is a north-of-Boston top-selling local brand. Despite being a small-scale contract brewer, Rockport is committed to quality, community, and unity among wo...
Apr 22, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 625
As Earth Day approaches, this week’s Beer Sessions Radio welcomes two environmental defenders in the brewing world — Michael Kowalski from Berkshire Mountain Distillers and Sean Lawson from Lawson’s Finest Liquids . They will be coaching us on how to take the waste out of getting wasted! Opening the episode, Sean presents his pioneering Green is Grand project before spilling all about the Sunshine Canopy , Vermont’s largest free-standing solar power structure, and its ribbon-cutting event on Apr...
Apr 16, 2022•58 min•Ep. 624
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy will drive all the way to Kittery, Maine for an in-depth lecture on beer styles and beer history. This exciting course is currently taught by Woody Mott, son of Tod Mott the New England brewing legend, and Horst Dornbusch, editor and contributor for The Oxford Companion to Beer , at Tributary Brewing Company . The class will start off with Woody’s journey from the finance world to the brewing world, explaining his deep involvement and understanding of ever...
Apr 10, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 623
This week, whiskey will take over Beer Sessions Radio! Chris Weld and Michael Kowalski from Berkshire Mountain Distillers – Massachusett’s first legal distillery since prohibition – grab the mic to tell us about the Craft Brewers Whiskey Project, and all that brews into the best beer-based whiskey. Also on this episode is Nick Smith of Otter Creek Brewing Company – one of the project’s collaborators. Nick reminisces on the day he got a bottle back from Berkshire before discussing with the gang w...
Apr 02, 2022•57 min•Ep. 622
This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy will drive by cider town to discover a young and bustling community for Open That Cider Bottle Day . Recently created by the American Cider Association (ACA) to engage the cider enthusiasts and educate the interested winemakers, the occasion gathers to the show Michelle McGrath of ACA, Anne and Steve Garwood of Ragged Hill Cider Company , Paige Flori of Boutique Wines and Spirits , and Anne Shelton of Albemarle Ciderworks . The episode will start with Open...
Mar 25, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 621
This week, Beer Sessions Radio will introduce you to the world of lagers and beer-food pairings. Jimmy and our guests Mirella Amato, Todd DiMatteo, along with Luc “Bim” LaFontaine will have a lively discussion about pairing techniques and considerations, as well as the light beer scene around the world. The episode breaks off with Todd from Good Word Brewing and Public House promoting his upcoming Little Beer Fest on April 9 with 65 breweries gathering in Duluth, Georgia. Godspeed Brewery’s Luc ...
Mar 18, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 620
Beer Sessions Radio, food radio, Shelton Brothers, beer, drinks, deep ellum beer bar, delaware supply bar, European beers, imported beers, shelton brothers nyc This week, Beer Sessions Radio is dedicated to the Shelton Brothers, America’s most influential importer of Belgian and European beers. With the appearance of Joel Shelton himself, Jimmy and our guests Max Toste, BR Rolya, along with Lauren Slezak and Colin Pratt, talk about their memories with the brothers’ products and show appreciation...
Mar 11, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 619
This week on Beer Sessions Radio in celebration of NYC Beer Week, Jimmy teams up with local brewers from Gun Hill Brewing Co. , the Pony Bar NYC , Daleview Biscuits and Beer NYC , 18th Ward Brew , NYC Brewers Guild , and Alewife Brewing Co . to discuss the in-person return of the festival after 2 years. All of our guests will introduce their beers along with how they weathered the pandemic. Ann V. Reilly, Executive Director of NYC Brewers Guild reestablishes the importance of breweries in the ci...
Mar 04, 2022•55 min•Ep. 618
Craft Malt Conference Weekend is here! Kick back and chat Craft Malt with Hannah Turner, Director of The MSU Barley and Malt Quality Lab in Bozeman, MT; Hillary Barile of Rabbit Hill Farms in New Jersey; and Jesse Bussard, Executive Director of the Craft Maltsters Guild . Hannah tracks her journey through plant science to studying brewing at MSU. Jesse recollects her own history with agriculture and homebrewing that led her to the Craft Maltsters Guild. After some serious suspense, Hillary dishe...
Feb 25, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 617
This week on Beer Sessions, Jimmy is continuing with this month's Craft Malt Conference theme, speaking with Dennis and Jeanette Nesel and Mike Renganeschi of Hudson Valley Brewery , and Sam Merrett Captain of Schooner Apollonia . The gang talks about the project Sam has relentlessly or passionately (depending on who you ask) led over the past few years to transport malt, among other products, in an entirely carbon-neutral way. From transporting malt down the original superhighway of the Hudson ...
Feb 18, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 616
The week on Beer Sessions, Jimmy is gearing up for the Craft Malt Conference and heads to Farmingham to speak with Matthew Steinberg at Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing Company. Matthew talks about how local ingredients and partnerships are central to beer production at Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing , and details a few initiatives including the Square Foot Project and Square Foot Saturdays to Build Better Beer. He also talks about all the wonderful support Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing received from their neighbors, Jack’s Abby...
Feb 11, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 615
This week on Beer Session Jimmy is talking about locally sourced grains with June Russell, Director of Regional Food Programs at the Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming , and Joel Alex, of Blue Ox Malthouse . Both June and Joe talk about their experience promoting local grains in regional markets from baking to brewing. Joel explains the process of floor malting. June talks about how much of a commitment it can be for farmers to start growing new grains. Finally, the gang talks about t...
Feb 04, 2022•46 min•Ep. 614
This week on Beer Sessions Jimmy is talking about homebrewing and The American Homebrewers Association with Julia Herz, executive director of The American Homebrewers Association; Ethan Cox of Community Beer Works ; and Jeff Lyons of Endless Life Brewing . Julia talks about her role as being a voice and advocate for the hobby she loves. She also covers everything from the history of homebrew since Mesopotamia to the styles of beer and homebrewing popular today. Jeff talks about how homebrewing c...
Jan 28, 2022•53 min•Ep. 613
This week on beer sessions radio Jimmy is talking to some warmer weather breweries with Jordan Gardenhire, founder and brewmaster of Baja Brewing Company , and Katie Lowe brewmeister of Koko’s Bavarian. Katie talks about the vision of Koko’s Bavarian led by people like the Prince Koko of Bavaria and celebrity chef Tim Love. Jordan tells some crazy stories like lifting brewing equipment out of the roof of a building and weathering some of the most severe hurricanes that have impacted the business...
Jan 21, 2022•52 min•Ep. 612
This week on Beer Sessions Jimmy is talking cider with Brighid O'Keane, executive director of The Cider Institute of North America (CINA); Christine Walter, head cider maker and owner of Bauman’s Cider ; Ryan Burk, head cider maker of Angry Orchards and board member of The Cider Institute of North America; and Kira Bassingthwaighte, head cider maker for Western Cider . Brighid O'Keane introduces the Cider Institute of North America and its mission. Ryan talks about how the American cider scene h...
Jan 14, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 611
This week on Beer Sessions, Jimmy is talking about distribution in New York City with Ken Landin and Patrick Sylvester of Crossroads Brewing , James Zinkand, owner of Misguided Spirits , and Megan Rickerson, owner of Someday NYC . The gang highlights the challenges Covid has brought to the industry. James talks about his experience from Eataly to Miller Coors to Revolution Brewing and how it led him to open Misguided Spirits. Megan explains how relationships with local producers and distributors...
Jan 09, 2022•58 min•Ep. 610
This week on Beer Sessions (the last Beer Sessions of 2021!) Jimmy is talking about the greatest hits of 2021 and beer dessert pairings with Julia Herz , executive director of the American Homebrewers Association and author, Jerard Fagerberg , freelance beer writer, and Jessie Sheehan, recipe developer and author of The Vintage Baker. Jessie details some of her newest recipes, including some that will appear in her upcoming cookbook, Snackable Bakes: 100 Easy-Peasy Recipes for Exceptionally Scru...
Dec 17, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 609
This week on Beer Sessions, Jimmy is talking about giving back with Karen Lawson of Lawson’s Finest Liquids in Vermont, Erin Maciel of Honesta Coffee , and Richard Thomas of Argyle Brewing Company . Karen talks about how Lawson’s Finest Liquids has used their Sunshine Fund to help support causes in their community from the Vermont River Conservancy to Pathways Vermont. Erin details Cafe Honesta’s support of local farms in Brazil and the steps they’ve taken to empower female entrepreneurs. And Ri...
Dec 10, 2021•59 min•Ep. 608
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 t...
Dec 03, 2021•59 min•Ep. 607
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...
Nov 26, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 606
