To close out DC Beer Week 2020 , Jacob and Brandy welcomed former DC Beer Show host Richard to Jacob's socially distant porch to enjoy the five entries into the 2020 Boundary Stone Battle of the Barrel-Aged Beer )! They sample barrel-stored concoctions from 3 Stars, Atlas, DC Brau, Port City, and Right Proper while sharing tasting notes and memories of past BOTBA. While the event couldn't take place in person this year, Boundary Stone and all the breweries found a way to have the delicious compe...
Sep 25, 2020•33 min•Ep. 95
As DC Beer Week 2020 continues, join Jacob , Brandy , and Mike as they mourn the closing of too many of our favorite bars from the DC scene. They share memories of great food and drink, and all the friends they've made over the years. Curse this pandemic! Things liven up when Brian Van Den Oever, founder/owner of Red Bear Brewing Company , shows up with drag queen Desiree Dik to talk about Red Bear's special DC Beer Week delivery program Drag-livery . That's right, get your Red Bear beer, cockta...
Sep 18, 2020•25 min•Ep. 94
The DC Beer Show has returned from hiatus with a new format and new hosts! Join Jacob Berg , Brandy Holder , and Mike Stein as they discuss DC Beer Week , trouble at Union , and what they are drinking right now. DC Beer Week 2020 starts Sunday, September 13, and this year the annual celebration of the local craft beer community is mostly — though not entirely — virtual. Boundary Stone's Battle of the Barrel-Aged Beers is a carry-out event (which may or may not keep people from getting completely...
Sep 11, 2020•33 min•Ep. 93
CAMRA was established in 1971 as a consumer group representing real ale drinkers in the UK. Today, it is a 200,000 member organization advocating for quality ale and promoting pubs as social and cultural hubs. In response to the UK’s closure of all pubs due to COVID-19, CAMRA developed a virtual pub called the Red (On)Lion . People from around the world can sign up to meet people while drinking at home, or a group of friends can reserve a table where they can drink together virtually. The Red (O...
Apr 22, 2020•13 min•Ep. 92
DC Beer’s Richard speaks with two sets of guests on today’s show: Brendan O’Leary and Brian O’Connor of True Respite Brewing Company talk about the new online beer marketplace Biermi ; and Matt Humbard of Patent Brewing Company highlights his new Facebook Live events . Biermi Platform Continues to Grow DC Beer listeners may recall Richard’s previous interview with Brendan and Bailey O’Leary when they discussed the launch of biermi.com , a new online marketplace that provides breweries a free-of-...
Apr 15, 2020•31 min•Ep. 91
Richard holds a virtual happy hour with his good friends Jacob Berg , Michael Stein , and Brandy Holder . The wide-ranging conversation can be summed up in one key sentiment: thank goodness breweries and distilleries are considered essential businesses! Richard and his friends call on DC Beer listeners to buy local beers and spirits to help keep breweries and distilleries afloat during these tough times. What Are You Drinking for Happy Hour? Richard is drinking a Macadocious Bock from Denizens B...
Apr 08, 2020•42 min•Ep. 90
There is reason for cautious optimism for breweries amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Richard speaks with three guests about how the recent signing of the CARES Act will help breweries, how breweries and restaurants are quickly adapting to the new market, and what publishers are doing to help struggling breweries. The Brewers’ Association Looks to Build Upon the CARES Act Bob Pease , President and CEO of the Brewers’ Association (BA) gives Richard his thoughts about how the CARES Act could help craft ...
Apr 01, 2020•29 min•Ep. 89
As more Americans are self-quarantining and transitioning to socially distant lifestyles to help contain the coronavirus, local breweries and brewpubs are in a crisis. These small businesses are working to transform their operations from in-house sales to deliveries and takeouts, while facing gut-wrenching decisions about how to do right by their loyal employees. There is little clarity about how long the public health emergency will last. In this episode, Richard speaks with brewery professiona...
Mar 25, 2020•31 min•Ep. 88
DC Beer’s Richard hosts the first DC Beer Show in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Richard speaks with a number of stakeholders in the local beer community to talk about how breweries are handling the coronavirus amid mandatory closures on all bars and restaurants in DC and Maryland. Richard and his guests also discuss what federal, state, and local governments should do to ease the pain, and how YOU can support breweries during these tough times. Greg Parnas Discusses Legal Mechanisms for...
Mar 18, 2020•25 min•Ep. 87
DC Beer’s Richard and Adam visit Silver Branch Brewing Company to talk with Head Brewer Christian Layke and Marketing Manager Erin Karla about upcoming events and beer releases. Silver Branch is located in the heart of Silver Spring (just a few blocks from the DC Metro Redline stop). After opening its doors a year ago, Silver Branch has gained a reputation for its excellent dark lagers, along with a host of other favorite brews (including Hazy IPAs and Stouts). Celebrating One-Year Anniversary T...
Mar 04, 2020•29 min•Ep. 86
DC Beer’s Richard speaks with guests Lyn Holland of 3 Stars Brewing Company and Bryan Van Den Oever of Red Bear Brewing Company about the concept of breweries and brewpubs as community centers, and patrons enjoy the brewery events that are held. Before prohibition, pubs and salons were popular community meeting places. Since the 1920s, however, most of these establishments lost their “community center” characteristic. But now, things are beginning to change. Over the past several years, brewerie...
Feb 26, 2020•42 min•Ep. 85
DC Beer’s Richard speaks with the Brewers Association (BA) Executive Chef Adam Dulye about his work to promote the value and compatibility of craft beer and cuisine. Chef Adam also gives a preview of what to expect at this year’s SAVOR (which will be held on May 15 at the Anthem ). The Art of Food and Beer Pairings Chef Adam is a longtime chef who always had an appreciation for beer. He began collaborating with the BA on food and beer pairings over a decade ago for the annual Great American Beer...
Feb 19, 2020•28 min•Ep. 84
DC Beer’s Richard speaks with John Ustleton, Cofounder of New Columbia Distillery , and Alex Laufer, Head Distiller and Cofounder of One Eight Distilling , to talk about distilling spirits using local DC beers. Made in DC, for the Love of DC New Columbia and One Eight are located in Ivy City, a small neighborhood in Northeast DC that is also home to DC breweries Atlas Brew Works and The Public Option . They take pride in their city and focus on providing local clientele with a broad range of spi...
Feb 12, 2020•43 min•Ep. 83
DC Beer’s Richard sits down with Katie Marisic , the Federal Affairs Manager for the Brewers Association (BA), to talk about BA’s advocacy role for the 8,000 craft breweries across the United States. Katie discusses the BA’s craft beer legislative victories in 2019 and previews the exciting activities coming up in 2020. Recap of 2019: Extension of the Excise Tax Break Breweries have been subject to excise taxes since the Civil War. Excise taxes are placed on each barrel of beer produced by a US ...
Feb 05, 2020•43 min•Ep. 82
No prep? No problem! On Sunday, January 26, 2020, DC Beer’s Richard, Adam, and Brandy visited Silver Branch Brewing Company for a live DC Beer Show recording. The co-hosts brought up members of the audience to talk about a range of Washington DC craft beer topics, including the latest retail trends, recent legislative “wins”, and upcoming FeBREWary events. First Guest: Eric Kintner of Wardman Wines Eric Kintner is a Certified Cicerone and a trusted source of beer knowledge for his customers at W...
Jan 29, 2020•37 min•Ep. 81
DC Beer’s Richard is joined by Mari Rodela of DC Brau and Paul Dean of the DC Brewers’ Guild (DCBG) to recap the Guild’s 2019 activities and to preview what’s in store for 2020. New Faces to the DC Beer Scene DCBG is a nonprofit advocacy organization that represents the interests of DC breweries and taprooms. The DCBG family grew by two members in 2019, with Red Bear Brewing Company and Valor Brewpub both opening their doors last year. Mari and Paul noted that several great breweries also began ...
Jan 22, 2020•32 min•Ep. 80
DC Beer’s Richard and Adam speak with Earl Holman and Dan Messeca about the history and beer offerings at Crooked Crab Brewing Company in Odenton, Maryland. Approaching its two-year anniversary, Crooked Crab has found its identity as a brewery that offers something for everyone. It always has at least a dozen beers on tap and will continue to create more high-quality brews in the future. A College Dream Come True Earl, Dan, and their friend Alex Josephs became close friends while attending the U...
Jan 15, 2020•29 min•Ep. 79
DC Beer’s Richard and Adam visit Reckless Ale Works in Columbia, Maryland to talk about the brewery’s emergence onto the Maryland beer scene and how it is promoting its “reckless” brand. A Maryland Brewery on the Rise The story of Reckless Ale Works starts with its owner, Adam Carton, a former two time NCAA gymnastics champion and seven-time all-American athlete. After his gymnastic days, Adam went into the restaurant business. In 1996, he opened Frisco Tap House in Columbia, Maryland. Twenty ye...
Jan 08, 2020•39 min•Ep. 78
DC Beer’s Richard and Mike speak with Elliott Johnson and Jahi Wartts of Soul Mega , one of the newest breweries in DC. Elliott and Jahi talk about the philosophy behind their company and their grassroots efforts to promote the Soul Mega brand. The Embodiment of Greatness Elliott and Jahi met through work about ten years ago. Both novice homebrewers at the time, they quickly began trading beers, then collaborating on brews, and finally scaling operations. After receiving positive feedback from a...
Dec 18, 2019•33 min•Ep. 77
DC Beer’s Richard and Adam sit down with Richard Cauble and Brent Turner to talk about Midnight Run Brewing in Frederick, Maryland. Humble Beginnings in Richard’s Garage Richard and Brent are family friends who began brewing together in Richard’s garage about seven years ago. Over time, their homebrewing operations expanded in scale and frequency. As garage space dwindled, they started looking to relocate. The first major breakthrough for Richard and Brent occurred four years ago when they obtai...
Dec 11, 2019•35 min•Ep. 76
Richard teams up with DC Beer contributors Jacob Berg and Michael Stein to look back at the 2019 DC-area craft brewing scene and to speculate what’s to come in 2020. They say goodbye to a few cherished DC beer establishments, while also sharing optimistic outlooks for the continued growth of craft brewing in the region. Casualties and Opportunities of the Changing DC Beer Market 2019 witnessed the closing of Meridian Pint and Mad Fox . These two brewpubs, which relied heavily upon “beer events” ...
Dec 04, 2019•55 min•Ep. 75
DC Beer’s Richard is joined by Drew McCormick, Executive Beverage Director at Pizzeria Paradiso , which is a top restaurant in the DC with five locations in the DMV area. Drew talks about her beer program at Pizzeria Paradiso and her efforts to support the local community. Drew’s Evolving Role in the Pizzeria Paradiso Beer Program Originally from Maine, Drew has worked with Pizzeria Paradiso for seven years. She began as a server and worked her way up the ranks to her current position as Executi...
Nov 27, 2019•31 min•Ep. 74
DC Beer’s Adam and Richard visit Brendan and Bailey O’Leary and Kenny Allen in Montgomery County to talk about their up-and-coming brewery True Respite Brewing Company . A Long, Fraught Road to the Opening of True Respite Brendan and Bailey began drawing up business plans for True Respite in 2014 while living in Colorado. When searching for a brewery location, they found that Montgomery County was a perfect spot: a “beer friendly” local government; few existing breweries; and close to family. So...
Nov 20, 2019•41 min•Ep. 73
DC Beer’s Richard and Adam sit down with Jon Zerivitz and Kevin Blodger of Union Craft Brewing in Baltimore, Maryland to discuss how their brewery has become a pillar of their neighborhood over the past eight years. Simple, Good Beer for Baltimore Jon, Kevin, and their business partner, Adam Benesch, founded Union Craft Brewing in 2011 with the vision of making good craft beer for the enjoyment of local Baltimore residents. It was the first new brewery built in Baltimore in 30 years. Kevin, the ...
Nov 13, 2019•34 min•Ep. 72
DC Beer’s Richard sits down with Julie Verratti of Denizens Brewing Co. and Mike Stein of DC Beer and Lost Lagers to talk about the upcoming release of a new American-style bock beer called Bock to the Future. An 80-Year Old Brew Bock to the Future is the result of a collaboration between Mike Stein and Denizens’ Chief Beer Officer, Jeff Ramirez, as part of the DC Beer’s 10 Beers for 10 Years series. The inspiration for this beer came from the archival collection of American brewer Walter Voigt,...
Nov 06, 2019•20 min•Ep. 71
DC Beer’s Richard sits down with Jamaal Lemon and Myron “Shep” Jenkins to talk about their journey from beer novices to hosts of the podcast Help the Pour . The Early Beer Days Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Jamaal and Shep are longtime friends living in the DC area who share two passions: beer and travel. Several years ago, they began a travel blog called the Wayfarer Study that chronicled their travels to European cities like Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Rome. Later, they expanded th...
Oct 30, 2019•41 min•Ep. 70
DC Beer Show hosts Adam and Richard travel to Alexandria, Virginia to visit with John Gartner, Sales Director, and Adam Reza, Lead Brewer of Port City Brewing . Port City Brewing opened its doors in 2011 and is the oldest package brewery in the DC Metro area. They just won their 11th Great American Beer Festival (GABF) medal earlier this month for their German Pilsner. Brewing Abilities and Backgrounds Adam and Richard talk to the Port City Brewing guys about their six flagship beers and how the...
Oct 23, 2019•43 min•Ep. 69
On October 25, 2019, a new exhibit will be opening up at the Smithsonian's Museum of American History that highlights the American brewing history. Exhibit Curator Theresa McCulla joins Richard on this episode of the DC Beer Show. Theresa explains how beer fits into a longer timeline in history and shares how she collected items for this exhibit. From sheet music to a 1970s vibrating football table, some items from the exhibit are not your typical beer-related items, but they hold meaning. There...
Oct 16, 2019•34 min•Ep. 68
This special episode of the DC Beer Show is all about the 8th annual Snallygaster, happening Saturday, October 12, 2019. Snallygaster, a one-day beer festival put on by the beer minds behind Bluejacket, Churchkey, Sovereign and more, takes place directly on Pennsylvania Avenue in DC and will showcase 400 different beers from around the world. While it can be a bit overwhelming to know how to navigate and what to try, the DC Beer Show has your back! Out of the 400 beers at Snallygaster, 100 of th...
Oct 09, 2019•47 min•Ep. 67
Adam and Richard travel to Rockville, Maryland to visit 7 Locks Brewing . In this episode, Richard and Adam chat with 7 Locks Brewing Brewmaster, Michael Linzmeyer, about the upcoming Cigar + Beer Pairing event. On October 12th, from 2pm-5pm, 7 Locks Brewing will be hosting the pairing event with Davidus Cigars. For only $45.00, enjoy three cigars, two pints, and the first release of 7 Locks new Barrel Aged Bottle Program, the Lockhouse Cellar Reserve. Cigar + Beer Pairings: Lord Baltimore Mild ...
Oct 02, 2019•30 min•Ep. 66
